The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-21
DEMlJRRAC1 E WAR
ON In EARNEST
Lumber and Coal Interests Join Forces
in Presenting Their Case.
Arguments Heard by Inter
state Commerce Comn1is.
sioners at Chicago,

4
Freight Congestion Inquiry
Shows Illinois Central
Methods to Advantage.
Chicago, Ill.,, Dec. 21.-The railroads
may as well get ready for the fight
OF their lives on reciprocal demurrage
Tor 1t Is coming. On Jan. 4, when the
national reciprocal demurraga conyen-
ton opens at Chicago, the railroads will
hear something drop. s.
hen the Minnesota Shippers and
iKeceivers' association came into the
Minneapolis inquiry with a petition for
the abrogation by the interstate com
merce commission of the demurrage
rights of the railroads, or what was
substantially the same, they made
request the full compliance with which
would. have gone, behind or would at
least have tested the discretionary pow
eTs OF the commission to the extreme.
This Minneapolis petition really has not
yet come before the commission in the
strict sense for it would have to be
presented to the entire body before de-
clslvc action could be made in any
case. Hence the papers will 20 to
Washington for consideration.
When the two representa- ives of the
commission, Messrs. Lane and Harlan,
reached Chicago, they ran into a hotbed
Of unrest, dissatisfae ton and complaint
and found the representatives Of i'm
portant trade organizations waiting to .
present to them further plans Of reeip-
rocal operations that would shift part
Of the penalty of delay in handling upon
the railroads.
Forces Well Organized.
The coal and lumber trades are lead
ing the fight and their movements are
being directed by Is. Ketchum, editor
Of tn. BLACK Diamond, and j. e. De-
febaugh OF the American Lumberman,
who were on hand today to open the
big fight. Sidney B. Hostler and A. r.
Berry supplemented the efforts on be-
half of the coal men and Secretary
Hotchkiss Of the Illinois Retail Lumber
Dealers also approved.
fore the commission. Conditions in the
lumber. trade, he said, are deplorable.
A hundred smaller firms solvent in fact
are, seriously embarrassed as a result
of paralysis Of business. This is in the
south and west principalIy The lum
Der movement IN year requires
2,330, 600 ears. It is business OF
tonnage than corn, the greatest Of
crops, and more than any two other.
crops. The railroads. by their own
lack Of foresight or Incompetence, have
pafalyzed this great movement, Mr..
Dsfebaugh said, and while it is true
the country is very prosperous and
business has increased, the real reason
is in financial rather than in operating
control
There are 10000 men in the United
States engaged in some manner in the
lumber industry, and 95 per cent Of
the number favor reciprocal demur-
rage.
Ashley j. Elliotzof Peoria has pre-
pared a cartoon showing the ri1iqation
of the coal business by the railroads
land lee, 900 copies will be sent out to
arouse sentiment.
Convention Means Much.
When the convention opens here on
Jan. the real battle will begin. That
the thing can In any way be checked
by, the roads is impossible. Tt has
started. In former years it. started.
but nothing ever resulted; conditions
Were different. Sentiment was differ
ent. It fell short Of the mark. But
~ IS Cne real Ining Cnls Time, and 1T Is :
everywhere. Impression OF feeling in
7 minneapolis seems to be truly reflect
I'VE OF the business sentiment of the
|. United. States. The railroads, the
Shippers say, have got to give them a
better show, and since the roads do not
seem to- find this out, and apparently
nave falled from one cause or another
fully to grasp the great transportation
problem with proper consideration for
the rights OF their patrons, they will
try to make them do better If the power
necessary has to be found in congress.
ns.. -.
TRAIN Men Heard.
". George =, =: Marcy, president Of the
and E. B. Boyd, traffic MANAGER of f' the
+ Chicago. Board Of Trade, were nresent.
Mr.. Patten said his firm had opportun-
Iity on Tuesday to sell grain for export
from New York to load on steamer Jan.
Is, and had to turn it down because II
could not afford to bind ITSELF bv1 con.
tract and take a chance of uettinr tha.
ears thru. Mr.. Patten fears a ad;nai
reciprocal demurrage law would defeat
itself. but recognizes the necess;tv for
something Of. that nature look;no tn
protection of the shippers.
OF ZIG cars of grain recently handled
by Mr.. Patten IS firm. nearly All zpara &
unloaded in one to two DAYS. and tha
Chicago grain trade is in No nov ha.,,s
pering the roads Nv delov in ,,n1aa a..
-. uAAAOe1tiA