Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-12-10
RAISE IN RATES
WILL BE FOUGHT
NEW ORDER BY WELLS-FARG0
ROUSES DEALERS
M. AND M. A. COMES TO AID OF
RETAIL TRADE
VIII Take Independent Course and
Lay Grievances Before Chair
man of the interstate COM
merce Commission

To fight, Independently, the 80 per
cent increase in express rates on mer-
chandise in lots of over 100 pounds,
which order has been issued by the
V .lls-Fargo Express company and
goes in effect today, is the decision of
the members of the Merchants and
Manufacturers association of Los An
geles.
This decision was arrived at yester-
day after a conference of the retail
members of the association in the Of
flee of Secretary Felix j. Zeehandelaar.
Since the announcement of the big in
crease of express rates was made, it
has been understood that the members
of the Los Angeles association would
join with the California Commercial
association Of San Francisco in MAX
ing the fight against the Wells-Fargo
company.
The local retail members of the as
ISOLATION, while perfectly willing to
cooperate with their fellow merchants
of San Francisco, decided that their in
terests would be furthered and bettered
by making a separate legal battle or
the issue.
Mr.. Zeehandelaar, in speaking of the
case yesterday, said:
1.-THE members of the association in
Los Angeles have decided that sepa-
rate fight will be made against the ex-
orbitant advance in express rates in
large lots are demanded by the Wells
Fargo company. While we Will co-ope-
rate with, and appreciate cooperation
from, the merchants of San Francisco,
after deliberation, it has been thought
better t. rroceed separately We re-
gard the increase by the express COM
pany as unjust and will take the mat
ter to the supreme court if necessary.
We are making this fight for the re-
tail members of the association only,
as the wholesalers and jobbers will not
be affected, their traffic being by
freight. Yesterday 1 sent a protest to
every retail member of the organiza-
ton. This protest was the ordinary
kind and is merely a matter of protec-
ton against the excess rate when the
case is brought before the courts.
We have issued no injunction, nor
have we taken any legal steps and will
not until we have placed our grievances
before Franklin K. Lane of the inter-
state commerce commission. Mr.. Lane
is expected in Los Angeles daily, in
connection with the switch act case,
and at that time also we will present
our claims.
Increase Ninet" Per Cent
"The increase, coming at this time, is
particularly severe on the retailers, as
it means that the fiat rate of $3.50,
which is the present rate on mer-
chandise lots of 100 pounds or less, VIII
now extend to lots of 500 pounds and
over, which makes an advance of prac-
tically 80 per cent.
1.-THE rates in existence before the ad-
vance were on graduated scale III
lots of more than 100 pounds. 1t was
81 on lots of more than 10000 pounds
and $12 on lots less than 1000 POUNDS
and more than 500 pounds. All this
will now be $3.50 hundred.
c. N, Campbell, general agent for the
Wells-Fargo company of Los Angeles,
stated yesterday that he was not IN
position to discuss the advance and
could only say he had been notified OF
the advance, which went into effect
today. Mr.. Campbell stated: 81 have
received word that a restraining order
was issued in San Francisco yesterday
morning in favor of the merchants, but
whether this will affect the situation IN
Los Angeles or not 1 do not know, al
though 1 am of the opinion that 1t
will"
Mr.. zeehandelaar, when asked what
effect the restraining order issued IN
San Francisco would have on the sit
uation in Los Angeles, replied:
1.-THE action taken in San Francisco
will not have any effect in Los Ange-
les. and we will proceed just as though
the order had not been issued. NO, we
have not taken any steps to secure an
Injunction and will not, although the
Injunction issued in San Francisco VIII
help our case materially.
ave have decided on our course and
simply await the coming of Mr.. Lane
of the interstate commerce commits
sion"