New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-16
INVESTIGATING FREIGHT RATES.
THE, INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION
LOOKING INTO SOME REPRESENTA-
TIoNs BY THE PRODUCE
EXCHANGE

,r, ,....,a,n Commerce Commission yester 1ay
began an investigation of "a complaint ny the i'ou
nee Exchange of this city, that lortv-lour i"H
roads comprising the Joint Traffic Association
have been discriminating against New-h orR an
dvertinc trade to other cities by means OF the an
ferenas in rates for the carrying OF freight from
the West TO the Atlantic seaboard. After ofiel
morning session IN Room NO a OF the feuei"'
Building which was found to be too small lo' the
hearings the Commission had session in the
afternoon in the Board Room OF the Produce la
change Martin A. Knapp presided In the absence
of William r. Morrison. the chairman, ana othcr
members OF the Commission present were Judson
c. Clements, James Yeomans and Charles H.
Prouty.
The committee Of the Produce Exchange making
the charges consists OF II. b. Hebert. j. F. Trns-
dell. c. p. Sumner. S. S. Marples, j. Naiah''
Franklin Quimby James Parkers apd others Joh'
D. Herman and Ave f. Blackman appeared as
counsel for the committees Among the representa-
tives OF the railroads present at the nearing were
Frank LOOMS New-York Central; Samuel Han
Boston and Albany: H. c. Bond Baltimore ana
Ohio: r. W. De Forest Central Railroad OF New
Jersey: j. G. Green. Lake Shore; Henry Russell.
Michigan Central and s. T.. Williamson Nickel
Plate.
In presenting the charges to the Commission. Mr..
Herman said that the dinerentials enforced by the
railroad companies have been an enormous eharse
upon New-York Compared with the rates 10 BAL
timore the charge amounts TO 60 cents ton Sls a
carload and over s. Oo0 COO year. MI Herman said
in part: =,
The result of the differentals being arbitrary -
that the percentage Of advantage therepy gwen W
rival ports is constantly changing a. d wi u,g 10
constantly increasing aE EarG Of rates Thus When
the wheat rate from Chicago to Newly ork IS -; -
cents and TO Baltimore y cents c cne Of the Rev.
York rate; when. however. the rates ar AIM
~ 10 and ~ cents. as al present. on .oia In, and
more rejoces in an advantage Oh ~ ~, complainan nj
that the unjust burden OF the ts
New-York IL Increased by some OF t tn. ineuranre
by such devices as free sIoragr,d otber terminal
remission OF elevator charges anu o''iei '0'
favors at rival ports.
Commissioner Prouty inquired what klnd Oh an
order the Produce Exchange wanted the No'hiliS
sion to make and the lawyer replied that tne NJ, u
thing for the Commission TO do was U w. iano
EiSber of the baltimore Chamber OF commerce
said he could not agree with the "su'e' p
by Mr.. Herman .-.,,. -. tho Prod
lanes C. Brown state statisticlan OF the ir9 10
moo Eycbange was sworn as the first witness; ne
testified as 10 the correctness or the iacts anu lis
ures presented by the lawyer 49, -, A,
Mr. Mitchell Of Powers. Son a 60. grain SUN
ners testified that shippers had more ,plNHeses
in Boston than in other cities. nasfnuch as M
received twenty days free storage az tnaI Pot,t
which he computed TO he worth halt-ceht on edcn
husbel if taken advantage OF. me storage rcte
in other cities for storage was one-ouarter OF Il
cent bushel for ten days -. !. rouo,o5
Mr. Mitchell then went on 10 say that ne DeIleNe,,i
tha- the reason more grain was shipped through
the mort of New York than the other ports no.
withstanding that better rates were oneIsu ciac
where WAS because the canal was S!h!i'e, ~
~ bringing grain 10 the ocean, and that the ware
housa capacity was larger and better 10 store gram
in for the large future sales a., ...,~..,,,.
After Mr. Mitchell had furnished his testimonG
the Commission adjourned the hearing until 1893"
;nAn. to-day.