The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-28
SUGGESTION CAME
FROM PRESIDENT
Decision Permits Combination ol
Small Quantities Of Freight Of
Various Ownership in Order
to Secure Lower Tariff
Applicable to Large
Shipments.
=. AsH1NGroN. Juiy a.

wv to-day that It will consider
& the reasonableness OF rates
after notice OF increases by carriers,
and prior to the filing OF protests by
shippers. Is regarded as Of widespread
Importance.
Following closely upon the action Of
Cincinnati shippers. who, appealed to
the President to induce the commission
to take this course, It is generally be-
lieved here that the suggestion calling
forth the statement came from Mr..
Roosevelt. Chairman Knapp said on
Saturday that the law contemplated
Investigation Of the RESPONSIVENESS Of
rates by the commission after they
have become effective. but he thought
the commission might decide that the
increase is effective after notice has
the new tariff actually goes into ef-
feet. The commissions statement to-
day takes that view OF its powers.
Injuactioa Granted.
There is much interest in the ac.
tion OF Judge Speer. OF the Southern
Judicial District OF Georgia, in grant
ing preliminary Injunction restrain
ing the Atlantic Coast Line. the Louis
Vile and Nashville. the Nashville.
Chattanooga and st. Louis, the Cincin-
natl. New Orleans and Texas Pacific,
and the Southern Railway companies
from putting into effect on August LIST
the Increased rates on shipments Of
staple products from Western to South
ern points
In 1903 Judge Speer took the same
course In relation to the increase OF
cents per 100 pounds on yellow pine
by the Southern Railway and South
eastern carriers. including the South
Ieastern Freight Association
II The advance wl1 on rates from
lieorGiaS S5and sChattanoosa 10 Cincin-.
lnati and other points on this ohso
River. It was promulgated by the
l:carrierst to take effect on April IS.
1903. and would have become effective
granted bySJudge Speers on April eth.
on Mayss1sth the court dissolved the
temporary Injunction and withheld fur-
ther action until the case could be
ldeternined by the Interstate Commercc
Commission. The court placed the car
Iiriers under bond to refund the over
charge should the commission decide
that its Increased rate was unreason-
able. and the new rate then was al
lowed TO 60 into effect.
The commission decided in favor OF
the compliments. the railroad refused
to obey the order, and Judge speer
&
enforced its order favoring the lower
rate.
shippers May Combine.
According to q decision by the Inter-
state Commission to-day shippers may
combine small quantities OF freight Of
various ownership. eitherSby arrange
ment among themselves oE:through the
medium OF forwarding agency, and
ship the combined total at the relative
ly lower rata pplicable toSslarge ship
me ts. IA
The commission decidesi in favor OF
tho smaller shippers upon the ground
that.theS ownership OF property. rendered
for shipment cannot be made a test as
to applicability OF a carrier'sl rates. The
Interstate commerce law; forbids dis
lcrimination between shippefs. and the
fact that one shipper tenders a "bulked
shipment" mada up OF property of vart-
GUS ownership consoli lidated before de-
livery to the carrier. will not Justify
the carrier in making asEcharge dif-
ferent from that for hipment OF
Isimilar character rendered by Ship
per who Ia also the owner.