New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-07-01
RAILROADS WIN POINTS
Official Classification, Effective
To-day, Not Suspended.
INCREASE IN FLOUR RATES
Commerce Commission Takes
Cognizance in Decision of Re
cent Advances in Wages.

CGuG AukdHCSS lii w az
Commerce Commission announced to-day
that it would not suspend official classified
ton No. S. involving more than 5000
items. which was filed to become effective
on July 1. This declination to act is VIC
tory for the railroads.
For nearly month the commission has
been overwhelmed with protests against the
proposed new classification, many shippers
seeming to believe that the rearrange-
ment would result in largely increased
rates The subject was considered care
fully by the commission. a thorough and
comprehensive check being prepared on the
entire classification. In the more than
5000 items and ratings involved, there are
only ffty-eight changes. Of which twenty
eight are reductions and thirty advances
the latter including twelve increases IN car
load WEIGHTS. In official statement the
commission says:
The principal increases are the carload
minimum Of horse vehicles from 10000 to
II 900 pounds and an advance in the classlllo
cation of automobiles from first class TO llo
per cent of first class. and the commission
is not satisfied that these items should pc
suspended. This ruling, however. Will not
prevent or delay the hearing of any COM
plaint which has been made or may be
made against the rea sOnableness of these
or any other increases effected by the new
classification.
Official classification territory includes all
that part of the United States north of the
Potomac and Ohio rivers and east Of the
Mississippi. 1t takes in st. Louis and
Chicago. For purposes of convenience. all
freight not moved under commodity or
special rates is divided into several classes.
the first class taking the highest rate. ex-
cept in particular instances where special
articles are required to pay more than the
first class rate. The second class takes
somewhat lower rate, and so on down
through the several classes, the highest
numbered class being the lowest in rate
The Flour Decision.
The commission also granted permission
to-day to the railroads operating out of
Buffalo to advance rates on -four and other
wheat products one cent hundred pounds
TO Eastern destinations.
This permission was granted by a dect
sion In two cases of the Banner Milling
Company, OF Buffalo. against the New
York Central & Hudson River Railroad and
other carriers. A rehearing OF those cases
and of the case of Jennison and other
Northwestern millers against the Great
Northern Railroad and other carriers was
given a few weeks ago by the commission.
In its original opinion in the Banner Mill
ing cases. the commission held that rate
of Il cents a hundred pounds on flour and
other wheat products from Buffalo to New
York City and 10 cents a hundred pounds
on the same products to points In the New
England territory was excessive, and or
dered that the rate should not exceed 10
cents and Il cents. respectively.
Since that reduction was ordered, con-
ditions, in the opinion of the commission,
have changed. Within the last few weeks
all the carriers involved in the handling of
this traffic from Buffalo have made mate
rial advances in the wages of their en-
ployes, which aggregate several million
dollars annually.
It was further maintained by the car
riers that the reduction ordered at Buffalo
would compel a corresponding reduction on
the same products throughout the Middle
States, constituting Central Freight Asso-
citation territory. The millers from the
Middle West showed that there was COM
petition between winter and spring wheat,
ard that reduction in rates from spring
wheat milling centres. like Buffalo or Min
neapolls, without a similar reduction from
their territory is an unjust discrimina-
ton"
To keep control of the situation. however
the commission announces that it will re
tain on its docket one of the Banner Mill
ing Company cases for any further action
that may be necessary.
Freight rates on lumber and forest prod
ucts generally from Omaha to various
points In Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska
were reduced by the commission to-day.
The reductions range from half a cent to
four cents a hundred pounds, the average
being approximately q cent and a half
hundred pounds. The new rates are or
dered to become effective on September l.
The complaint OF existing rates was made
bv the Commercial Club Of Omaha, against
the Chicago & Northwestern Railway ana
other carriers in the Western territory
The desire of the complainant was reduc-
ton of rates that would enable the lumber
interests of Omaha and surrounding ter
ritory TO extend their competitive business.