The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-27


selected from each line of business and
appointed as a committeeman TO investi-
gate and report the effect Of this advance
upon his particular interests
The answers were then tabulated, show
ing an advance In cost OF transporta-
ton OF from 3 per cent. TO 200 per cent.
on a number OF important articles.
In the meantime the lines interested
commenced a revision OF the tariff OF
October Is. 1892. and TO facilitate them in
this undertaking they asked for list OF
the complaints received touching the
rates In said tariff.
This request was compiled with by send
] ing them the tabulated statement, sim
ply az an illustration from instances
known 10 the Chamber OF the hardships
worked by this advance, but not as a
statement OF the whole case, the commit
tee being unable from lack OF data, asked
for but not obtained from the transpor-
tation companies, 10 make comprehen-
sve statement, and the companies hav-
ing I'm their own possession in some shape
data from which 20 fully institute a
comparison between old and new rates.
After this several communications
passed between the committee Of the
Chamber and the transportation COM
panies having reference 10 an appoint
ment for conference; but though advised
that a Subcommittee OF the lines was
continuously al work upon a revision OF
the tariff, the task was one Of such mag
nitude that meeting could not be Sc
cured until the 18th instant.
On this occasion the transportation COM
panies were fully represented, Mr. Gull
laudeu and Captain Allen Of the Old Do
miniOn Steamship Company, Captain J.
w McCarrick of the Clyde Line. Mr. j.
u. Drake Of the Richmond and Danville.
Mr. G. A. Taylor Of the Richmond, Fred
oricksburg and Potomac, and Mr.. Il. -.
HotC hkiss OF the Chesapeake and Ohio
whose line was interested. being present
on the part Of the Chamber a special
subcommittee, consisting Of Messrs.
1Tavers Purcell Christian, Antrim,
Younger and Dunlop and from the
Wholesale Grocers' Association Messrs
Blair Whittle and Chambers were ap-
pointed TO meet the transportation agents
Speaking for the lines interested, Mr.
Gldllaudeu stated that in all Of their de-
alterations they were unanimous in their
purpose that If any wIongs had been
committed they should be righted; that
the committee Of the transportation com
panies having charge Of a revision of the
tariff had earnestly and industriOusly
cons dered not only the cases cited by
the Chamber, but the tariff as whole;
and that they hoped and believed that the
result Of their labOrs would be salts
factory to the merchants and manufac-
turers OF Richmond; that I'm reporting
what had been done. he would first men
ton that the lines had adopted the sug-
gestion Of the Chamber in applying as far
as possible the Southern Railway and
Steamship Associations classification TO
the business between Richmond and
Northern cities. the necessity for which
had not been fully appreciated originally,
but was now seen TO be desirable, as that
classification applied between Northern
cities and points South of us; and that
where II was not practicable 10 apply this
classification, a number OF commodity
rates had been adopted TO meet the ne
cessities Of the situation: that they be-
leved the tariff as now proposed was
equitable in its adjustment or rates but
that il any inequalities or well-founded
objections still existed the transportation
companies held themselves in readiness
TO earnestly and promptly give such cases
their consideration.
The list of commodity rates was then
examined so far as il related to articles
with which the committee or its members
were familiar. In some instances the re-
duction was practically satisfactory, but
In others 1t was not so, notably, in in
stances where articles were taken out OF
a class on account OF the low rate they
would enjoy under the Southern Railway
and Steamship Associations classihca-
tjon and higher commodity rates adopted.
AS to the proposed tariff as n whole
your committee is at this time unable TO
report, nor do they see how they can at
any time do so, not being familiar them
selves with the necessities Of every line Of
business and not being able to procure
the old tariffs existing prior to October
18th, as heretofore stated, by which to in
stitute a fun comparison.
The revised tariff. it was stated, will
go into effect on the LIST proXimo, so that
under the circumstances there appeared
TO be no course left open to your COM
mittee in the premises but 10 await the
full text Of the new tariff and the result
Of its trial. and in the meantime to report
To the Chamber the redress thus far
obtained.
To do the lines represented full justice,
their agents manifested a sincere desire
10 meet the views OF your committee as
far as they conceived themselves able or
authorized to do so in the premises.
But. with a keen sense Of the gravity
Of the situation and Of the responsibility
devolved upon it, your committee thinks
proper TO report, in addition to these
facts as to the tariff itself what was
further developed in the conference.
The agents Of the lines represented pro-
itSStu llldC the purpose OF the late adj |
vance in rates was simply to establish a
living level Of compensation 10 the car
riers for the service performed: but the |
process adopted in accomplishing this |
object seemed 10 be TO recouD solely on !
business to Richmond Norfolk and Pc |
teTsburg. and your committee were |
satisfied that the Improbable character |
of their business was due to rates on |
through business as well as local.
OF course the prime object Of your |
committee was 10 secure a restoration Of !
old rates, with the understanding that II |
any OF those rates were too low they
would acquiesce IN their being evened up.
This your committee still thinks should |
have been the course pursued and with
out any unfriendly spirit or criticism
frankncss cOmpels the admission that IL
has felt all along aggrieved that so radi-
cal a change on our Northern business
should have been made by a combination
Of the lines. both water and rail, north
Of us without any due notice or confer
ence with our Business men upon the sub
ject prior 10 the adoption of the tariff Of
October 18th.
In the consideration OF what cOnsu-
tuted an equitable or reasonable rate.
the idea seems TO prevail with the trans
pOrtation companies that the true test
Of what is reasonable Is what the com
modify In each case can bear: but your
committee must enter its protest against
this as sole guide in the construction OF
a tariff, the adoption Of such q rule for
guidance being fraught with disastrous
coOSaquopcpS m MANY uavc II