Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-04
rates to common markets than those given

rates to common markets than those given
to its competitors.
For instance. in shipments to New Or
leans and other points on the lower Mis-
siesippi river and the gulf. the ordinary
class rates on similar low-grade articles
from Toledo. Cleveland and Pfttsburg are
only cents above the rates from Whiting.
The commodity rates on oil are from VA TO
1874 cents above the rates from Whiting
The normal principle of commodity rates
would make the charge the same from al
four of these points, instead of increasing
the dsfferential
Prior to the establishment of the Whit
ing refinery the railroads west Of the Mis-
sissippi prorated with the eastern roads on
oil shipments from the Pennsylvania ana
Ohio districts Into most parts of the west
and southwest. After the establishment OF
the Whiting refinery these roads refused
to prorate from points east of Whiting.
This refuSal increased the natural disad-
vantage of the eastern refineries from
to 1eh cents per hundred pounds. This
discrimination is the more conspicuous. In
the case of the southwestern railroads be-
cause they do prorate with the railroads
from Chicago to st. Louis on oil from
Whiting.
Most of the secret rates and some OF the
open determinations discovered by the pu-
reau were abolished by the railroads short
" after such discovery. The more i'm
portant changes thus far noted are as fol-
lows:
l. The secret rate of cents per barrel
from Olean to Rochester and 10 cents per
barrel from Clean to Buffalo has been
changed to an open rate of ~ cents per
barrel to Rochester and - cents per barrel
to Buffalo on shipments of all refined oil
products, and the practice of blind-bi'ip &
OF OIL has been discontinued by the + IN l.
syivania railroad.
e. The low tank-car rates made by the
Rutland railroad from Norwood to Buriing-
ton, Rutland and Bellows Falls, VT. have
been made applicable on oil in barrels.
=. I'ne cancellation of the secret rate
from Whiting to Grand Junction will re-
duce by about three-fourths the Standard
advantage over competing refiners at
Toledo, Cleveland and vicinity on shipments
into large part of the south. Instead or
Ia or 10 cents the differential against them
Is now or 4 cents per hundred pounds,
while the disadvantage of competing re-
finers of western Pennsylvania has been
correspondingly reduced.
4. The cancellation of the secret rate
from Whiting to Evansville will reduce the
standards advantage over competing re-
finers at Toledo on shipments into many
other parts of the south from about 81
cents to 49, cents per hundred pounds. The
advantage which the Standard has enjoyed
over competitors in Cleveland, Pittsburg
and other Independent refining points has
been correspondlngly reduced.
D. The cancellation of the secret rates
from Whiting to East st. Louis and the
substitution of the rate of 10 cents will re-
duce the Standards advantage from IL
cents to cents per hundred pounds, with
over more easterly refining points.
q. The railroads have adva need their pub
Ished rates from Whiting into northern
Indiana and Michigan by about 2 or 3 cents
per hundred pounds, and have put the
rates on practically equality, distance
considered, with those from Toledo and
more easterly points.
I. The New York. New Haven and Hart
ford railroad has resumed the practice OF
prorating on oil, thereby reducing the aver
age freight charge to independent refiners
of western Pennsylvania and Ohio on ship
ments into a large part of Connecticut,
Rhode Island and Massachusetts by about
cents per 100 pounds. This will materially
increase their opportunity for competition
with the Standard Oil CT ,npany in that ter
ritory. The interstate commerce commits
sion recently denounced the former prac-
tice and recommended change.
g. A large number of the secret rates OF
California railroads have been published as
open rates. While under the contract sys-
tenn of selling fuel oil generally employed
in that region the concerns formerly en-
joytng the secret rates continue to benefit
from them, this revision of tariffs obviously
operates to the benefit of Independent ship
pers on future business. A number of dis
crepancies in open rates on the Pacific
coast have also been adjusted.