The Washington herald., 1908-08-09
ATTACK TELEGRAPH TOLLS
Apple Shippers Complain that the
Charges Are Too High.
international Association starts
Campaign for a Substantial
Reduction.

Niagara Falls y Y. Aug s--The In
ternationaI Apple Shippers Association.
in session here this week. adopted a
resolution protesting against the alleged
excessive and unwarranted rates Of the
Postal and Western Union Telegraph
companies and the American Telephone
and Telegraph Company. A committee
was appointed % appeal 10 Congress for
an amendment 10 the interstate commerce
laws or for a special law which viii force
a reduction IN the present telephone and
telegraph rates
The transportation committee was di-
rected TO take up with kindred orgauiza-
tions tie question OF any proposed ad-
vance in freight rates with a view CT hav-
ing enacted a law which viii make Il
mandatory upon transportation companies
70 publish for the benefit Of shippers the
proposed advances thirty days before the
increase becomes effective This 3. is
believed. viii give the shippers sufficient
time TO combat any increases
During the past year eighty-seven mem
bers were added TO the organization
many being from Canada Four crop es-
Inmates were published during the year
and all showed a satisfactory condition in
the market. A committee represent ting
the shippers VIII attend the Apple Grow
ers' Congress in St. Louis next week
and a joint conference on proposed na-
tional legislation regulating stamping and
grading viii be held The Atlantic deep
waterways project was approved. and the
organization will become member OF
the commission having that matter IN
charge.
Congressman Porter appeared before the
convention Wednesday afternoon in re-
sponse to an invitation. and spoke on the
legislation presented at the last session Of
Congress providing for the packing and
grading Of apples On a uniform scale. The
bill presented by Mr.. Porter is to be sub
stituted by another bill which was pre-
sented and approved at the convention
to-day. Congressman Porter said that
when he introduced the measure. he found
there were some clauses IN IT which were
not exactly 10 his liking. but he pre-
sented II upon request without any
changes. The substitute bill goes more
deeply into the grading Of apples as well
as the packing A resolution adopted
Thursday, requiring that the face Of any
package or barrel OF apples shall truly
represent the entire contents, viii prob
ably be Incorporated IN the new bill
This is designed TO stop fraud by those
who put a fine layer OF fruit on the top
Of q package or barrel and inferior fruit
below it The new bill viii also demand
that apples be packed neatly and that the
stencil or stamp Of the association be
used
The association viii be represented at
the National Apple Show In Spokane next
month by a committee. There was a pro-
test to-day from several New York State
apple shippers that the rates charged by
the New York Central between various
points in the State during the past thres
years have been excessive.
A committee appointed TO confer with
the division freight agents Of the New
York Central at Buffalo. reported that
there would be no advances just now
The dealers say the rates have jumped
almost 50 per cent OfHcers viii be elected
Tomorrow, and the committee on crops
will ra1or-