The Saint Paul globe., 1899-06-13
GRAIN AND FLOUR RATES.
MiIIers Enter Protest Before Inter-
state Commerce Commission

MilIers Enter Protest Before Inter-
state Commerce CommissfOn.
CHICAGO, June 12.-George A Schroe-
der, Clement B. Stern, F. l.. Roerich and
G. f. Rock, representing the Milwaukee
chamber Of commerce, representatives of
the railroads and lake states flour mills,
attended the opening session of the inter-
state commerce commission, held here
today. Frank Barry, of Milwaukee, sec
retary of the Millers National Associa-
ton of the United States, was also pres
ent. He declared that discrimination
on the part of the railroads between
freight tariffs on wheat and flour favored
the foreign manufacturer Is cents per
barrel, and that he intended to protest
to the commission. The Cream City dele
cation said they wanted an adjustment
Of rates. doing away with the present al
legged discrimination, which allows Min
neapolis a better export grain rate than
the Wisconsin metropolis. 1t was nearly
noon before work was begun in earnest.
Chairman Tucker, of the Central
Freight association. representing the
Eastern railroads jointly, was the first
summoned to the stand. He admitted
that there is a discrimination in rates OH
grain and flour for export and for domes-
tic points. 1t was shown that there is a
rate of II cents per 100 pounds for flour
shipped for export and a rate Of u cents
for wheat for export.
When Chairman Knapp opened the pro-
ceedings there were present Associate
Commissioners James D. Yeemans,
Charles A. Prouty and William ]. Cal
houn. - -
Among the interests represented were
the Chicago board of trade, Winter
Wheat Millers' league, National Millers'
association, Michigan Millers' league and
Milwaukee Millers' league. Among the
railroad companies cited to answer be-
fore the commission are the Baltimore
& Ohio, Chicago & Erie. Chicago &
Grand Trunk, Lake Shore, Michigan
Central, Atchison. Topeka & Santa Fe,
Chicago Great Western, Chicago, Mil
waukee & ST. Paul. Chicago. Burlington
& Quincy, Chicago, Rock Island & Pa
cific, Chicago & Northwestern. Chicago
e. Alton, Chicago & Eastern Illinois and
Illinois Central.
When Chairman Tucker, of the Central
Freight association, was called he read
a table Of the rates on grain and grain
products from points In the interior to
the seaboard for export and domestic
use This table presented the official
rates, and showed that there was little
or no discrimination on the grain for ex-
port and for domestic points up to Feb
eNASN
the discrimination was first displayed In
corn rates When he had concluded the
reading Henry McMoran. of Port Huron.
representing the Michigan millers, asked:
Mr. Tucker, is 1t not true that the rail-
roads make a rate of II cents for grain
for export and IL cents for flour for ex-
port?''
Mr.. Tucker replied that such was the
rate. Mr. Tucker stated in answer to
further questions that there was an ad-
ditional risk attached to the carrying of
flour, and that flour was taken in small
er cars than the cars used for the trans
portation of grain.
E. A. Eckhardt declared the size OF
cars was no basis for the discrimination
against flour or grain products. Mr..
Tucker also stated that some direrence
was caused in the rates on account OF the
milling in transit. Mr.. Tucker was on
the stand the greater part of the session.
The millers believe the outcome OF the
Investigation will be that the interstate
commerce commission will require an
equal tariff basis for export and domestic
shipments, while the relation OF the rates
to the Atlantic and gulf ports will be de-
termined by agreement between the roads
involved From Chicago the commission
goes to st. Louis to resume the hearings.