Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-01-04
ASK GRiGGS TO ACT.
Freight shippers Request the AttOr-
ney General TO Prevent Railroads
from Increasing RaIes.

ney 10 freNent
from Increasing Rates.
Washington, Dec. 29.-Yesterday the
Interstate commerce commission, in
compliance with the request of the
freight shippers and representatives
of the commercial interests, trans
mitted to Attorney General Griggs a
transcript of the evidence taken at the
hearing last week respecting the new
classification of freight made by the
official classification committee. The
proposed classification is to be made
effective on January 1 by all railroads
using the official classification. These
include more than 60 lines east of the
Mississippi and north of the Ohio and
Potomac rivers. The petition of the
shippers was that the commission
should transmit the evidence taken
before it to the attorney general, with
a recommendation that he institute
legal proceedings, by injunction or
otherwise, to restrain the railroads
from putting the new classification
into effect. To the request of the
shippers the commission in part COM
plies. The evidence and arguments
are transmitted to the attorney gen
eral, but without recommendation.
The letter of transmittal is long, the
committee desiring to place the case
fully before the attorney general.
After reviewing the proceedings which
led up to the hearing, the letter reads:
''In the course of this hearing the
commission took the testimony ofC. f.
al, - N A4Do al oil Il
ton committee; Nathan Guilford,
traffic manager of the New York Cen
tral & Hudson River Railroad Co., and
Frank Harriott, member of the
official classification committee, who
is also the general freight traffic man
ager of the Erie railroad. At the con-
clusion of the testimony given by these
witnesses, an application was made by
many of the shippers present that
such testimony be transmitted to the
attorney general of the United States,
the claim being made by them that
the evidence shows violation of the
Sherman antitrust law.
"While it is not the province of this
commission to determine whether the
testimony above referred to shows a
violation of the antitrust law, and no
opinion is expressed upon that point,
there are certain features of the case
to which we deem it proper to call your
attention.
"With some unimportant exceptions
the general fact appears to be that the
class rates at present in force and
which will presumably be applied to
the new classification are now the
same as or higher than they were in
1887 when the act to regulate COM
merce was passed.
''The protesting shippers assert that
the increases in rates, to the extent
affected by these changes in classified
ton, are without justification, and will
result in excessive charges upon most
if not all of the articles in question.
They also allege that hardship and in
Justice will further result from the
changes which will be made in the
relation of rates, and especially from
the increases in the difference between
carload and less than carload charges.
If their contention in these respects
is well founded, as to which we express
no opinion, a wrong is about to be ac-
complished which the commission is
powerless to prevent and for which
the act to regulate commerce affords
no adequate redress. The facts above
set forth are submitted for your con-
sideration."
Attorney General Griggs, who is
i'll, has given no intimation yet as to
what action, if any, he may take in
the premises. He will have to review
the testimony before he can reach an
intelligent conclusion. In any event
it will be several days before the mat
ter can be determined.