The times., 1899-12-22


Rates - manufacturers Plead for
an Extension of Time UntiI April.
No conclusion was reached in the hear
ing before the Interstate Commerce Com
mission Yesterday at which appeared rep
resentatives of a large number of mercan-
tile associations and manufacturing corpO-
rations protesting against the increased
freight rates as provided for during re-
cent meeting of the General Classification
/ Committee of several railroads to take ef-
! feet January l. 1900
Only two persons, both railroad repre-
/ sentatiyes, were examined. c. e. Gill.
/ Chairman Of the General Classification
! Committee, was kept on the stand during
the whole morning and a greater part of
! the afternoon session. The information
derived from his testimony was exceedingly
meagre, and several times members OF the
/ Commission partially lost patience with
! the witness During the morning session
! the only reason which could be adduced
| for the increase of freight rates as pro-
! posed, was that the roads needed more
money.
In the afternoon session. opportunity was
| given by Judge Knapp TO representatives of
! the shippers TO question Mr.. Gill. sug-
gestiun made by w r. Corwne of the
( Merchants Association of New York,
| which proposed that the reclsssifcatiOn
| should not go into effect for a period OF
( several months after January I, inasmuch
! as the shippers feel that they have not
had time 10 digest the proposition laid be-
fore them.
Letters OF Protest Received.
Judge Knapp said that the Commission
had no authority to order such a delay. He
called attention TO a bundle of letters on
his desk which consisted of complaints
against the proposed change IN rates by the
railroads, and stated that many of the COM
plainants direct their objections against
the increased ratessOn less than carloads,
which is a large feature of the new classi-
ficatiOn. on the ground that il will act in
juriously 20 their business. He said il was
with view of getting information and
with the view of having representative
shippers hear the carriers state the reasons
for their action that the meeting was call
ed
When Mr.. Gill was asked again the rea-
son for the action he said II have already
given general answers to all the enquiries
of the Commission and their counsel Now
you propose putting me on the stand and
! subjeCtng me 10 cross examination by
every interested party in this room and
their enquiries will necessarily be OF
more or less specific and detailed nature
I am not prepared 10 answer in detail the
questions that may be asked and besides
do not think I should be asked to cnswer
in any but a general way. Judge Knapp
sustained Mr. Gill and stated that ques-
tons should be general and not specific
ones.
y. B. Kelly Secretary of the Trades
Ill 49,. III
opinion the most desirable thing 10 be
accomplished was postponng the effect OF
the proposed new classification until April
1, 1900 Information regarding the pro-
posed scheme, he said, has been before
the people only a few days and as there
are a great many changes 10 be made, he
thought some time should be allowed the
shippers in which 10 prepare themselves
| for the increased rates.
J. H. Bromwell. representing the car
Tiage makers of Ohio and Mississippi val
leys. said that If the various representa-
tives had authority TO make such IN agree
ment as the above that would be a good
way TO dispose of the matter for the
present, and in the mean time the two
factions could get together and amieably
settle the matter. He thought the present
adoption OF the new classification would
result in great dissatisfaction and at
tempted legislation William +. Mcconnell,
Assistant Secretary Of the New York Board
OF Trade addressed the meeting in the
same vein. Tie business men of New
York. he said knew only in a superficial
way Of the changes iR rates that have been
! proposed.
Mr.. gin Declines to Answer.
Mr BroraweH asked Mr. Gill some ques-
tions thai be declined to answer. saying
, that he was not prepared to defend in a
proper manner the interests of the rail-
roads in such an examination Mr.. Brom-
well retorted that he should not have come
here unless he were prepared TO meet the
objections that he knew would be raised.
Mr. Gil asked what use could be made OF
his answering the various questions. Judge
| Knapp replied hat he might be able to sat
= isfy some of the shippers that they have
cause for complaint.
3 The refusal Of Mr. GIL to give full and
satisfactory answers caused Judge YeOmans
I to address him with a show of feeling
, You have tried to eyade every question
that has been asked since you came here
this morning You know all about the
changes which are proposed. and yet you
profess ignorance of everything but the
/ fact that your committee decided upon
; making them
A j. Northumberland OF the St, Louis
Traffic Bureau. thought that the shippers
! / would be aEleeaBle 10 tue DicpuSeN tuduBC
if given an opportunity TO be heard before
the classification Committee He said he
, had been in conversation with a representa-
q tive of the Western Classification Associa-
tion who said that the proposed classH-
cation was revolutionary.
classification of Vehicles.
Mr. Bromwell took up q long series oi
questions on vehicle classification. bur Mr.
Gill said he could no. answer the ques-
I tions without reference TO records which be
K did not have with him. f. s MonneJt
$ Cleveland. Ohio, asked Mr. Gill why the
2 small shipper of petroleum had been dis
criminated against 259 per cent, as com
pared with the wholesale shipper Mr. Gill
? said it was a matter with which the Class
a I iacaUOu Committee had nothing 10 do.
h Nathan Guilford. Traffic Manager Of the
\ New York Central Railroad. was utXi
: placed on the witness stand. He spoke oI
= the additional expenses of the railroads in
iron and all other building materials and
said that adding to the freight rates was
9 their only method Of making up for the
:, increased outlay. He thought the advance
n should be on such articles as are able tC
. bear il, and believed the proposed ad-
~ iustment was not unequal and unjust He
I used cotton goods as an illustration auC
= said that certain finer cotton fabrics arC
now In class | and poorer articles in class
3. The railroads, he said, have been takeI
advantage of by unaCrupulOus shippers
and it is further impossible, with so many
new articles constantly appearing. to cor