The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-08-06
Shippers and Railway Officials
Seek Satisfactory Settlement
of Rate Troubles
WILL REVISE ALL TARIFFS
Railway Officials Are Anxious to Have
Big Shippers of the Country Unite
to Secure More Salts
factory Arrangement

Action tending toward securing an
understanding between railroads and
the shippers in regard to the proposed
freight rates is being taken up today
in Chicago.
1t has been generally understood
that the roads have practically decided
to postpone all further talk of gen
eral raise in rates until Dec. and
the proposed meeting Of the shippers
and the carriers is intended to clear
w any doubt in the matter and to
determine whether peace or war is
to be declared. With the invitation is
irclosed a copy of the resolutions
adopted at the shippers conference
protesting against general increase.
Many of the shippers have expressed
apprehension that the reason for the
let-up in the discussion on the part Of
the roads in regard to putting higher
rates into effect Immediately is that
they have adopted a new method Of
campaign and intend to secure the de-
sired increase of revenue by means Of
revision of the classification
Representatives of the railroads
have been at work for over a year in
the effort to formulate feasible plan of
revision which will secure the desired
uniformity and it is understood
meeting of the various subcommittee
representing the roads will be held
in New York at an early date to re-
port the results of their investigation.
AS such revision would involve
countless changes in existing tariffs,
increases in some sections being bal
anced by reductions in others, there
lis strong feeling on the part Of
some Of the shippers that the roads
contemplate changes that will amount
to an all around increase in rates.
Under ruling made yesterday
the interstate commerce commission at
Washington will consider the reason
ableness Of an increase in railroad
rates before they become effective, and
even before a protest against them
has been filed by shipper.
This decision, coming so soon after
the appeal Of cincinnati shippers to
President Roosevelt to use his in
fuence in bringing about such action,
is believed to have been suggested by
the chief executive.
Members of the commission are in
terested in the decision by Judge
Speer of the southern judicial dis
trict of Georgia granting a prelimi-
nary injunction restraining the At
lantic Coast line, the Louisville &
Nashville, the Nashville, Chattanooga
& ST. Louis; the Cincinnati, New Or
leans and Texas Pacific, and the
Southern Railway Companies from
putting into effect on Aug. l the in
creased rates on shipments of staple
products from western to southern
points.
In 1903 Judge Speer took the same
course in relation to the increase of 2
cents a hundred pounds on yellow pine
by the Southern railway and South
eastern carriers, including the South
eastern freight association. The court
placed the carriers under bond to re-
fund the overcharge should the inter
state commerce commission decide that
| it's increased rate was unreasonable.
and the new rate was then allowed to
60 into effect. The commission uecid-
ing in favor of the compliments, the
railroads refused to- obey their order,
and Judge Speer sustained the com
mission decision and enforced it's or
der, favoring the lower rate.
According to decision by the com
mission yesterday shippers may com
bine small quantities of freight of vari-
Gus ownership, either by arrangement
among themselves or through the me-
dunn Of forwarding agency, and ship
the combined lot at the relatively
lower rates applicable to large ship
ments.
/ The commission decided in favor Of
the smaller shippers upon the ground
that the ownership of property ten
dered for shipment cannot be made a
test as to the applicability of carriers
rates.