The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-06-25
FREIGHT RATE
HIKE IS ASKED
BY RAILROADS
u. S. Commerce Commits
sion Petitioned to Permit
Is Per Cent Boost.
ADJUSTMENTS OUTLINED
Farm Produce Might Get
Reductions If General
Increase Is Granted.


By United Press
CHICAGO, June 25.-Executives
Of the United States railroads ap-
piled to- the interstate commerce
commission today for permission to
increase all freight rates by Is per
cent.
The increase is necessary, the
petition, filed at Washington, said
tn order to put the roads back on q
sound financial basis The petition
asked that the rate advance be
made "on all freight rates and
charges, including joint rail-and-
water rates"
The railroads informed the COM
mission that their proposal Of 10
per cent increase in freight rates
applies to all commodities, but that
adjustments affecting certain COM
modities probably will be made later
90 meet competition and other
situations"
A statement to that effect, unani-
enously agreed upon by the railroads
at a meeting here Wednesday, was
made public today and filed in
Washington as an answer to the
commissions request for specific in
formation on the commodities that
will be affected by the petitioned in
crease.
Definite Data Sought
The commission had directed the
Barriers to supply information as to
whether the increase would apply
TO such classes Of freight as grain
and grain products, cotton and
bther agricultural and horticultural
products, including livestock, non
ferrous metals, iron and steel ar
ticles, petroleum and its products,
lumber and automobiles.
THE steam railroad carriers Of
the United States are confronted
with an emergency threatening
serious impairment Of their finan-
cial resources and their capacity to
assure the public a continuance Of
efficient and adeqate service" the
petition said.
In emergencies Of this char
Acter, previous experience has
shown that there is but one method
which has been adopted, or as a
practical matter could be adopted
either by the carriers or the com
mission. to afford the necessary
relief, namely percentage increase
in rates"
Almost All Represented
Nearly every one of the nations
railroads was represented when the
petition was drafted at conferences
in Chicago. Presidents, traffic Off
Gals and other executives of rail-
roads in the eastern, western, south
ern and mountaineering sections
of the country voted in favor of the
rate increase.
The railroads petitioned the COM
mission on June 16 for authority to
raise all rates by Is per cent. This
proposal met with objections, and
the railroads later stated that if the
increase we're allowed, they would
not make it applicable to all COM
ucdities.
The commission then requested
more specific information concern
Ing what commodities would be in
Guided on the increased freight list.
The new petition was in answer to
that request.
Water Traffic Affected
International freight rates would
be increased under the railroads
proposal, the petition said. Execu-
tives of transportation companies
which transport freight by water
have concurred with the railroads
in requesting the increase, it was
announced.
Railroad officials pointed out that
requests for increased rates on a
definite list of commodities was not
made because Investigations and
court procedure which might be
necessary would require several
months.
Under the roads proposal the
commission may grant the request
for the increase in one decision. The
roads later may make adjustments
on commodities which are believed
incapable of bearing the increased
49, e.