The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-29
RAILROAD NEWS.
Shippers VIII Fight the New
Bill of LadIng.
Association will Appeal to In
terstate Commerce Commission.
TOCOURT If NECESSARY
Appeal for Rate Reduction Re-
sultSin Probable Advance.
Gossip and Matters of Interest I'm
Railroad Circles.
TOCOURT If NECESSARY

Chicago, Oct. 29.-The executive COM
mittee of the American Shippers as
ISOLATION at a meeting yesterday at
the Union League club in this city, de-
cided to appeal to the interstate COM
merce commission to take such steps as
will prevent the railroads from putting
I'm effect the proposed uniform bill of
lading next January. The interstate
commerce commission will be asked, if
1T has the power, to recommend a bill
of lading which will be more equitable
to shippers than the one the railroads
propose to put in effect.
The American Shippers association,
as we'll as all the commercial organiza-
lions in the country, has been up in
arms for months against the adoption
of the proposed bill of lading. They
claim it is a deliberate attempt on the
part of the railroads to shift the re-
sponsibflity for loss or damage to goods
while in transit. The obnoxious bill pro-
vides that unless the shippers release
the railroads from such responsibility
tariff rate.
The signing of such release, shippers
say. would destroy the value of bills of
lading as collateral security and infiict
great hardship upon them. If relief
cannot be obtained from the interstate
commerce commission, it is the inten-
ton of the shippers association to fight
the matter in the courts. Lawyers en-
gagged to look into the legality of the
railroads proposed action have stated
the railroads have no legal right to
take such a step, and that the railroads
are liable for damage, no matter what
condition they may impose upon the
shippers i'm bills of lading.
shippers who appeared before the Of
fetal classification committee a few
days ago and made oral arguments for
reductions IN the ratings of various
commodities, received little satisfaC-
ton Instead of reduction, the
changes recommended by the commit
tee to the individual lines for adoption,
in most instances, will increase the
charges not only on the commodities
about the rating of which complaint
was made. but also on a number of
others The recommendations made
are as follows:
"A large number of additions to APP
fed
"A number of advances in minimum
carload weights to approximate more
closely to the increased carrying capac-
ity of equipment"
"A few additions of carload ratings
to apply on articles at present classed
the same in any quantity, it being
shown that movement thereof had in
creased to an extent sufficient to JUS
tify such action
"A number of advances in rates on
articles of light and bulky nature pro-
weights, at present not bearing their
proper proportion of transportation
COST
Certain eliminatfons of specifications
for obsolete articles
The lining up of some specifications
to meet changes in commercial condi-
tions and a revision of certain rules
Official classification No. 20, embody-
ing such additions and changes as are
individually adopted by the carving
lines will become effective January >,
1905