The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-19
SHIPPERS COMPLAIN
IN NORTH CAROLINA
Lumber Men Want Cars of
Certain Sizes
SHORTAGE is DEFENSE PLEA
Claim Railroads Are Doing All In Their
Power, But Are Are Unable to
Supply Shippers Because
of Shortage.
SHORTAGE is DEFENSE PLEA

! Washington, December 1S.-A feature of
the car shortage question about which the
interstate commerce commission is re-
I ceiYing SO many complaints. developed to-
/ day in the hearing by that body of the
case of the North Carolina Case Work
/ ers association against the Southern and
large number of other railway COM
panies, whose connecting lines do trans
continental business. 1t concerned the
failure of companies to furnish forty and
| fcrty-two foot ears to carry the minimum
of 10000 pounds of furniture shipped TO
the Pacific coast terminals, which entities
the shippers to a commodity rate, but
instead, most of the time supply cars
smaller in size in which the shippers can
place about 1900 pounds.
The North Carolina Case Workers as
ISOLATION Is composed of seventy-six furn-
itGre manufacturers of that state and
/ Virginia. In their complaint to the COM
mission they say the roads give them
! thirty-six foot car and charge $40 for
each 100 pounds with a minimum of 90
COO pounds per car thus subjecting them
to payment for eight thousand pounds
more than the actual weight shipped
they have asked the commission to COM
pei the roads to give them rate of $l.70
a hundred pounds at a minimum of 1900
pounds which they say Is enjoyed by
furniture shippers in other localities.
Shortage Used as Plea.
Counsel in reply to the complaint states
that as provided in the western and
southern classifications, the thirty-six
foot cars took a minimum of 1900
pounds, but that the $40 rate is a spe-
cial rate applying to Pacific coast term-
nails only. and covers a class of cheap
and medium grade furniture that if sub
ject to the regular rating would require
rate of $40 a hundred pounds. The
counsel further declared that their inabil-
ity to supply cars of larger dimensions
is due to the shortage of cars all over
the country and that the railways are do
ing everything in their poder to supply
their shippers.
The whole of today's session was con-
sumed In hearing testimony offered by
the compliments in which the witnesses
gave in detail instances in which the
shippers had been compelled to wait for
periods ranging from ten days upwards.
They declared this had seriously embar
raised them in their business in many in
stances including losses arising from
countermanding of orders.
Tomorrow the committee will hear the
defendants side.
Hansbrough Has Solution.
Senator Hansbrough has in mind the
passage of a law which would compe.
the railroads to anticipate extraordinary
movements of fuel, grain and other conf
modities, and to prepare to take care of
such shipments when they are offered.
It has been suggested that the interstate
commerce commission could investigate
probable excessive offerings for shipment
of commodities of all kinds. and compel
the railroads to furnish the transporta-
ton. 1t is believed by Senator Hans
brough that if a law of this character
were passed the railroad would be able
to contract for the use of equipment from
roads in the south or other parts of the
country when the demand for rolling
stock is not great during the winter, or
the cropping moving season.