Show ULTIMATUM Of OfU U EASTERN URN ROADS Will Either Raise Freight Rates or Reduce Wages of 0 Chicago May 15 Delegates from fifty commercial and shippers associations of or orthe the east and middle west met in confer conference ence ente here today to discuss means of oC pre preventing preventing venting enting eastern railroads from carrying into effect a proposed increase Jn in n freight rates ra tos Fred W r Upham president of the Illi Illinois Illinois nois Manufacturers association in an address said that while the railroads were contemplating increasing their freight rates they are at the same time Um reducing their gross expenses and in fn innumerous Innumerous numerous instances supported this state statement statement ment Freight rates he said are very much higher in proportion to the cost of handling the business than passenger rates rate A break In the time program was occasioned by the unexpected appearance of ot W C CBrown C CBrown Brown Drown vice president of or the New York Central lines tines who admitted that the railroads intended to make a moderate in m increase increase crease In freight rates but said the ac action action action tion was absolutely necessary Mr Brown said If the business Interests of ot the nation shall after mature consideration say s y that railroad rates shall not be advanced I 1 doubt if it can be done but it should be understood clearly definitely and be beyond beyond beyond yond all aU question of doubt that in say nay sayIng sayIng ing this they the say just as clearly and def del definitely that the wages of or the great army arm of 1 oOOO railroad shall be re reduced r reduced and they the must accept their full fult measure of ot responsibility for the results |