The Glenwood post., 1922-06-29
vncIe Tets Bedtime Stories
Current Events For the Chillrn
and orown-uJs, Toe
PROSPERITY SEEN IN
LOWER FREIGHT RATES

LOWER FREIGHT RATES
"It's mighty hot in here, kiddies, -
said Uncle Ted. "Why not move our
selves out on the front porch' Did
You water the lawn, Jack?"
eyes, indeed" answered Jack.
"The lawn, flowers, sidewalk and part
of the street."
"Fine! 1t ought to be nice and
cool.'
"Ten us story" said Ruth when
they were all comfortably seated on
the porch.
"I knew it, said Uncle Ted. CAL
ways story. How would you like to
hear something about a recent decision
of the Interstate Commerce commission
at Washington which will mean pros
perity and better conditions in gen.
erali"
"Wasn't that the decision that will
make it cheaper to send things by
freight,' asked Jack. "My box from
Seattle full of those Indian things cost
mother $40 just for FREIGHT"
tThat's right, Jack. Freight rates
have come down and il your cousin
had waited a while to send that box
it wouldn't have cost SO much.
"At Washington" continued Uncle
Ted, "there is body Of men appoint
Cd by the president and confirmed by
the United States senate, known as
the Interstate Commerce commission.
As their name implies, their duties are
to look after matters connected with
railroads in the shipping of goods from
one state to another. They have the
power to set rates which must be fol-
lowed. Just as the Railroad Labor board
has the power to establish wages to
be paid railroad employees. During tho
war the wages of railroad employees
were increased several times and in
order to make up for part Of this in
creased expense, the Interstate Com
meree commission, in 1920, made an
increase in the amounts to be charged
for the carving of freight, but begin
ming July l of this year these rates
will be about II per cent lower than
they were because Of the increase.
"From August, 1920, to July Of this
year. ha. been period of two years
readiustment Of rates. To increase
these charges and to decrease them ac
cord'ng to the general business condi-
tions Of the country is something that
cannot be done in a minute. OF course
some Of the railroads have made their
reductions of their own accord, while
the reduction in rates on other roads
has been due to decisions Of the Inter
state Commerce commission.
"Naturalv this is going to help
business conditions in general because
it will make it cheaper to send goods
of all kinds. The high cost Of sending
goods and products by freight has
caused trouble in all parts of the coun-
try.
1.-THE railroads, in order to make up
their loss by these reductions, must
depend upon increased traffic and
economies Increased traffic should
come naturally. 1t is interesting to
note that this decision of the Inter
state Commerce commission came with
in n week of the decision made by the
Railroad Labor board which reduces
the wages of all classes of railway en-
ployes except those working on trains.
mean just this to the railroads: Their
income through freight reductions has
been rut $24oOoo,OOO and their ex-
penses through the reduction Of wages
have been cut only 100000. You
can see from this that there is a diff
ference of 800 90 900 which is a loss to
the railroads and which they will have
to make up, as 7 said before, by more
traffic and economics on other things.
"The executives of the lines in the
northwest say that the rate cut will
mean a decline of $5O,O0o,OOO a year
in their revenue, but there is bright
side to the situation in that part Of
the country The farmers and manu-
facturers and iobers will profit greatly
by the lowered rates so that in the end
the loss in earnings feared by the roads