The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-05
Will Protect Pacific Coast From
Middle West Jobbers.
CIRCULAR HAS BEEN ISSUED.
Hereafter Eastern Houses and Man.
ufacturers VIII Not BE Permitted
to Ship several Packages Under
One Cover to Coast on the Aver
: age Rate Paid by Coast Houses
When Buying in Carload Lots.

After having the matter under discus
sion for upwards of year, railroad COM
panies led by the Trunk Line Associa-'
ton In the East, have adopted new rul-
ing in the official classification winch IS
an all-important one to joohers on the
Pacific coast In substance. according 10
a Joint circular received here yesterday,
they have decided to refuse TO ship
number of small parcels OF different
classes OF goods under one general cover
and forward them as one shipment at
one classified rate.
This is the main subject involved in the
fight OF the Middle West jobbers against
the Pacific coast jobbers, which on COM
plant OF the st. Louis Business Mems
Association was taken up by the inter-
state commerce commission and hear
ing OF the Pacific coast side OF tho matter
concluded in Seattle in March last. The
outcome of the hearing was that the Mid
die West Jobbers found no relief in the
interstate commerce commission for the
support of their unjust demands How
ever, II is understood they are not 10 be
beaten as yet. Their plan. according 10
advices, is to take the railroad matter
into the courts and try to have the ruling
OF the association set aside. On the coast,
now that the fight has been practically
once won. there Is little fear. It is said,
that the Eastern and Middle West jobbers
and manufacturers will be successful.
While on its face such a matter might
appear OF small Importance to the general
public, 1t means in reality, according to
the most prominent jobbers. tho life or
death of the Wholesale business on the
Pa9ific coast In the business in this ter
ritory there is invested approximately
500, 100000. Some jobbers claim the amount
will figure twice this sum These houses
beside the incidental expenses In tho way
OF rents. light. fuel, etc. furnish. employ
ment to large army of men and women
and yearly distribute vast sums Of money
In the larger coast cities in wages.
Being far from the base OF supplies ft
is necessary for coast jobbers to buy In
large quantities and carry heavy stocks
To usurp the business here the Middle
West tobbers ask the railroad companies
TO allow them TO ship several packages OF
various kinds OF goods under one general
cover to retail houses on the Pacific
coast and ia rate classification equal
to about an average rate paid by Pacific
coast 1obbers for their goods sent west in
carload lots. In this manner. without
the expense Of maintaining a house on
the coast and without contributing dol
lar to the upbuilding OF the section in
which they do business, they seek to send
a travelling salesman among the retail
trade. or perchance do their business by
mail. selling In small lots the goods re-
CURED and shipping in one general pack
age
should the matter be taken into the
courts IL is stated the Pacific coast job
bers will not be absent and the volume of
testimony to be offered II necessary will
be great that given before the In
terstate commerce commission.