The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-07-13
SOME QUESTIONS
FROM SHIPPERS
All Are Not Pleased With Rul-
ing of Interstate
Commission.
SAY SOME DECISIONS
RESULT IN INJUSTICE
Effort to Be Made to Hold Con-
ference With the Com
misSiOners.

| Because il is contended that in some
| instances decisions of the Interstate
Commerce commission in railroad cases
have injured shippers more than the
railroads, members of a number of
! boards of trade in the country are en-
deavoring to arrange for conference
with the commission either at Chicago
or Washington. At this conference
recommendations as to proposed
changes in the recent railroad laws will
be made.
If at the conference the commission
can convince those who are present
representing the organizations that the
decisions are not unjust to shippers, no
attempt will be made to have the laws
revised, but should the reverse be the
case. then revision will be urged. AS
some Of the decisions are not fully un-
derstood by the members of the board
Of trade, a series Of questions has been
prepared to place before the commits
sion. The questions are as follows:
Questions Involved.
With regard to the recent change in
the ruling of the commission as TO rout-
ing and misrouting of freight. The
change only partially cures the evil, IN
asmuch as a railroad company could,
under the authority which their ruling
gives, reserve all rights to route, thus
confscating from the owner of the prop
erty the right to get out of his freight
that which benefits him. In fact, we
have been told by one Of the traffic
officials that with the authority given
him he would Immediately make deal
with an Eastern railroad to deal all
Of his freight in exchange for his, thus
L., loht aI ho %
the shipper.
Railroad agreements versus pools,
The President has frequently referred
to railway traffic agreement, but the
press, and recently the commission, have
construed these words to mean "pools, y
The shipping public distinguishes be.
tween a traffic agreement and pool
inasmuch as there has been no pool for
a long period. while traffic agreements
are plentiful and essential, although in
strict violation of the Sherman anti
trust law.
Sum of locals versus joint through
rates, In view Of the recent decision
Of the Supreme court in the Texarkana
State case, permitting the rehillng Of
freight, the ruling Of the commission
will work a distinction, inasmuch as
billing can be accomplished to much
better advantage by the larger shippers
than the smaller, thus securing the ad
vantage of the former.
Application via one competitive line
Of a rate established via another, with
out the formality Of thirty days no.
tice; otherwise, discrimination will re-
suit, which in turn is in conflict with
the fundamentals of the interstate law.
Responsibility Of Carriers.
Responsibility Of carriers for rates
quoted. There should be, at least, some
y>lo IN rvbicb cbinnpr 90 To
get rate on which he can rely. AS il
is there is none, not even the commits
sion can always give us clear state
ment of rates in effect, and especially
without delay.
Publicity of association meetings. BY
this we mean publicity of all sections
contemplated with regard to rate ad
justments, classification, etc, that the
public may have voice to the extent
of protesting or aiding, and may not be
subject to arbitrary action.
The unreasonable rule of railroads to
establish a car minimum by their tariffs
and then have that minimum set aside
arbitrarily by operating cars, by refus
ing to allow loading that the minimum
requires and forcing the shipper to pay
therefor.
Concurrences. Concurrences fre-
quently delay unnecessarily, with bene-
fit to none and injury to many
Through rates versus through routes
The recent decision of Commissioner
Lane is broad one and means much
injury. In fact, it is practically
revolution if cnrried out as we under
stand it, and there is no more impor-
tant question now confronting us than
this particular one.
The application Of State or local rates
on through shipments, where no joint
rates exist. It's effect on car service,
switching charges, etc.
Thirty days notice requirement.
The consideration of class rates as q
joint tariff, which must be given in lieu
Of combinations, especially with regard
to commodities, which move entirely
under commodity rates and not classiG-
cation. creating such n radical differ
ence that it becomes hardship.