The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-05-24

New YORK, MAY %. --Reprcsentativc OF
the dry goods trade In this CITY and other
cities III the East and West Appeared to-
day before the Railroad Commission sitting
here 10 support The claims made in their
petition 10 the Commission. In which il Is
stated that the existing classification Of
domestic dry goods in the Wesiern-bound
traflic OF trunk lines Is unjust, injurious TO
business and should be changed. In sup
port OF these charges II was urged that the
Class or dry goods against which th pres
ent classification bears most heavily are
mainly cotton goods OF the cOarser aud
cheaper goods, and II Is especially for that
class OF merchandise the re-clusslicatiOn
was asked. The rate charges for trunspol-
tation, II was urged, was not IT, proportion to
the cost OF transportation, and out Of pro-
portion TO the value Of the goods carried.
II was also stated that these matters were
first brought 10 the attention OF the EXecu-
tive Committee Of the trunk lines and the
attention OF Vice president Blanchard. OF
the Eric Railroad, and petition was pre-
scnled 10 Fink, signed by nearly all the
represent tiyes OF the large cotton mill, OF
Maine. New Hampshire, Massachusetts.
Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and
Pennsylvania, and nearly oil the represent.
alive dry goods merchants Of New York,
Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chi
cago, II, Louis and other prominent
cities. In this petition il was
represented that the classification OF this
Kind Of merchandise was raised during the
war, because the goods became NO valuable
a. 10 warrantit, that sheeings worth from
400 10 800 during the war sell from So TO
so per bale now, that these goods as first
class are now subject to a higher relative
charge on their aIue than any other textile
kahW wi - Ill
to staples OF the grocery trade. The exc.
cutve committee on the trunk lines, It
was contended, met this petition with
an absolute refusal. Upon what
principles the companies have
established their clasltications and sched-
ules, the dry goods representatives were
unable TO understand Pool Commissioner
Albert Fink replied that It is necessary TO
charge higher rates on certain articles in
order that grain and other food products
can be carried at a rate enabling farmers to
ship 10 the east and to Europe. This dis.
elimination Is for the benefit OF trade in
general, and the dry goods trade shares in
the benefits. Individual consumers of do
nestle dry goods would benefit so little by
the reduction OF freight rates on that class
Of goods than the difference In cost would
be i1sppreciable, while the reduction
would not benefit the trade by caus.
ing an increased demand for their
goods. SILKS and the higher classes
OF dry goods bear such relatively lsmal
proportion in bulk and weight 10 tho
amount OF dry goods Of lower classes
shipped that II would be necessary to
charge very high rates on them to make up
for the reduction on the latter. The dis.
elimination must exist he argued, between
several classes OF articles, and the rates on
these classes cannot be established on a ba-
sis Of the cost OF service. After further
discussion Of the subject the commission
adjourned to June 10.