The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-09
Committee to Visit President.


After considerable discussion, a resolu-
ton was unanimously adopted, appoint
ing a committee to visit President Roose-
welt, and to ask his sympathy and CO.
operation in the effort to establish reel
procal demurrage. This committee con-
sisted of:
Victor f. Beekman of Seattle, chair
man: S. b. Anderson. Memphis, repre-
sentng the lumber interests Walter S.
Boyle, Chicago, representing the coal IN
terests; c. /. Mllard. Chicago represent
ing both lumber and coal interests IT. Fl.
Smith of Detroit, representing the Mich
igan Manufacturers association: j. A.
Van Hoose, president of the Southern
Wholesale Grocers' association; z. NJ
Washer of Roanoke, Ind. president of the
National Hay Dealers association; e. M.
Wayne of Chicago, president of the I'LL
nois Grain Dealers association and j..
e. Defebaugh, secretary
"rhey are to meet i'm Washington on
the 18th, In the Raleigh hotel, and will
endeavor to secure an interview with the
President as early as possible.
Meaning of Reciprocal Demurrage.
What is meant by reciprocal demur-
rage is no new feature. 1t has been
agitated for number of years, and a con-
siderable number of states in the union
have already established this feature by
lent laws is that Of Virginia, which has
been declared constitutional by the SUI
preme court of Virginia, and it is quite
likely that the committee will in their
conference with the Interstate commerce
commission use this as the basis for sug-
gestions to Congress.
THE idea of the railroads paying to a
party for their inability or failure to
deliver freight, is inherently fair Many
statements were made that railroad man
ayers themselves not only admit this, hut
state that they would be glad to see
his become operative. One of the strong
st reasons that was brought forward by
the advocates of this principle, was that
1t protected the roads which were operat-
ing In a most busnesS-like and thorough
ly railroad manner.
"An interesting fact was brought out
that many roads only had an average
of one or two cars per mile OF railroad
track and depended on other roads for
their cars. The advocates of this meas
ure believed that such measure would
compel such railroads to provide them
selves with proper equipment and not
rely upon other more thoughtful or bet
ter managed roads to furnish the equip
ment.
Laws of Canada.
In reference to one objection that the
present car service and locomotive shops
were overwhelmed with orders, it was
pointed out that with the magnificent
earnings that were shown by nearly all
American roads, these roads could easily
do as many of the best managers have
done, and establish their own car plants
and locomotive works. Delegates from
the borber states showed that the Cana
dian roads, which were very much moro
under governmental supervision, had
made magnificent showings for the past
year and hardly any complaint, at least
nothing comparable to the trouble in
America, had developed along Canadian
lines; thus showing that the strict over
sight exercised by the Dominion COM
mission was not only extremely beneficial
to the patrons of the road, but also APP
parently very beneficial to the railroads
themselves.
Hence it was pointed out that if
stricter governmental supervision in Can
ada had produced such splendid results
for the railroads. II would seem only
fair and reasonable that the same laws
sympathetically carried out in America
would produce similar results. There was
an agitation for extreme legislation, look
ing to stricter laws compelling the rail-
roads to furnish ears and equipment
but finally 1T was decided that this would
very very largely left to the discretion
of the committee, believing that the rail-
ROADS lneulSelNcS were as SiiNciciA utNii-
Gus of lettering conditions and furnishing
equipment as the shippers were.
Lines of Operations.
1.-The detailed suggestions to how
reciprocal demurrage would operate was
along the following lines:
1.-The date of the bill of lading would
show the hour and the day that the
railroad received the car of freight. The
notice of arrival OF same to the con-
signee would be deducted from the date
Of the bin of lading. and thus would