Omaha daily bee., 1900-11-20
OMAHA JOBBERS PROTECTED
Western Classification Bureau Declines to
Make Changes in Present Tariffs,
CARLOAD RATINGS ARE RETAINED
Proposition TO Compel shippers
10 hind Boxes with Wire is
Also Laid on the
Table.

IL "OOu, btutldl o6NHN W wv
Union Pacific Allen b. Smith, assistant
general freight agent of the Burlington. and
J. Il. UT, secretary Of the Commercial club.
have returned from Hot Springs, where
they have been in attendance upon the an
nual meeting Of the Western Classification
bureau. Messrs. Wood and Smith partici-
pated In the meeting in their ohcial ca
pacities and Mr. UT was there TO watch
out for the interests of Omaha jobbers
In this he was ably seconded by the rail-
road officials from Omaha.
THE meeting was OF particular import
ance," said General Freight Agent Wood
because Of the great number OF questions
that came up for discussion. over 600 dif-
ferent matters were docketed. The changes
made were not of such nature ta affect the
general commercial or railroad situation.
The propositions to abolish the carload
ratings on certain commodities between
Chicago, st. Louis and the Missouri river
were. for the most part, negatived. What
few changes were made in this respect re-
lated to commodities over which there was
no considerable debate"
Secretary UT was more than pleased
with the results OF the meeting. tine
changes in carload ratings and other mat
ters OF Importance to Missouri river JOB
bers which we're so strenuously sought by
eastern distributors and jobbers were not
granted" he said. land the home jobbers
| interests were well cared for.
THE Hot Springs meeting was especially
| important because OF the unusually long
list Of proposed changes. These originated
for the most part in st. Louis and Chicago
and were inimlcal to the interests OF the
Omaha jobbers. The tendency Of these ap-
plications was either to eliminate carload
rates or reduce the difference between car
load and less than carload rates.
Eastern Jobbers mt Disadvantage.
"The theory on which the Missouri river
business was built up Is that merchandise
can be purchased in large quantities and
shipped in carloads at reduced rates per
100 pounds and shipped out in small lots
on short hauls. and that the eastern jobber
| selling to the western retailer and paying
a comparatively higher rate on small lots
| ON the long distance is naturally placed at
| a disadvantage because his base OF supplies
| Is too far from points of consumption, and
while on this condition Of rates the western
jobber has grown in business the eastern
| jobber has withdrawn to great extent
from western trade. The railroads have ia
vored Missouri river jobbers In present con
ditions because they earn more money in
hauling heavy carloads long distances than
| they would to haul the same freight divided
into small lots, so that while the eastern
jobber has continually complained to the
roads they have received little consideva-
tion because compliance would mean q
sacrifice Of revenue.
Another proposition which was strongly
combated by the representatives of the Mis-.
souri, river commercial interests was that
of requiring boxes and crates OF certain
articles to be wired or strapped This plan
originated with the railroads with the idea
that it's application would reduce the
amount of losses, and claims paid in con-
sequence, because of boxes and crates be-
ing broken open and contents damaged iI
transit The Missouri river jobbors made
a showing that the adoption of such d
rule would not only cost them many thou.
sands Of dollars per year, but that 1t would
be unjust discrimination. No such rule
prevails in the territory east Of Chicago
and beyond the confines OF the western
classification, and consequently the western
jobber would have to pay the wirin,
charges on goods both received from tn,
east and on those shipped out. Conse
auently the Chicago jobber. not having L
pay these wiring charges on goods receive,
by him from the eastern manufactures
! would have a marked advantage over hi
Missouri river competitors. This shown;
was followed up by statements from Job
, bers showing how great the expense Of sucl
plan would be to them, and as resul