Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-03-27
THE RAILROADS.
What Will Result from the Carload
Lot Decision.
The Minnesota Test Case DecIdpd-A New
Passenger Train Schedule on the Santa
General Railroad Items.

The interstate commerce commission
has rendered a very important decision
on the long pending complaint, origi-
mated by New York firm of grocers
and backed up by a large number of
shippers in various cities, alleging that
the trunk lines made too great differ
ences in the rates charged on car loads
and smaller quantities. The commits
sion declares that a classification Of
freight for transportation at a lower
rate in carloads than in less than car
loads is not in contravention of the act
to regulate commerce and it justIties a
reasonable difference in rates. Car
riers, however, Unjust respect the in
terests 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 pre-
scribes. - While the cost of service is
admitted TO be an important element in
fixing transportation charges the value
of this service to the property carried is
an essential factor to be recognized, and
the decision concludes:
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 gen.
a. Gu 5:t! isSSo' s 80 -, I
ing conditions OF trade FURNISH large volume
of business to carriers, is unjnst and violates
the provisions and principles of the act. A
difference IN rate for q solid carload OF one kind
OF freight from one consignor TO one COnsignee,
and carload quantity from the came point of
shipment to the same destination. consisting of
fcrnr mn glpnn
consignee is not justified by the difference in
cost of handling. Under the official classical
ton the articles known in trade as grocery ar
tIcles are so classified as TO discriminate un-
Justly in rates between carloads and less than
carloads upon many articles, and a revision OF
the classification and rates 20 correct unjust
differences and give these respective modes OF
shipment more relatively reasonable rates, is
necessary and so is ordered.
The effect of this decision, if enforced,
viii be very far-Teaching and important.
1t viii result in changing the tariff on a
thousand or more articles on the eastern
trunk lines and on perhaps nearly as
many upoG their connections. 1t will
place small shippers more nearly on
footing with the largest shippers at the
same points, but on the other hand it will
take away the advantages enjoyed by
jobbers at interior and remote western
points, and will probably tend to increase
the business of the wholesalers st the
great centers like Chicago.
The decision really hinges on the ques-
ton what is reasonable difference be-
tween rates by the carload and by
smaller quantities, and it can hardly be
denied that on some kinds of traffic
great difference is now made, although
this may not be true in the majority of
cases.
1t is a result of the decision that is to
be regretted that it will to large extent
undo the work of years in constructing
the new uniform classification which was
just about TO be put in effect. Under
that classification very large differences
are IN many cases made between carload
and less than carload shipments, and If
such difference as, for instance, in rating
one article as class by the carload and
class BY the hundred pounds, is de-
cided TO be unreasonable, the schedule
VIII have 20 be changed in many particu-
lars The work of deciding what changes
are necessary is of itself one Of very great
magnitude and must require much time.
= Railway Age.