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Show "WASHINGTON, Jan. 2. Higher standards of efficiency, not Increased freight chnrgos, are tho paramount needB today of American railways. This proposition 1b the essence of the brief filed today with the Interstate Commerce couimlHBlon by Lowia Brandeis, of Boston, counsol for tho traffic commission of the commercial orgnhlzatlon of tho Atlantic Seaboard In the Investigation of the proposed advance iu frelgnt rate in official classification clas-sification territory that part of the country south of the Ml lsslppl and north bf the Ohio and Potomac rivers. Railroad managers, Mr. Brandeis contends. con-tends. In an effort to moot existing needs, should not look without, but within. Remedy Is Not Higher Rate. I "If their not income In Insufficient," ho said, "the proper remedy is not higher rate resulting in higher costs and lessened business, but In scien i tiflc management, resulting In lower costs and In higher wages and lncreas- , ed business. "If their credit Ib Impaired, tho ' proper remedy- is not to apply the stimulant of higher rates, but to strongthen their orgnnlratlons by introducing in-troducing advanced methods and eliminating elim-inating questionable praotlce6. ThuB they will maintain credit by deserving deserv-ing it." Tonnage of Lines. Tho proposed advance of lino In official of-ficial classification territory would affect only the class. The total freight tonnage of the lines for the calondur year 1000 was 02 321.975 Less than 8 per cent of this moved under cla&s rates, yet of tho freight rovenue of those railways for 1909. nearly 22 per cent ($103,271,823) wai derived from class rates. These rates govern the shipment of over four thousand articles of commorce, including in-cluding mOBt of the necessities of life and articles of competitive commerce The proposed increases vary from S per cent to 29 per cent aei aging approximately ap-proximately 10 per cent. Rates Will Continue Upward. Mr Brandeis indicates that ho considers con-siders the great question Jnvolved in the investlration to be the statement of President Wflllard, of the Baltimore Balti-more & Ohio, that "tendency of rates will b" to continue upward" that Is, that there will be a progressive Increase In-crease in rates Tho laws place the burden of proof of reasonablened of the oroi'oBed advances ad-vances on tho railroads. Mr Brandeis maintains that the roads "have failed utterly to sustain their burden of proof have filled completely to show that tho application or the railroads for approval of the new tariff should not bo denied." In responpe to the contention that tho proposed increases in olnss rates are reasonable Mr. Brand Mr urges that no evidence was presented to sustain the co'itention; that no In-crease In-crease Itt anv class rate properly can be made without giving the Bhlppors an opportunity to bo henrd and tint the pending Inci cases were fixed without with-out nffordlng the nhippers such an opportunity. Arguments of Brandeis. As to tho arguments that the rail-loads rail-loads need nildltlonal revenues on account ac-count of required increases In wagos, Mr Brandeis submits three propositions: proposi-tions: IJIrsl Some railroad, nt least, do not need additional Income. Second In some rillioads any existing ex-isting uecd of additional Incomes Is due to eniiapfl othor than wage increases in-creases or acts of congress. Third Every railroad which is propcrlv undoitakf'n nml financed, can meet any existing nenilH without rato increases, through tt'p Introduction of scientific manngement. nn |