New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-25
CURTAINS AS TINWARE
MISDESCRIBED.
Some of Those focused By Inspect
ors Testify at Hearing.

The investigation Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission into the alleged undertaking and
misdescription of freight by merchants shipping
out Of New York and its vicinity was resumed
yesterday morning in the Federal Building
Testimony was given Friday by Robert G. Ste
venson, chief inspector of the Trunk Line Asso-
citation, and several inspectors that on the
average ten thousand packages a month were
misdescribed by the shippers. The names Of
many New York firms were given as the most
persistent offenders.
When the hearing was resumed yesterday
Frank r. Davenport. superintendent for But
Ter Brothers, one Of the firms mentioned was
called as a witness P. J. Farrell, the attorney
for the commission, explained that his firm was
charged with misdescribing freight. and that
its shipments were regarded with suspicion by
the inspectors on account Of the frequency of
misdescription
Mr.. Davenport said that was the FIRST he
had known Of it. II was the custom Of the firm
he said, to ship mixed goods Of different CLASH
hcat1on In one package, and the instructions to
the shippers and packers were TO give it the
highest classification
How do you account for the frequent mis-
description Of your shipments" Mr. Davenport
was asked.
i don't know except through the mistake in
marking by the packers. We do most Of orr
Some of our customers" he continued com
plain Of the high classification. and they have
asked US If there isn't some way out Of IT, We
have always replied that there is not"
Doesn't that mean that other firms are get
ting goods through at a lower rate?" asked
Commissioner Prouty.
Yes, either that or on account Of short haul"
answered Mr.. Davenport.
Jacques Kahn looking glass manufacturer -,
est
those mentioned persistently misdescribing
shipments. was the next witness His firm was
charged with constantly shipping looking glasses.
hrst class. as plate glass, second class He said
he understood that plate glass and looking glass
took the same classification, and at any rate.
they were paying the first class tariff on their
shipment
Several years ago" said Mr. Kahn THE rail-
roads the Merchants Dispatch. and other roads
Iurhlshed us With stamps for marking our ship
ments. and we have been using them ever since
If 1 had known that there was anv Question
about the way in which our goods were de-
scrtbed I should have made the proper change
l think the railroads ought to have called orr
atIehuon 10 II, but they never did. The rail-
s soaus Know that We ship almost entirely to
furniture manufacturers and we would not be
sending plate glass TO them
inspector Robert c. Stevenson. who has fur
nshed the buIk or the testimony against the
shippers, was recalled. He said he was sUr-
Prlsed TO hear that the shipping clerks of Butler
Brothers had orders 10 describe shipments prom
er1y, when the firm had been such constant
Vlolator OF the law for many years. He gave as
an illustration that one shipment Of lace curtains
was stamped tinware.
Mr.. Stevenson corrected statements made YES
terday about the proportion Of misdescrfbed shin
Inehts discovered by the inspectors 1t was NOT
true that they detected nearly all attempts 10
eVade the law, he said. but rather that as much
or more escapes the inspectors as thew detect
No matter how many inspectors they had tbey-
would not be able to examine all packages esue-
clally small ones, on account of the DELAY thar
would result.
Commissioner Prouty asked him what he
would advise the commission TO do TO correct
the evils complained Of
I would recommend a vigorous prosecution Of
all nrns Tor the misdescription OF good and the
Ialse declarations Of weight" said Mr.. Stevenson
why don't you apply TO the District Attorney
OF TINS county, responded COMMISSIONS
Prouty' instead Of asking the commission 10
Lake any acIlon The misdescTption OF goods is
violation OF the law, and when you find shin
per perslstently and maliciously doing this Won
should apply to the District Attorney and have
him indicted and punished"
inspector Stevenson said that often small and
infrequent shippers misdescribed goods tbrougb
ignorance. but he said that the large shippers
dld so TO meet ompetition and please their Gus
toners who patronzed the shipper who pava
them the lowest price and cheapest freight Es
said that when the work OF the Inspection bn
reau started packages that were found 10 ha
misdescribed were held at the terminals and the
shippers informed They received only one an