The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-16
EXPORT GRAIN TARIFFS
THE INVESTIGATION BEGUN By THE
INTERSTATE COMMISSION.
of the commission and Rail-
way Presidents Working HarmO-
niously-General Notes.

The Interstate-commerce Commission yes
terday began an investigation in New York
Of the export rate situation and the alleged
manipulation OF low export grain tariffs, OF
which complaints have been made by New
York merchants against the east-boun0
lines to Newport News, Baltimore, Philadel-
phia and other north Atlantic seaboard
points. 1t is asserted that tariffs for ex-
port trade are lower than those on d0mes-
tic hipment and that domestic grain has
been carried at the low export rates on the
representation that ii was destined to a
foreign port. The commission is TO hold scs-
sions in all the principal cities Of the East
and West. 1t is proposed to secure evidence
showing all the important changes that have
taken place in rates to the Atlantic sea-
board on shipments of grain and products
and the reason therefor.
Among those present at the opening of the
session were j. T. Dye. representing the Big
Four system; j.. II. Hyland, of the Chicago
Board of Trade; j.. T.. Durham, of the
Norfolk & Western system; f. B. Thurber,
Of the United States Export Association; w.
III. Joyce, REICH traffic manager of the
Pennsylvania system: Clinton White. Of the
Boston Chamber of Commerce, and former
assistant secretary of the treasury.
Charles S. Hamlin. The Philadelphia
6 Reading and the Lehigh Valley
and other roads were also repre-
scented. The New York Central and the
West Shore, the New York. Ontario & West
ern, the Grand Trunk system, the Boston &
Maine system. the Erie and the Baltimore &
Ohio were represented by counsel. Mr.. Ham
lin appeared in behalf of the Boston Mer-
chants Association The Trade League of
Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Produce
Exchange also desired to be placed on the
records as being represented at the session.
Chairman Knapp read a brief preliminary
General Traffic Manager Clifford, of the New
York Central. was the first witness. He
thought the present domestic rates were very
the present low figures because of the COM
petition between rival carriers. Outside OF
this. he did not personally know of any rea-
son why the export rate should be so low.
Mr.. Clifford was asked a number of ques-
lions by w. A. Day, counsel to the commits
sion. He said the port of New York was at
a disadvantage with Newport News and Bal
timore and Philadelphia. AT the latter ports
the cars were loaded directly at the steamer.
Mr.. Clifford said he believed the Grand
road to start the through rate bill Of lading.
The export rate was lower In grain, he said.
than IN grain products. while the domestic
rates on grain and grain products were the
same. He could not explain why there was
such a difference. Ocean rates, he said,
fuctuated at the different ports. In his
opinion 1T required a lower through rate
Ito enable us TO compete in the foreign
markets" He admitted that If the New
York Central wanted to cheat 1t might dis
pose Of grain brought over its lines from
the West under export rates for domestic
use.
President Toomey, of the Pennsylvania
Milling and Exporting Company. testified
that his concern did a business OF 81 1900. oo
a year and had mills at Reading. IA. in
Indiana and other Western States. He
said that flour could be manufactured in
the United States cheaper than 1t could
I'm England, but the American miller was
at q disadvantage in competing with the
English miller because of the export rate
on flour. Eleven cents per 100 pounds. he
said, was a lair price for shipping to Liver
pool from New York.