Show Railways Renew Requests for Rate Boosts Five Per Cent Increase Spread Over Entire District Defended By y Lines in Brief Prepared for te Commerce Commission April pl l By 26 26 By The Associated Press Press-A Press AW five fi pel percent cent in freight rate revenues spread over the entire w western tern district may mea mean the salvation salvation of western railroads sa says s 's a brief prepare prepared for filing with the interstate commerce commission sion today The brief is intended as asa asa a reply to arguments opposing the plea pica of the western railways for a five per cent freight rate increase To To contend that the present volume of tra traffic ie cannot stand this meagre in- in increase in increase crease is to challenge the very Iry foundation of this immense western the brief seh forth I T All All our opponents Lant that dUring the last lIvO years the western rail y have not nOl a rail lair relur II It las has been con con- conceded ceded lIat the Iho western to secure same rate 01 return which the railways In tho theother other two late districts In ln United St have been permUted to earn lh Inadequacy o of the c- c thu western e 1 even en by our opponents Upon Yo what hat then do their opposition In addition tv the old stan stand stand-bys bys further objections have been put for urd I on Imaginative c interpretations of othe the Hoth- Hoth Hoch bill and upon that thero are control ling political influences using the term political In Its highest 01 dl disregarding the doctrines laid down by by the courts In respect to the valuation which railway n are e to bo be computed 10 n YS A s regard s regards lh the ii Sinith S h-S ith res res reservation this law on Its face 15 designed to protect the rail railways ways in the western estern district as ns wella ell ellas as in other ute rate groups In Ing tho fair Call return which Is con I Plated by the As A to 10 the prop proposition that there aro controlling political Influences for tor disregarding tho th deci decisions slon ot of the courts court In tn arriving a raiLway prop property rr- rr t th th if t Core commission Is one o of ap- ap applying plying the law and of tho railways and the th pul public as thy they have ha been declared I In the |