The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-09-08
NEW AGENCY
FIGHTS RAIL
RATE BOOSTS
Fruit and Vegetable Shippers
Association Files Pro-
test

Another powerful agency has join
cd the agricultural organizations
which are protesting proposed freight
rate increases in Western states, ac-
cording to information received here
by the North Dakota State Railroad
board. That is the Fruit and Ncge-
table Shippers Association, which is
vitally interested in the freight rate
question and handles approximately
100000 carloads Of fresh fruits and
vegetables annually.
In II Joint letter to the Interstate
Commerce Commission protesting the
proposed freight rate advances the
vegetable shippers and the American
Farm Bureau Federation say:
Points Dependency
81. The prosperity Of all CONNER
cial activities are directly dependent
upon the prosperity Of the farmer.
".!. The governments own agen-
cicS, such as the department of Agri-
culture, Department Of Commerce,
Department of Labor and others
whose records are available to and
may be utilized by the commission,
contain ample evidence of the gcncr-
al farming condition throughout the
country.
"3. Because the present crop this
year in some sections promises
brighter conditions does not Justify
ignoring the situation which con-
fronted ou. growers and shippers
during the two or three years imme-
diately prior thereto and the Obliga-
tions with their resultant burdens,
which that industry was and is carry
ing.
"a. That the territory lying west
of the Mississippi river is largely
agricultural, therefore an increase in
transport alton charges in that sec
tion which includes agricultural COM
modities would in reality be aimed
at and direct blow to agriculture
and would cause an unbalanced and
unjust tax.
Situation Involved
"5. That many rates between the
Western territory and sections of the
country east thereof are based on
the Miss ouri or Mississippi river
therefore the petition threatens SER
ious complications and may become
so far reaching as to involve through
rates to and from all other sections
of the country.
"6. That further general in.
crease everywhere in all sections OF
the country would being about g
situation which would react on the
commerce Of our country and be re-
Elected in it's general prosperity.
'7. That the Transportation Act
now provides measures for recaptur'
ing from prosperous lines earnings
in excess Of certain limits to be useC
for their less fortunate neighbors
and we emphasize that in our opin
ion the commission and the rail
roads should work out some plan Of
carrying out this feature of the Law
without inflicting the public will
further increases in rates.
Other Investments
"S. That in years past certain
railroads have earned substantial
returns on common and preferred
stocks which in some cases were re
invested in other properties and al
the public undoubtedly was a reckon
ing factor in contributing towar'
the highly successful years, tina
those substantial returns should ais
be taken into consideration at thi
time in determining the propriety o
this petition.
SO. We do not express an opinion
on matter Of railroad consolidation
but if the commission is of the viev
that there is economy through con
solidation then this feature woul
! also become an important factor II
this case in determining if the line
in the western territory have bee
as active in this respect as railroad
in other districts.
40. The act also provides tina
| efficiency is an outstanding tier
for consideration Of petitions TO
| increases in rates and while we ar
expressing no opinion at this tim
on this feature. yet since the com
mission has a department. for inves
tigating this feature, that we urg
that before placing an additional ia
on our products that this item wi
have been thoroughly investigated"