The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-12
COASTWARD FREIGHT RATE
SOUTHERLY PORTS FAVORED,
SAYS NEW YORK.
A Hearing Before the Interstate Com.
merce Commission as to Facts
and Causes.

Philadelphia, Pa, May 1.-THE hear
ing before the interstate commerce COM
mission of the freight differentials case,
in which the New York Produce Ex-
change charges that the existing differ
ential freight rates on 81 Il, flour and
provisions from the west are disadvan-
tageous to New York and unduly favor
Baltimore. Philadelphia, Norfolk and
Newport News, was resumed this morn
ing.
VIM. r. Tucker. Secretary Of the Phil
adelphia Board of Trade who is also a
member of the Board of Port Wardens of
the harbor commission, was the first
witness to illustrate the claim of the
Philadelphia commercial interests that
the increased freight carrying business
and the increased export trade of this
city has been the natural result of i'm
proved water way facilities. Mr.. Tucker
explained what had been done toward
bettering the harbor facilities in the past
twenty years.
These increased facilities he said. had
led the steamship companies and individ-
ual owners to greater activity in secur-
ing business for their vessels.
Lawrence Johnson, of the firm Of Law
renee johnson and Company. general
merchants of this city testified regard.
ing the relative advanta ges of the two
ports of New York and Philadelphia.
When asked by Mr.. Herman, who rep
resents the New York Produce Exchange.
whether or not, he exported grain from
Southern ports. he explained that he did
not, because of the inability to get the
quantities he needed of red winter wheat
at any other point excepting New York.
Mr.. johnson was the first witness to be
directly questioned by members of the
commission. In reply TO questions from
the commissioners he said cargOes from
South America and also from the East
Indies can be brought to New York and
then re-shipped to Philadelphia much
cheaper than the same cargoes could be
sent directly to Philadelphia
Frank l.. Neall, a member of the ship
ping firm of Peter Wright and Sons, was
examined at length in reference to the
shipping business of New York and Phil
adelphia. He said the steamer connec-
tions of Philadelphia with South
American and European ports were in
significant as compared with New York.
Samuel Bell, Jr., a Philadelphia -four
merchant and who is also director of the
Washburn Crosby Company of Minnea-
polls, stated that the portion Of produce
of the western mills which is exported is
about equally divided in it's shipment be-
tween the ports of Philadelphia and New
York
II. A. Parr, of the firm OF 1. N. Parr
and Son, of Baltimore, exporters of grain,
testified that his firm shipped about 9J
per cent Of their export business from
Baltimore and Philadelphia. In reply to
a question he said that if the dfferential
rate from the west should be withdrawn,
lis firm at Baltimore would be obliged to
90 out of business.
Edward w. Borker, Of Philadelphia,
with the firm of Gill and Fish
.r, grain importers, which firm does busi-
less in both Baltimore and Philadelphia,
estified at some length regarding the re-
ative conditions Of the shipping busi-
less of New York and Philadelphia. He
'aid Philadelphia was embarrassed by
IS limited ocean freight facilities and
hat berth rates were therefore higher
Continued on Page Four