The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-17
RATES ON CARLOAD LOTS.
RAILROADS MUST NOT USE THEM
TO KILL SMALL DEALERS.

A Decision Rendered by the Inter
state Commerce Commission in the
Case of Thurbsr, Greene and Leg
gett - Thousands of People Inter
estsd in the Points Involved and
Ruled Upon.
WASHINGTON, March 16.-The interstate
commerce commission yesterday, in an
opinion by Commissioner Schoonmaker, de-
cided the cases brought against the trunk
lines by T. B. Thurber and others, Thomas
L. Greene, and Francis H. Leggett g. Co.,
Of New York city, known as ''the carload
cases." in favor of the complainants. Com
plant was made Of too great differences in
the rates charged on carload and less than
carload quantities. The cases excited wide
spreadjnterest, and more than 4, 900 persons,
firms and corporations doing business in
various sections of the country fled memo
rials with the commission expressing their
views for or against the relief sought for by
the complainants.
THE POINTS DECIDED.
The points ara briefly stated as follows:
Classification of freight for transportation
purposes is in terms recognized by the act
ful. 1t is also a valuable convenience b tn
to shippers ana carriers. Classification of
freight designating different classes for car
load Quantities and for less than carload
quantities for transportation at lower rate
In carloads than in less than carloads is not
i'll contravention of the act to regulate
commerce. The circumstances and condi-
tions Of transportation in respect to the
work done by the carrier and the revenue
aaTOPd HiScimIlQr and iuSfifuy n
reasonable difference in rate. The public
interests are subserved by carload classifi-
cations of property tnat on account of the
volume transported to reach markets or
supply the demands of trade throughout
the country legltimately or usually moves
in such quantities.
CLASSIFICATION RIGHTS.
Carriers are not at liberty to classify
property as the basis of transportation rates
and impose charges for its carriage with
exclusive regard to their own interests, but
they must respect tie interests of those who
may have occasion to employ their services
and conform their charges to the rules
of relative equality and justice
which the act prescribes. The cost of the
service is an important element in fixing
transportation charges, and entitled to fair
consideration, but it is not alone con-
trolling, nor so applied in practice by car
rlerS, ana the value OF the service TO the
property carried is an essential factor to be
recognized in connection with other con-
siderations. The public interests are not to
be subordinated to those of the carriers,
and require proper regard for the value of
the service in the apportionment of all
charges upon traffic.
MUST KILL SMALL DEALERS.
A difference in rates upon carloads and
less than carloads of the same merchandise
between the same points of carriage SO wide
as to be destructive to competition between
large and small dealers, especially upon
articles of general and necessary use. and
which under the existing conditions of
trade furnish a large volume of business to
carriers, is unjust, and violates the pro-
visions and principles of the act.
A difference in rate for solid carload of
one kind OF freight from one consignor to
one consignee aud certain quantity from
the same point of shipment to the same
destination consisting of like freight or
freight of like character from more than
one consignor is not justified by the
difference in the cost of handling.
Under the official classification articles
known in trade as grocery articles are so
classified as TO discriminate unjustly in the
rates between carloads and less than car
loads upon many articles, and revision of
the classification and rates to correct the
unjust differences, and give these respective
modes OF shipment more relatively reason
able rates is necessary, and is SO ordered.