The Washington times., 1909-11-17
SAY SPECIAL CLAIMS
SAVIOR OF REBATING
Members of Car Shortage
Committee Report to Com
missionerS' Association.

Holding that many of the so-cal]ed
special claims now paid by railroads 10
large shippers are in reality an out
growth of the old Tebating habit from
which many roads have not been able
10 shake themselves free, and recon-
mending an exceptionally severe code Of
demurrage rules 10 govern shippers
throughout the United States. the special
committee appointed TO consider the car
shortage question made its much-dIs-
CUssed report to the National Associa-
ton of Railway Commissioners today.
The report was framed after several
stormy meetings. at which open accusa-
ton were made that the railroads in
terests were being considered above
those Of the shippers. The last meeting
of the committee was heId here Mon
day night, and lasted until . o'clock
Tuesday morning.
The report VIII be made the basis of
demurrage. regulations by practically all
the large railroads IN the country. II
wipes away many special privileges
which railroads have feared TO take
from large shippers, but which in the
view OF the committee. mean an ad-
vantage that enables these favored
shippers 10 control thu market.
Some Instances.
It was found, for instance, that the
Steel trust has never been forced 10
paw demurrage charges on cars Kept
over the prescribed time, because the
railroads feared that the steel interests
would divert their traffic to other lines
or establish a railroad Of their own.
The demurrage charges have in this
case been charged TO weather and
punching"
The committee also recommends the
abolition of the industry rule" which
allows shippers that move cars to their
own sidings by their own engines, TWEEN
ty-four hours more in which 20 unload
the cars than any other shippers.
In one case, the shipper simply uses
steam power to move his cargo. SAYS
the committee; and Ia the other, mule
or horse power; and the shipper who
uses steam power to move the cargo
to the warehouse needs really less time
for unloading than the smaller shipper,
who is financially unable to install spe-
cial tracks and provide switch engines.
The 80 per cent plus rule" also in
vogue in the steel district, is character
lied as utterly vicious and as having
been called into operation TO accus-
tom the large steel and iron operations
to the discomfort OF demurrage rules %
The rule referred TO practically allows
the steel interests 70 unload only the
cars that they can use III more cars
are delivered than the capacity OF their
plants calls for and. says, The commit
tee, lis sufficiently nebulOus TO permit
OF any practice that the parties may
agree upon.
Another Objection.
The weather interference ruIeT ig
also called means to avoid the pay
ment Of demuFFage. This rule allows
the shipper more time 70 unload il the
weather is Indictment. Under this rule
the committee found the Steel trust
refused TO pay sl5.000 denuFrage charges
and the railroad had to cancel the
charges for fear Of losing the traffic.
In another case, says the committee.
big industry diverted its entire traffic
in revenge for the insistence Of a rail-
road upon collecting demurrage charges
amounting to bur $50. The weather
rule and the punching rule" which
the committee finds have been used bV
the big shippers 10 avoid payment Of
demurrage charges. are abolished.
Time Tor recOnsigning Of cars Is also
abolished The committee finds that in
cured nVe days for the recOusignment
Of cars, holding the cars Of coal mean
while, using them merely as ware
houses awaiting a favorable turn ia
the market At one time thousands Of
cars or coal were tied up in Chicago
while the farmers Of the Northwest
were losing money because of the car