Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-03-20
TRY TO JUSTIFY
RAILWAY RATES
AGENTS REPLY TO CHARGE OF
FURNITURE DEALERS
TECHNICAL CLAIMS ADVANCED
TO PROVE DEFENSE
Commission Hearing at San Francisco
is Given Monotonous Array of
Alleged Figures to sus-
tain Contention

SAN FRANCISCO, March 19.-In
opposition to the complaint of furni-
ture dealers and others who have found
fault with prevailing minimum car
load weights, representatives or the
transcontinental railroads today sub
mitted their defense to Interstate
Commerce Commissioner c. A. Prouty.
Edward Chambers, assistant 1relsht
manager of the Santa Fe system, was
the first witness called.
In response to questions by u. w.
Camp. counsel for the road, he testi-
fed from a compiled statement show
ing the weights on all shipments OF
furniture from eastern points to san
Francisco and Los Angeles during
1908.
Mr.. Chambers stated that percent
age of cars less than % per cent were
not loaded to the prescribed minimum.
The witness stated that these mini
NUNS were established after the rail-
roads had conferred with representa-
tives of all coast furniture dealers at
Portland, Ore, in 1901, and that it was
generally understood at that time that
it was not always possible to load cars
to the minimum agreed upon, owing 10
realization of the fact that articles
shipped frequently varied in weights
though subject to the same tariff.
Revenue So Low
Mr.. Chambers also testified that the
railroads revenues, derived from ship
ments of furniture from Grand Rapids,
Mich, to coast terminals, was very low
as compared with that produced by
other commodities.
At this point the discussion was
switched to the subject of consolidated
CD, &c fn VIII
referred. Commissioner Prouty stout
ly defended the ruling by which the
committee authorized these shipments,
and the proceedings were enlarged to
the scope of a three-cornered debate
between the commissioner, the witness
and Attorney o. E. Butterfield of, the
New York Central and affiliated lines.
Mr.. Chambers stated that in future
the small dealers will not be permitted
to consolidate shipments, explaining
that the railroads had not attempted
to prevent the practice because they
were not fully agreed as to the wisdom
of opposing the committees ruling.
You believe it is to the interest of
the railroads and all others concerned
to handle business in carload lots 2 7
asked Commissioner Prouty.
YES" was the reply.
"rhen what difference does it make
whether or not the articles shipped are
owned by one or two or more people?"
Question Repeated
Several times this question was put,
and in every explanation made Mr..
Chambers showed the necessity for pro-
tecting the jobber or the dealer who
could afford to buy in carload lots.
The commissioner declared that there
would always be discrimination against
the small dealer, but that to permit
ahI - IL 70
solidate shipments would lessen the
amount of discrimination.
The witness admitted that in the
shipment of furniture both the railroad
and the shipper would be benefited, but
he said the principle was not general.
Attorney Butterfield asked then if
there was any manner of doing away
with this discrimination except by
abolishing carload rates altogether, and
the witness expressed a belief that this
would be the simplest way.
But your tariff would be so con-
structed as to foster the carload rate,
which you have admitted is most bene-
fetal to all concerned" said the COM
missioner.
In reply to direct question to which
the commissioner insisted upon an an
swer, Mr.. Chambers admitted that it
was not right to prescribe carload min
imurns which could not be loaded by
the shipper but for which he was. ex-
pected to pay.
A. e: Shindler of the Royal Mantel
company and F. w. Williams. buyer
for the Michigan Furniture company,
testified as to alleged determinations
against their firms.
At the close of the hearing Commits
sioner Prouty summed up the case by
stating the practice of prescribing car
load minimums that could not be load
ed in the cars furnished was not de-
feasible.
The case will be resumed tomorrow.