New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-04
THE NEW BILL OF LADlNG
AILAYING MERCHANTS FEARS.
ADDRESS OF THE TRUNK LINES AND THE LAKE
LINES TO THE COMING CHICAGO
CONFERENCE.

A., ..,oo,, ,-,nrossion was given by some Of tho
newspapers saturday morning WIFI Iesdiu a." '"o III"
Hill Of adinc prepared by the associated roads III ac
,d,rca with the principles outlined by the Federal
Interstate Commerce law The date on which the new
form goes into effect is not to be poS'p"Ieu Ho'i
August l. The circular issued by the Trunk Line AS
socation provides that the full conditions Oh tnc UNI
form bill Of ladng need not appear on shpP'nS IT,
cclnts Or drav tickets until september 3O but that IN
the meantime the following clause shall be stamped or
nruted npon all shipping receipts or dray tickets winch
do no hear the full conditions Of the uniform Dill Of
adng
INF. is temporary receipt and to be surrendered In
exchange for the compauys bill OF ladlns undef 'h' terms
NJ which the shipment made and the goods accepted ny
the carriers
II /, hoped by railroad that there may be
thorough understanding Of the subject when the Chicago
Board OF Trade holds its meeting on next wednesday
~ consider objections 10 the new uniform bin Of adins
The railroad men have uled to arrange 70 meet the
merchants but some Of their leading representatives.
will necessarily be absent. The conference OF inc
Eastern and Western railroads on next Wednesday
will require the attendance rs It's chairman OF CommlN
soner Blanchard Of the Central Traffic Association, and
adjourned annual meeting of the southern Halfway
and steamship Association takes place here at the
date, thereby preventing the steamship lines rom
being represented at the Chicago meeting Ih'Se
facts laid before the officers Of the Chicago B"aiu
OF trade by letter when the INVITATION I'D c I'l""u'
to attend the Chicago meeting given, and they arc
advanced "a u justification for any possible non
Attendance in circular letter sent Ia George J.
stone. secretary Of the Chicago Board Of Trade by
George H. Blanchard. representing the Central Traffic
Association f. II. KingSbuy, representing the trunk
lines, and Frank J. Firth, representing the lake and
rail Hines.
The circular then presents the railroad argument.
u asserts that the carriers at meeting held In Chi
cngo on July &c, adopted the words which, in the
opinion OF Wee President Gage Of the First National
Bank OF Chicago, and cOncurrd I'm by George Clark,
the representative of Chicago the Committee of Con
ference. wOuld acceptably continue the commercial
availability Of bills Of ladng These word, ap
piled to the bin of lading ana the railroads
siicrod that the Issue determined in the manner
As suggested by the representatives % trade and bank
Ing Interests and satisfactory to them. The circular
then states that II /, assumed that the meeting next
Wednesday in Chicago Will address itself mainly to
Che conditions Of the bin OF adue specially regards
further demand that the common carriers shall as
sumo al common law liabilities at the lowest rates
After acknowledging their full liability under the com.
mon law the railrOud circular says:
Every citizen Of the Cnt'd States ba. an equal right
with every other citizen 70 demand and receive th,
81 service The common carrier, IA adapting t.ir bust.
ness M ;od7 to this and lawful requirement, have
Ir"'id classic alton alike ., al aad
that a." INTENDED and believed Just reasonable
While g j, proper to thus assume thelr common law
u'uN'' 'oFai"d past experience has shown thut thr
general public can be better and ch,apy served
Nh'n Oh" liability ot the carrier 1. limited 80 that II VIII
not Include certain hazards % hi- service that are prop
ely ana more economically provided for by
bofno 10y the owner q thu property. When shipper. assume
these hazards OF transportation distinguished from the
common law Liabilities of The trau-por.r,. lower rates OF
,ha'gc provided. Tn Unit courts have Uniform
y sustained thu Law I'll right 4 hel llaru
ty ly bu n lodug don~ provided such limitation.
no n conflict with public policy the law, Of the Tinted
rtFt my . fff,
may arise the equity ot charge the,
different cn-4's Of service should therefore
aad VIII De- fairly considered b.. The carricr, VIII the
c',rc % arrive at conclusion that D.. satisfactory
~ all parties Interested and without requiring reference
70 any other tribunal.
Ia ori'r obtain the uniformity which Is IN harno
with existing laws and required bv mercantile convenience
carriers have agreed replace bsrcofor,
by uniform instrument which clearly thu
conditions which the carr' viii undcrtake 20 70
ceiy transport and deliver property reduced CLASSES
ard rat. The :orm contains tcvcr condition, Inn
The carriers, liability than ,0uud tn
heretofore used aud all The omissions y
wlriors Those conditions and canuot lawfully
81 bargain between each and each ship
per or trade organization.
They must De determined due reference 70 known
u-ut,. b" offered nv the
entire general public without discrimination fayortsrn.
II IL plausible but misleading to that because b o.
alnz coalitions constitute SPECIAL contract refor
hov should BE- formulated in confer me" between the
shipper. and II Is that bll adlng
dtons ped by hc shipper constitute and always
constituted special contract 90 which the carrier
and sh pr arr both plr'i's. II j. special CONTRACT
however Of that form whore Iartv states
what he Wiling 20 undertake % do t) named
and M" other accepts declines thc oIar
his pleasure. 10 only becomes binding II
,rpcd tho party whom the offer made.
II would not be prlct able for the carriers % confer
with any considerable number Of thousand, widely
scattered shippers and vet m're hupfactcahe for the
r, @ hope reconcile the dfceuc, Of opinion Between
those various shipper. II such conference could bo
brought about Uniformity under such circun stances
wold De- impossible.
Tho attitude 81 the carriers therefore. il hi~ They ~aY
each AID every shipper large small We stand ready
transport property subject 70 our comm9l isV
Liability socaed just aud reasonable rates. 49," VIII
transport at reduced rat Oh Just ana rc1olabc conditions
stated IN our bill Of ladns. Which class OF service Do
YOU dcsrcl"