The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-22
WILL AFFECT
RICHMOND TRADE
Chamber of Commerce Wants New
Classification.
FEEL THEY ARE poWERLEss.
Without Power to Make New
Classifications-Dcaf
10 Appeals.
FEEL THEY ARE POWERLESS.

err, classification Committee announced
That's it would hold a meeting on August 'th
to consider complaints against claSSlnca-
ton Il That classification made such
numerous and sweeping advances. upset
ting so many commercial conditions OIL
long standing, that it seemed to be the
general opinion of the commercial bodies,
that the only practicable remSdy was the
restoration of classified ton % and SUD-
secuent revision, in which such organiza-
lions could take part, and, an 50 DONG
be Of real service TO the carriers IN eere.
ing upon such classification as Would
meet the views of all. But from Informal
ton received it began to be seneraIy pc
lieved a few days in advance of that
meeting, that very little, If any, Sooo
would come of it, as the chairman OIL me
committee had. in substance, declined 70
consider the protests of Such commercial
bodies as the New York Merchants Asso
citation. Philadelphia Trades League ana
others, claiming that they were too general
and not specific. This Classification Com
mittee, presumably with insufficient evil
denc-- to guide them in the determination
of the large number Of sweepisg changes
made but on their own unsupported opln-
ions, put forth on June list classification
making hundreds of advances. about 1850
WITHOUT POWER.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
having no power at present to MAKE
classitications, it cannot treat ciasslhca-
ton q as a whole but can only near s!'e-
cific complaints an entirely impracticabia
process of dealing with the situation on
account of the number Of articles to be
considered. This fact, which was well
known to both the shippers and the' car
ri+rs, left the former in a position SO az
fenceless that they could only trust tor
immediate relisf upon the justice ana Wis
dom of the carriers. For these reasons
appeals have been made by the most prom
inent and influential commercial bodies.
some Of which are mentioned above, ask
ing that the wrong inflicted might be
r!Shted in the same manner that 1t was
inflicted, viz: as the classification had
been advanced as q whole, that 1t be re-
stored as a whole, subject to future re-
vision, but it seems that tha appellants
have .'reclloneG Without their host and
the Classification Committee refused to
consider every complaint that is not sp@-
cific-in other words, they make wholesale
advances but only retail reductions can
any one treat this seriously as Il practacai
proposition? Can it not be seen tnat'
even if this committee was to sit contlnu-
ously, Can mpossibity) it would probaoly
be years before it got through, asd Ee't
this Classification Committee apparent
w upset, In q comparatively brlef period,
conditions which they propose to repair,
If at adj only by SOW and deliberate re-
consideration. Such abuses Of power as
this attitude on the part of the carriers
evinces are fast teaching the people. III
their deferceless condition. in such ener-
eencics to lose confidence in adequate
relief being secured through negotiation,
and the results are beginning to be seen.
The first one of these is this meeting
of Railroad Commissioners at Lookout
Mountain. Tenn, on the 18th instant
called for the purpose of suggesting some
cure for existing evils, and it Is expected
that this meeting Will be largely attend
ed by representatives of commercial bodies;
and it is hoped that this movement Will de-
velop into one. national in its character,
which will take away from those VINO
do not use it wisely a power which has
been exercised past reasonable limits.
THE EFFECT OF IT.
The effect of rates on business IS 1orcl-
bly, Illustrated in recent report from
Consul Harold S. V. Van Buren,. of Nice,
to the Stnte Department. in which the
serious obstruction to business of Ameri-
can manufacturers seeking foreign mar
kets for their products, arising from their
failure to quote rates of freight and in
surance, is empha siZed. This is almost
universally done by their foreign COM
petItors, while many American manufac-
turers only send their catalogues and
offers. Shippers of breadstuffs and other
staple articles in the established export
trade OF the United States are perfectly
familiar with this requ rement, and quote,
in the language Of commerce, c. l. F.,
which means the cost OF the article and
its insurance and freight to the port of
arrival. The infOrma ton contained in
this consular report WIS, therefore. adj
dressed to a similar class of business men
seeking foreign markets as the class that
the Chamber is addressing in the domestic
trade-viz., those who neglect or ignore
the importance Of the rate of freight. 1t
is daily becoming a more powerful factor
in all transactions, and the sections and
communities which fail to appreciate this
fact. or to fully understand its potence
in controlling business and to zealously
guard Their interests in this respect, Will
find their business mysteriously lessening
ind leaving them.
EARLY MORNING TRAIN.
In an article which recently appeared a
statement was made to the effect that
the request for an early morning train
out of Richmond over the Southern Rail-
way had been taken up by the Board OF
Public Interests. and that such a body
would have more influence, as it was IN
the power of the municipality to grant
or withhold concessions. While the Cham
Der had no concessions to grant.
1t should be promised that the Chamber
regards. as a most suspicious omen. this
and other evidences of growing interest on
the part of the municipal authorities m
the improvement OF our conditions and
facilities for business, as all bodies of in
fluence having any concern in R'chn1ond's
progress and welfare should cordially CO.
opernte and combine as unit to remove
any chronic or acute condition from which
the city seriously suffers, But the state
ment referred to is misleading IN one re-
spect, as the citizens of no community
such as Richmond, should be content to
recognize themselves as powerless in any
matter which affects their interests. In
jusufying this position. while the Board
of Public Interest in the present case rep
resents the municipality. the Chamber
and its Traffic Bureau are the creations
and the representative of the largest and
most important classes of shippers.
Therefore any grievance so great against
any line entering Richmond as to justify
the city In denying It proper and needed
franchises or facilities would equally
justify the Chamber in calling upon its
members to withhold from the same line
their patronage, which Is the sine qua
inyoS