Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-18
New England Officials Contend for
Ninety-Six- Hour Limit.
SHIPPERS GIVE THEIR VIEWS
Traffic Bureau of st. Louis Suggests
Certain Changes in Law.
WANT RIGHT OF ROUTING
Commission should Also BE Given
Power to Temporarily EnIOin
Proposed increases I'm
Freight Rates.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7.-Despite opposi-
ton to the forty -eight-hour free time rule
the National Association of Railway Com
missioners in convention here today adopted
a uniform code Of demurrage rules to be
applicable alike to state and Interstate
transportation. This code was lncorpor-
ated in a report Of a committee headed by
Commissioner Lane Of the Interstate Com
merce commission.
Instead Of allowing only forty-eight hours
free time for loading or unloading cars,
with all commodities, as recommended by
the majority OF the special committee,
three minority members reported in favor
OF seventy-two hours on cars containing
more than 1000 pounds.
New England and Florida object.
W. p Hail, chairman of the Massa-
chusetts commission, said that the custom
in the six New England states was to allow.
nincty-six hours free time and he asked
that the association go slow in recommend
ing forty-eight hours cply. 70 this Com.
missioner Lane said that while Mr.. Hall
had been a member Of the committee
which drafted the report he had never at
tended a meeting.
r. H. Burr Of Florida contended the
free time without interfereIc
One of the most determined advocates
Of limitation to forty-eight hours was C. F.
Staples OF Minnesota.
II have often wondered why our farm
ers could not get cars in which to ship
their grain" said he. Il now have found
out that it vas because you fellows in
New England and in Florida were keeping
them ninety-six hours for unloading"
In supporting a reciprocal demurrage
amendment Chairman r. r. Prentiss Of
the Virginia commission said that the big
shipper could get cars pm account of the
volume OF his business, but it was the
little shipper that needed protection.
On the other hand. H. d. Loveland of
California stated that the people Of his
state were ready TO repeal their reciprocal
demurrage law, although It had been in
operation only eight months.
In spite Of all arguments, however. the
report Of the committee. including the
code. was adopted by vote of IS to Is.
suggestions from shippers,
The shippers point of view of transpor-
tatiOn problems was laid before the con-
vention at Its session today. This task
had been assigned to ]. c. Lincoln of
the traffic bureau of the Merchants ex-
change Of st. Louis, who addressed the
convention.
Here are some of the amendments OF
the laws and OF railway rules and regu-
lations, which he said were required by
shipping interests:
Giving to the Interstate Commerce Com
mission the power of temporary injuno-
tion over proposed increases in rates
Giving to Shippers the right of routing.
Making the giving Of erroneous quota
tions OF rates by carriers agents a mis-
demeanor; giving the power to somebody
to award damages to shippers a result
OF such error.
Enactment of a law allowing carriers
to meet and confer as to tariffs, sales
and regulations without violating the law
OF the land.
Creating of a special court to have ex-
elusive and final jurisdiction over ques.
uons arising from the orders OF the In
terstate Commerce Commission except in
such IN i,ances where constitutional ques-
tions would necessitate an appeal to the
supreme court OF the United States