Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-02

port rates made by the railroads and the
provision in the new law that all changes
in tariff shall be subject to a thirty-day
advance notice before becoming effective.
The commissioners said that they wanted TO
be as fair as possible both to the railroads
and the shippers, and they confessed that
they were not altogether certain how the
proposed thirty-day notice would work in
some cases.
Shipment of Cotton.
A concrete example of the existing con-
ditions may be given in the case of cotton.
which Is one of the most important of the
export crops. Take a central distributing
point like Memphis There is a rate from
there on cotton to the various seaports.
such as Norfolk, Pensacola, Savannah and
New Orleans. This rate varies and is ha sed
on the distance by rail. But the essential
point in the export business is how much
II VIII cost the shipper to get his cotton
into the hands of the buyer abroad and the
water rate from the American port to Ify-
erpool or Antwerp is a vital factor This
water rate is constantly varying according
TO the empty tonnage available at the va RI
GUS ports, and the railroad men explained
TO the commission that the combination
rate was made, say from Memphis to IJv
erpool, by taking the lowest available ocean
freight rate telegraphing that to Memphis
IN the morning, and then basing the com
blnation rail and water rate on that max
ing the rate the same from Memphis to
Liverpool by all of the ports through which
there was a combination rate
1t was explained by the railroad men
that this gave the shipper the ADVANTAGE
of being able to choose any one OF haIf
dozen lines on which to ship his cotton and
made him independent of any one mort r.
was also pointed out that If the thirty day
notlce was enforced it would tend To. mar
manentiy fix the rail rates from any dis
tributing point to all of the ports and
would tend to eliminate competition and
make the shippers of any one section de-
pendent on a certain line and a certain
port to the exclusion of all others Inst
what erect on the market this would have
or whether 1t would help or hinder the
dealing in futures the commission lie nof
yet prepared 20 say
WMle cotton, which has been used as an
eAa,npie' is one OF the most important com
mooities. the same general rule will apply
TO many other things dealt In both for ey
port and import. 1t viii apply to tea ON the
racine coast and to wheat from the north
ern ports. 1t is just possible that some ex
ceptions may be made to the thirty-day rule
IL experience shows that fits enforcement
would work palpable injustice to either the
railroad or the shipper But this is a suh-
Ject on which practical experience will helm
sleatiy IN settling things on a working
OASIS what the rate law and what the
commission are both for is to prevent un-
JUST discrimination and there Is enough
latitude In the law t9 allow practical adjust
iaene "here II is found to be necessary.
degard1ng Domestic Rates
There is not expected to be any serious
question over the thirty-day clause in re-
gard to domestic rates. There NAV be
some cases In which 1t will be found ad
visable to make exceptions to the general
rule. One of the Southern officials instante1
a case where some important southern
granite deposits were being opened nm on
the line of his road and where it was de-
frapIe TO make a rate that would bring
the stone into competition with Vermont
granite at some of the central western
points. II II were question OF making
quick rate to catch some CONTRACT or re
meet some similar emergency enforcing the
thirty-day rule would work a nar,lshi, to
ene snapper. But the rate once male would
stand. and 1t Is thought that the purposes
of the law would be fulfilled in The public
lily that would be given to the published
rate.
The mere matter of whether the tarirs
of the railroads shall be actually nxsted
on the walls of the stations or whether
they can be filed with the station agent
and a notice that they can be consulted
posted In their place. is a detail over wh,cn
there Will be no trouble at ALL And # IS
thought that with little practical exne-
rienee In the working OF the new law and
the operation Of the standing committee
to bring forward the grievances II any. of
the roads will make a satisfac .ory adjust
ment possible in the course of few
months.
An Official Statement.
At the close of the conference the follow
ing statement was given out by the COM
mission:
"Tbe railway traffic oficials who have
been in conference with the interstate COM
merce commission yesterday and TODAY
were committees representing the Western
Association. roads west of Chicago. and the
Southern Association. roads south of the
Ohio and Potomac rivers and east Of tba
Mississippi. They submitted three general
propositions In the nature of REQUESTS ra
lating to the publication and filing of tariffs
and kindred matters under the amended
law, which takes effect on the 2Sth OF An
gust.
First, That longer time is necessary
than will intervene before the new Ia w
takes effect to prepare and print rate sched
ules In conformity with the amended stat
ute. incidentally. they ask to be allowed to
publish their tariffs In the various stations
by placing copies in the custody of an agent
and posting notice that they are open to
inspection by any person who desires to
consult them.
SECOND, That the requirement of thirty
| days notice of change in rates be modified
SO as to permit changes In export and inn
/ port rates such short notice as NAV he
necessary to meet the competition of for
| eign carriers.
Third, That in the case of joint tariffs
which are usually issued by tne initial car
| rier that the terminal charges as Tor sfor-
| age, switching, to-. be published and filed
by the delivering roads.
'sIt was understood by those present and
stated distinctly by the commission that It
has no discretion under the present law
and consequently can make no order in re-
gard to any Of the matters discussed until
the new law takes effect Moreover as only
| three members of the commission were
1 rrasant which "a less thar ,1a{nr3<r Z