The Washington times., 1905-05-18
Baltimore and PhiIadel-
pI1ia Win in Freight
Dispute.
AMOUNTS ARE REDUCED
Prouty Prepares Majority
Opinion While Glenn
ents Dissents.

The Interstate Commerce Commission
this afternoon rendered its long expect
ed and important decision On the ques-
ton OF freight differentiais On goods
from interior ports fer export. It sus-
tains the validity Of tlifferenfials ia
favor Of Baltimore and Philadelphia. as
against New York and Boston, but rec
duees the amount
Commissioner Prouty prepared the
opinion which covers eighty printed
pages. Commissioner Clements filed q
dissenting opinion opposing the fixing
OF any dffferentiaIs by the commission.
Synopsis of Decision.
Following is the official synopsis OF
the commissions decision:
I'm a long opinion by Commissioner
Prouty. the Interstate Commerce Cou-
| mission today announced its decision IN
the .diferentiaI freight rate case, iR-
yolving the seaboard diYerentiaIs as be-
| tween New York, Boston, Philadelphia
and Baltimore The case was volun-
tarily submitted to the commission by
all Of the parties interested. The COM
mission now decides with respect TO
dinerentiais on export traffic:
First. that the differentia1 per hum
dred pounds below New York On -four.
all rail and lake and rail- should be re-
duced to cents at Baltimore, and / cent
at Philadelphia: second. that the exist
ing dinerential on ex-Iake grain from
Buffalo, Erie, and Fairport should be
| reduced TO three-tenLhs OF cent per
b1shel below the rate TO New York, and
| be allowed both to Baltimore and PhiIa-
| deipEia: third, that otherwise the pres
in force.
Present Rate Situation.
s4rhe present rate situation. as sub
nitted to the commission IS as follows:
Rates on freight articles from the
West to Baltimore, PhIIadelphEa, and
Boston. are adjusted according to the
following diderentfaIs below or above
the rates 10 New York:
Domestic trafic-Three cents less to
Baltimore. and 2 cents less 10 Pnila-
delpiaia; cents. first class. to 2 cents.
sixth class, more to Boston.
| Export tranic-SaIne as domestic
fraff1c 10 Baltimore and Philadelphia.
except on grain and iron and steel ar
tieles. which are all 11a cents less ID
Baltimore. and 1 cent less 70 PhiladeI-
| phia. same rates TO Boston as TO New
YORK on this traffic. On ex-Iake grain
received at Buffalo, Fairport and Erie,
there is a differentiai in favor of Bal.
| timore OF four-tenths OF a cent per
| bushel below the rate to New York. but
II was contended by New York and
Boston that the differentiaIs fayoring
baltimore and Philadelphia should be
abolished
Prouty's Opinion.
| In his opinion. Commissioner Prouty
says:
If it can be properly done, these
ports should all be kept open for the
| transaction OF this export business upon
such terms that each one may fairly
/ compete for it. No marked advantage
should be given, certainly not by the
licreatfen Of artificial conditions, to any
one port over the other. The ideal con-
| dition would be the establishment or
such rates that enterprise at either port
| IN the way OF Improvement IN service or
facilities might be rewarded by In
creased business, and that there might
exist that healthy struggle OF locality
against locality which Is the best seeur-
ity for proper commercial development
/ No fact has been more peEsistentIy
urged Ilr1on our attention ff1aT1 fhe Inea-
| ton Of Baltimore and Philadelphia, as
compared with New York and Boston in
/ point Of distance. Baltimore IS III miles,
and PhiIadelphia 50 miles nearer than
New York TO Chicago. This difference in
distance. II there were no competitive
| conditions, would justify q lower rate to
Philadelphia, and a still lower rates to
Baltimore.
/ Clements Dissents.
Commissioners Clements. in his dis
sentins opinion, says:
May competing carriers lawfully
effect through the agency OF the COM
mission restraint of competition and
trade by a division of traffic between
themselves and the ports, when to do
/ the same thing through an agency OF
their own would be unlawful? I think
not.
The unmolested freedom OF compe-
titiou by lawful methods permitting the
free course of traffic is more likely 70
give to each community and carrier the
fair and just rewards Of its enterprise
ana public spirit and Just rates TO the
public than any devised plan Of fixed
itiifferentials between competfting car
liers to compose conflicting interests by
iapportionment OF the traffic and which.
IN the nature of the case. must be more
| or less arbitrary. 1t is at least safe TO
Keen within both the spirit and letter
of the law.
S12s to Baltimore and Return, Sras.
Pennsylvania Railroad Saturday and
sunday tickets good On all trains ex-
sept Congressional Limited. and good
for return until Sunday nighI.-Ady.