The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-06-05
FREIGHT RATES |'''
HIGH ENOUGH
SAYS NATIONAL AMERICAN GRO
GERS ASSOCIATION.
TO INCREASE
Greatest Meeting Of Food Purveyors
Ever Assembled y Being Held III
Atlantic City TO Discuss Conditions
Affecting Grocers Ia Y. s.

Atlantic City, N. j., June 3.-De-
termined opposition 10 any advance in
the tariff Of freight rates on food com
modities, as proposed by the railroads.
will be made by the National Whole
sale Grocers' association, which con-
vened in annual session at the Mari
'borough-Blenheim today. Most OF the
jobbers look upon the present freight
rates as quite high enough, and de-
clare that aroused public opinion will
prevent the roads from making any
increase.
Today's meeting is beyond doubt
the greatest gathering Of food pur-
veyors ever held III this country. All
parts Of the country, from Maine to
California, are represented, and there
are delegates in attendance from e a
" 40 states. The association repre-
sents 80 per cent Of the distribution
of food products by wholesalers In
the United States.
The initial session was called to
order this morning, with President
William Judson, Of Grand Rapids,
Mich, in the chair. Mayor i.
Stoy delivered an address Of welcome.
Reports from the various grocers
were presented this afternoon, and
the committee reports will be con
sidered tomorrow.
Manufacturers e Talk.
Tomorrow afternoon there will be
la session for addresses by manufact-
urers who recognize the jobbers sas
the logical distribution medium be,
tween themselves and the retailers, at
which the whole subject Of the srela-
ton of the three factors OF the trade
to one another will be discussed. In
the evening there will be a big ban
quet in the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,
when speakers Of national reputation
will address the convention. Fred W.
Drake, of Easton, Pa, willNbe toast
master and among the speakers will
be United States Treasurer Charles H.
Treat, DIR. Wiley and others of like
prominence.
The sessions Of Friday will be de-
voted to miscellaneous business, the
election Of oflcers and selection Of
the place for the next session.
Small Shippers Affected.
In regard to the proposed increase
In freight rates, the traffic manager
Of one Of the largest New York whole
sale grocsrs said:
1.-THE jobbing grocer, when an adj
vance in freight rates Is made, figures
up the extra cost to him Of doing the
business and he adds it to the price
for which he sells the goods to the re-
taller. The latter paying more for
the goods is compelled to .charge
more. The incHfease in the minimum
weight per carload IN food commodi--
tiles we opposed before 1t was made
leRective by the railroads. This in
lcrease does not affect us In the least.
I'VE buy hundreds Of carloads ofsgOods
every year and it makes no difference
whether the minimum weight is 5000
pounds q car, greater or less, our large
purchases enable us TO get the carload
freight rate. This increase in the min
imum weight does affect the small
buyer. For instance, II q small buyer
can handle, say a carload Sof canned
salmon in a season when the mini
mum is 10000 pounds ar, he will
be compelled to increase the purchase
by 1000 pounds now when the mini
mum weight from the coast is 10000
pounds q car
I'VE have no serious complaints
from our customers except on the in
creased minimum. Il the railroads.
put into effect the proposed increase.
1t is safe to say that public opinion
will be aroused to such q pitch that
there will be a readjustment Of rates
all along the line. It is generally
conceded that public opinion IS about
the only thing the railroads fear"
A little forrethought may save you
no end OF trouble. Anyone who makes
It a rule to keep Chamberlain'ssCo Collie,
Cholera and Diarrhoea Remedy at
hand knows this to be q fact. For
sale by all druggists.
TRIAL OF SUBMARINE.
The octopus Proves Better Than Con-
tract Requirement..
Newport. r. L., June 3.-The board
Of inspection which has been here
watching the trial Of the submarine
torpedo boat Octopus. left for Wash
ineton tonight with q report that the