The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-12
Tort Of tho Decision Against Job
bsrs in Western Hardware.
EASTERN MEN WIN THE CASE.


Great Northern and Northern Pacific II
the hardware rate controversy has lceE
received BY the Post-Intelifgencer. and
appears at the end of this introduction
rhis decision II against the appeal ot
The jobbers OF the Pacific coast. wh<
sought TO have the differentiai tariff De.
tween carloads and less than carload lott
They Claim that under thu
present system Chicago and Twin City
|obOers can successfully invade territory
that properly belongs 20 them. while u
limits their markets east OF the Pacific
The appeal was vigorously contested by
lobbers from Cdicago. st. Louis. Mime.
apolis and st. Paul at a meeting held II
st. Paul May ~ The decision. as has
been told In this paper. Is against tho
Iobbers Of this coast The decree, AZ rem.
iered by Vice President Miller Of ths
Great Northern. and Vice President Han.
aford. Of the Northern Pacific, IL In full
~ follows:
Text Of the Deciaion.
Referring to the correspondence that has
passed between Us and the conference between
the iobbers q the Paeifc coast and ourselves.
held at the RYAN hotel May "a: and especial
TO the able argument presented ~ the corn
miftee from the Pacific coast REQUESTING The
cancellation At tariff No 8. r. IL
Since hearing the arguments for aud against
the cancellation Of the tariff We have sivsn the
matter very much thoughtful confederation with
ont entering into the discuasion - 70 whether
the transccntinental tariffs that hare bsen h.
sued IN the past, nor even tarin No. !. c. "
sued after the Milwaukee meeting. and the
subsequent issue Of q r. 10. are consistent or
not. We claim that they have al been issued
with earnest desirs 10 make them 10. ana
have been the best efforts a the partiss 70 the
would produce reasonabie revenue for the ear
Yiers protect all interesta discriminate against
none and 1t the same time preserve h.rmony
meet the competition beyond the control of the
rail lines issuing them
II ia trne that No. 8. n. 10 lessens the ear
load diferentials on certain articles covered By
the rates over No. I. c. bat not 70 an unreaecn-
able extent. We believe. The Wholesale ship
pers still have - great o. greater advantages
On account a the freight purchasing ability ~
shown By the statement accompanying the ar-
gument left with rs. The dinerentials now afs
from u cents 70 50 cents per hundred pounds.
pounds on rates made very low By the neces-
sity 81 meeting ocean competition An an
alysis demcnstates that OF many q the diner
entails on commodities Of important tonnage
none run - high - 50 per cent Of The freight
rate.
On ciau rases to the Pacific coast, which
tion. and which We believe have been arranged
on fair hasis the diRerentiai averages about
n Pc, cent The ocean carriers between the
caIly no diss3netfon of ntes IS 70 auantity. ana
20 far W-.eter compssiticn Il concerned the
rats. g carloads and lsss should Be the Ame.
pcstsnt ttn4tory. weeve our 6roM easnings Ass
nearly ~ great ~ HON thfoaGh business and
where the competitive water eoaditions prevail
ing ct the Pacific coast ere not felt. and whore
the commodity tsrigs are fsw. the di0efentta1
between carload ard less tlan carloads on sim
liar freight averages less than % per cent.
Postage stamp Rates.
The principal contention you make. ~ Ne
undentand Won. Il asainss what won tsFm cur
departure from the principle Of postage stamp
rates, DESTROYING. ~ you claim. your natural
advantage Of location. which enables vessels
20 load the manufactures of the Atlantic sea-
hardware store. wen other lines Of trade. Ut
New York. Philadelphia. and land them IT cur
doovS 1T the lowest possible Govt
This II q question where our interests are 70
seriously affected that. although the system a
graded rates NAV be dangerous 70 our interests.
We disagree with your suaEestion 10 attempt,
esfs of the whole eoansry. 70 break away from
the old plan Il postage stamp rates and estab-
fish q graded hasis
II the principle Of applying postage stamp
rates from the territory west Of The Atlantic
eeaboArd IL q correct one. then the application
81 postage stamp rates "a al territory east q
the Pacific coast Il equally correct II II II right
10 apply postage stamp rates from all sources
Al surply in the East Il II equally right TO ap-
ply them TO the points Of consumption in the
such application a. the postase stamp prin-
ciple would make the rates frum the Atlantic
70 the Pacific the maximum for all intermediate
business Such IN adjustment II rates h not
what either a MS desire. II would Destroy your
territory In the interior and seriousls affect
your 3obbine husinsas - well rs he ritnoss to
our revenue. n the hasts Of making greater
rate. from or 70 points back q the ssaenast 10
fair night. there are but too WAYS to meet the
question: One h 10 increase the rates back
the other t. Is Jon have well put II, 10 com
promise IN WAY that will he fair and e.
ford reasonable protection To us all. ne hrst
plan would plsa.e nsasnss OF US vgn'd si,s
greatly reduce eur revenue hy fosring the tra6lc
Of the Atlantic seabcasd and compelling to
seesDs onr minimum rercenssss q the lS.e:s
he 70 the interest Of the producer ~ distributor
In the Middle West the general public: there
fcre against public policy
Forced to Comparable.
Again we are forced 20 the comprcsni.e Yeu
say apply Atlantic seahoard rates from all terri
tory wess untn ne reach the LEGAL rate. and In
crease the rates 70 the interior east Al the
eoast. ~ 70 protect yea In youy selling mar
kef. ard Improve rur rvvenue
We say. Grade the rates westward from the
Atlantic seahoard On the hasis a esuai markets.
that re NAV haul the f,aAic from the district
that viii RETURN the greatest revenue for ysu ser~
vices and Increase the rates back from The Pa
eser coast thus prutectna your fntefests In yunr
selling markets and ssving ~ fair retnrn for
services
We believe car Plan wsll rsceiv. the approval
Of the interstate commerce commission and the
cosgrts.
rate 70 articles widely dassimilas In knik. value
ard LIABILITY 20 damage. protests against which
action you make Tne srxnmsrt presented b.
ven !. aicns the lin. q n. drrsrsn,s on our
nnossify rates the hssts II vHsrs. density the
Inherent liability damage iiAhstits % dam
=. sshss ao, s ss', , e ne s..s ear To-
ermmosstr rates - TIE Pacific enAst rh<y