New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-26
RATES ON CARLOAD LOTS
HEARING AT WASHINGTON CONTINUED
NKw-YoRK MERCHANTS COMPLAIN or DIscRrMISA
TIov-IuF nrFENCE BrGEN.

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TIOy-rHg pTPRSCE d Gun.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 25.-The hearing in the carload
lot cases was resumed by tho Interstate Commission
this morning. John G. oDonneil, president Of ths
Pttsburg Rcta Groccrs' Protective Association stat
ed that In his opinion this discrimination between car
load and less than carload shipments of grocery staples
made by tho tunk lines tends to create monopoly al.
prices and lower tho qualities Of goods handled
As no difference as to carloads was made by the new
classification OF tho trunk lines boots and shoes
and rygoods he regarded the distinction as to gro
Gerry staples rs discrimination against his trade.
Walter u. Tmms, OF a NcwYOrk wholesale grocery
house. said that his firm sold and shipped to dealers
annually about 5000 tons OF goods. about 25.0C0
tons of which shipped the five trunk lines.
respondents in those OF this last amount not
more than onceighth OF per cent Is shipped In
load lots to one conslgnec. This carload lot dscrim-
nation no said was made nowhere west OF Chicago
or south OF tho Ohio River. The business OF his firm
greatly injured by the discrimination complained
Of
F. b. Thurber OF New-York, testified that the gen
erel effect Of the staple groceries was to
prevent competition In certain lines and In others TO
curta tho business The sales OF his own house dur
Ing the last nns months during which the new rates
have been 10 effect showed a falling m In sugar for
Western customers served by tho trunk lines OF about
II per cent molasses abort 30 per cent cofcc per
cont and primes about 80 IL per cent. In response
10 inquiries by Commissioner Cody, Mr. Thurber
thought that there should DO carload rate less than
for small lots and that the trunk lines which I'LL cars
with mixed freight should give the benefit of hs fun
the rsie all the consignecs and further that
there should a separate classification for East and
West bound traffic.
Judge James A. Logan. counsel for the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company, opened the case for the respond
cnts SAID that tho classification which is tho sub
jcct OF complaint took the place OF large number
Of conflicting classncatIons which had been In use
prior April 1, 1887 This change was made ats"-
lutey necessary, otherwise it would have been I'M
possible carry either the spirit tho letter q
the Interstate law That tho present classification IS
perfect, in all poets consistent was adj
mttcd. Constant changes have been made aud VIII
hereafter be made TO conform to the requirements OF
commerce. Two rcviSlons have already been mads
during The last eight months, and s another VIII
be Pat into effect February /. IL is incumbent
upon the defendants show that the conditions under
which less than carload freight Is carried are entirely
dSsimar from those unlcr which carload shipments
carried that tho of the service IS much more,
that the higher rate less than carload freight II
justified 10y its increased cost The greater cost Oi
handling less than carload shipments as compared
with carload shipments is due. has said. first, tn the
greater labor required IN the station service in assol
ing, loading. unloading. c eckng and manesting mis-
porting less than carload quantities on account of tho
lighter loading of and the greater amount OF gross
weight that has 10 be moved at the expense OF mo
not or paying weight.
Tho remaining hours of tho session were consumed
In reading DISPOSITIONS on behalf of the respondents