The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-17
AN INCREASE IN
FREIGHT RATES
A Change in the Southern
Classification.
SHIPPERS FIGHTING IT
An Increase of Fifty Per Cent on
Furniture.
GRocERs AND JOBBERs OPPOSE IT
The Merchants Association of New York De-
clares That It is Destroying Business
in the Southern States. Hear
ing on Sept. 5.


BY means of a new classification
the railroads of the State are seek
ing to increase freight rates in North
Carolina.
The result has been a great clamor
on the part of the manufacturers,
merchants and other large shippers.
They have filed formal complaints
with the Corporation Commission and
the matter comes up before tht Com
mission for investigation at it's next
meeting, ON September 5th
The classification now adopted for
North Carolina is Southern Freight
Classification No. %, with an excep-
ton sheet by the Commission. This
classification has been in force since
May 18th, 1899. Last February the
railroads promulgated a new classiti-
cation (No. 26) but the Commission
declined to adopt it, and so it was
never put in force. Since then Class
ification No. 81 has been issued and, ii
seems, is being enforced by the rail
roads, though it has not been passed
upon and adopted by the Commission
aS the law says it must be before it
becomes operative.
The fact that a new classification
had gone into effect was brought to
the commissions attention by the
complaints filed against it. lmmed-
lately the traffic managers of the
roads concerned Southern, Seaboard
and Coast Line) were summoned to
appear ON September 9Th for a hear
ing touching the matter.
1t is stated by those who have ex-
amined Classification No. 81 that it is
generally higher than No. %. Though
in No. 81 some articles are put in a
Lowers class than they are in No. 25.
and the freight rate thereby reduced,
many more are in higher class; and
this is what is causing the com
plaintts
Though the Commissioners action
will be governed by the facts brought
out at the September meeting, it is
pretty safe to say that Classification
No. ~ will not be accepted, as it now
stands. Either the old (No. 25) class
ification will be maintained or the
new (No. ~ classification, with GER
tain exceptions, will be adopted, as
has been done in South Carolina.
Complaints against the new classi-
from three sources
i. Furniture manufacturers of North
Carolina.
2. Wholesale grocers and brokers.
3. Merchants Association of New
York.
The written complaint of the brok-
ers has not yet been filed.
The Merchants Association of New
n1.l- nh TO Il M
Langley, complains:
''Since the Southern Classification
committee began ON February 1st a
general revision of their classified
ton which governs the rating OF
freight moving into and through the
Southern States there have been
many protests filed against the con
tinuance of the varioS issues they
have promulgated. Their so-called
Southern Classification No. 81, which
took effect June LIST, is particularly
disturbing to trade relations with
YOUR State, and as it now seems that
continued protests to- the Classifca-
ton committee will be futile, we desire
to ask if your honorable body has ac-
cepted this last scheduled"
Mr.. j. l.. Borden, secretary and
treasurer of the Goldsboro Furniture
Manufacturing Company, and repre-
senting the chair and furniture man
ufacturers of North Carolina, makes
formal complaint to the Commission.
in course of which he says 1.-THE
changes in classification work Il great
injustice to the manufacturing inter
ests in this State"
'"rhe classification on chairs was
changed from first class to one and
one half times first class, which makes
an increase of so per cent in the
freight acharges. The classification
on furniture, such as is shipped by
the manufacturers of this State. was
increased from third class to second
class.
THE petitioner respectfully calls
your attention to the classification Oh
these same articles in effect at pres
ent in Georgia and in use by the
Southern Railway, Atlantic Coast
Line and Seaboard Air Line. which
gives the manufacturers of chairs IN
Georgia a second class rate and the
manufacturers of other furniture, a
third class rate. The effect of this
discrimination upon the manufacturers
of North Carolina is that our factor
les are shut out from trade in Geor-
gia, and the Georgia factories are let
into our State as our competitors.
THE manufacturers of North Caro-
lima feel that it is only necessary 10
call your attention to these discrimi-
nations, in order that you shall com
pei these roads to give us in North
Carolina the same classifications as
are in use in Georgia. Consequently
the petitioner, representing the fac
tories of North Carolina respectfully
asks that some steps shall be taken
as shall bring about the above asked
for results
In reply to this complaint the three
roads above referred to declare that
Alr. borden is in er.or in regard 10
the rates in Georgia AMI South Caro-
line-that the same classification are
observed in those States in North
Carolina.
Traffic Manager Emerson, of the
Coast Line, adds: ut is certainly not