Omaha daily bee., 1906-08-30
DEEUNRlCE CAUSES DEMuR
Omaha Heavy Shippers Feel that They Are
Hard Hit by New Rnlss, a.
RAILROADS SAY NEW LAW IS TO BLAME
Change IL General and Not. Solely
Applied TO omaha and Will Ne
in Erect TIL Changed
by Appeals

The special Committee appointed by the
heavy shippers of Omaha, Is very active
In getting together evidence for the case
which they say will be brought against
ne Western Car Service association, which
.AS2mposed Of ali the roads doing bust
ness in Omaha. The car lot shippers have
decided TO pay no more unjust demurrage
charges, and several oases are now pend
inE where the faiitoads have sold the cars
because the firms refused to pay the heavy
cfmurrage charges which the shippers
-pl,arge were clearly the fault of the rail-
. read companies, The shippers say they
Ja1 set no sausfattioh. for the car service
people do uot perform che service. and
they are sent Rom the railroad company
To the car service association and back
ssslo. all the while the car running up
deinurrage bills
Few actual changes have been made In
we reading OF the rules of, the Western
" Hervice association. The first rule liz
! hed and reads: "All car load freight,
a. freight taking car load rates. and all
Sseheht cars. whether full car loads or not,
"Aing track delivery. will be subject to
ear service rules" Another, change Is the
abtdlshing Of the special rules, which gave
ooal men five days to unload. and also
thu rules giving the shippers a day To hold
On the Railroads. side. a-
AS presenting the railroads side OF the
controversy II, II. Churchill. general
agent of the Chicago Great Western rail-
road said: t.. ar
The railroads are simply protecting
their own interests and trying to minimize
the abuse of their equipment, and at
the same TIME to do II lawfully. The
anew law provides that all rates and
charges must be reasonable and as these
I charges are made in accordance with the
Jaw the shippers with have recourse in
the courts If they think the rules are
not fair The railroads have established
these charges and the burden of proof
Is on the shippers or those making COM
plants. The charges established by the
roads are going to remain in effect and
stay In force without any discrimination
until changed by the proper authorities.
Not Snap Judgment
These rules are no snap judgment put
in effect In Omaha alone, but are now in
effect all over the country. The Great
Western has Incorporated them in its new
tariffs. as is required by the new law.
The coal men are the principal complain
ants because the special ruling in their
FAVOR is giving them FIVE days in which
TO unload their cars has been removed
by the new law. This law says all ship
pers must bes treated alike, and the roads
felt that they Disseminated in favor of
the coal man when he was given FIVE DAYS
Hnd other shippers but two days. If in
fobeying the letter of the law we have
y imposed an unjust burden they have their
\ recourse at law.
The average freight car of every
description is worth over "a day &c
carriers and In busy times a great deal
more. 1t is not probable we would be
looking for a chance to get a dollar a
day for a car which is worth 81 day
to U.s."
Northwestern Posts Tariff
The Northwestern is the first road 70
post its new tariff In Omaha, in .compli-
ances'whh thestprosisions, Of afe~ new iaw
The new tariffs for passengers at all the
principal gateways have been printed ard
circulated SO the law was complied with
strictly. The tariffs consist of several dir.
ferent sized books. fastened together In a
portfolio and ready TO be hung by a chair
for the convenience of passengers OF
course, most passengers will consider 1t fal
more convenient to ask the ticket agent
what the fare Is to shaneapois than to trS
to look 1t up themselves through the awful
bundle of figures. but the railroads hav,
compiled with the law
comparative statement of the trans.