The citizen., 1922-10-26
DEMANDS LOWER
FREIGHT RATES
FARM BLOC SERVES NOTICE OF
PLAN FOR MODIFICATION OF,
TRANSPORTATION ACT.
WANTS GUARANTEE REMOVED
Senator capper Says Objectionable
Features Of Law Must Be Repealed
" American Farmers Are TO Be
Saved From Ruin.
BY JAMES p. HoRNApAY


Wasl.lngton.-The farm bloc in pub
lie life under the leadership Of Senator
Arthur Capper (Rep., Kans.) Is serving
notice on all Interested persons that
unless there is another sharp reduction
in railroad freight rates the bloc will
seek to make over the transportaticn
act of February, 1920. at the next ses
sion Of the cong ess whether that
session shall begin In November or
December The Kansas senator in
serving this notice says he greatly
regrets that the senate did not at the
last session act on his bill repeating
section 15-A of the transportation act
the rate-making cause.
This bill If passed would have
given state ralr, ad commissioners
more control over rates." says Senator
Capper. 1T would have terminated
the excessive charges by removing the
so-called guarantee in the Esch-Cum-
minis law and so have made possible
the return of good times and a genuine
revival of business In the only way In
Nhi'i tHf. 'uI 'bliit w SluN.
THE farm bloc at the next session"
says the senator In conclusion, will
urge the passage If this bill. or a
similar measure, repeating the objec-
tionable provisions of the Esch-Cum-
minis act. Sooner or later this must be
done. Far better to do IL sooner and
bring To an end the ruinous endurance
contest which has brought our greatesi
prosperity maker, the farm, to the
verge Of ruin"
There seems tu he small prospect Of
the railroads voluntarily making any
further reduction in freight rates In
the near future. or of the Interstate
commerce commissions ordering the
reduction. and so il would appear that
when the congress reconvenes the pro
posed repeal of the rate-making sec
tion of the transportation act will be
real issue.
It Already Is an Issue.
Indeed, IL is very much of al issue
In good many congressional districts
at the present time and in some sena-
torial contests. The farm bloc. which
by no means confines its activities to
the congress, is seeking to put large
number of candidates for the congress
on record In regard to freight rates
and the proposed repeal Of the rate
making section of the railroad act
Of 1920.
fa. ..f
country, IL is asserted, have the cordial
support of manufacturing industries
In their demand for lower freight
rates. From all accounts, transporta-
tion rates and rates of taxation are
the topics the farmers and the busi-
ness men of the country are most in
terested in at the present time. This
being the case, men who are seeking
seats in congress are being compelled
to discuss these subjects, IL is asserted,
whether they prefer TO do ii or not.
In his appeal tn the farm bloc in con-
gress and out Senator Capper says
railroad officials estimate that for the
last five months Of the present calen-
dar year the class | railroads will earn
net operating incomes of $4S0,OO0, 900.
This, he says. will make total Of
S9OO,OOO,UO for the year compared
with earnings of S6l5,OOOOOO for the
calendar year 1921. These total earn
lngs equal 5 per cent on Sls,OOO, ZOO, 600,
the total property value of the rail
roads in the United States.
Big Crops May Be Liability.
The senator then makes this appli-
cation of his figures:
Compare this with the reported
loss this season of more than half of
this country's great fruit crop because
IL cost the growers more money TO ship
their fruit than TO let ii rot. Now IL is
the grain belts turn to suffer. The
stockmen will come next. Unless we
have lower freight rates speedily our
big crop from which we have hoped So
much, will become more of liability
than an asset. Much lower prices this
harvest, three years Of losses, and the
higher-than-war rail rates are consum
ing our farmers They have reached
their last ditch. They can endure nc
more"
The senator says that III we are Il
save the situation-and this Is no spe-
cial plea since IL vitally concerns the
general wefare-let me say most
solemnly and earnestly that the rail,
roads must voluntarily and at once
make further rate reductionsi or i'm de
fault Of such action that the Interstate
commerce commission must with vi.
most promptness put such rates into
effect"
Passage Of Sweet Bill Urged.
As soon AZ congress- co,,yanas IL ,yii