The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-03-15


:. 1910 :!
II seems TO be an open question in rail.
road circles whether The shipper or th,
receiving railroad has the right 10 route
the shipment. So great question is this
that it has received the attention Of tho
president in his recent message TO con
gress concerning railroad legislation.
In Salt Lake some OF tho leading rail-
road men contend that no matter what
tho tarin rules are that in practice they
are a dead letter. and that the shipper
routes the goods: while other railroad
men claim tnat If the shipper accepts n
tariffs that the shipper must abide by
all the rules so published, and that the
receiving railroad therefore has the right
To route over intermediate lines as II
secs at, Just so that the arrangement
docs not cost the shipper any mora in
timc or money.
In connection with The dispute attcn-
ton Is called to the above rule, no. =,
which practically gives all the western
roads the right to route goods as they
please, at least number OF Salt Lake
railroad men so claim.
Concerning this vital matter, the IN
terstatc commerce commission has made
many rulings. among which the follow
Ing are not the Least important and arc
In effect today They are from the con
ference rulings of tho commission. dated
December 2S 1909.
'1S3. Reservation Of Right to Route
Shipmcnts.-Thc following rule I'm pub
llshed tariff was approved as lawful sub
ject To complaint by shippers: The \
&. r Railroad company reserves the right
60 route through TO destination property
delivered to ii for transportation at the
through rates shown In this tarin, and
every carrier participating I'm such trans
portation shall have the right. In cases
Of necessity. to forward said property by
any railroad or route between the point
nj nd ~
or the point to which the rate Is given;
but If such diversion shall be from rail-
to n water route, the liability of the
carrier shall he the same as though the
entire carriage wero by rail-
2l4 Routing and MIsrouting Freight
Alleged negleCts or errors on part OF
agents or carriers In misrouting shipments
lead to numerous claims of overcharge
many OF which arc meritorious. The law
full charge OF any shipment Is the tar!n
rate Via the route over which the snip
ment moves. No carrier can lawfully re-
fund any part Of the lawful charge eN-
cept under authority so 10 do from the
commission or from a court of compe-
tent jurisdiction.
In order 10 secure delivery TO indus
tries plants, or warehouses. and avoid
unnecessary terminal or switching
charges the shipper may direct as to
terminal routing or delivery of shipments
which are to go beyond the lines OF the
initial carrier; and his Instructions as to
such terminal delivery must be observed
In routing and billing such shipments. The
may not disregard the instruc-
tIons OF shippers as 10 Intern Mediate rout
Ing, except when tariff of initial line re-
serves the right TO carrier TO dictate In
termediatc routing.
The agent must not route shipment Via
n route that VIII be more expensive to
the shipper than tho one desired by him.
or that does not furnish substantially rs
good and expeditions service. If the
carrier is not willing TO observe the In
loto Inc of n Ch1rnaN
not execute bill OF lading containing
Bile for routing shown In bill OF lading.
In the absence of specific through rout-
ing by shipper. which carrier Is willing
TO observe, It is the duty OF the agent
Of the carrier To route shipment Via the
cheapest reasonable route known TO him
of the class designated BY the shipper
that is all-rai or rail-anl wa ter-and
via which he has rates which he can law
fully use.
Shippers must bear In mind that there
Is limit beyond which an agent of
carrier could not reasonably be eX-
pected to know as TO terminal delivery
or Dcal rates at distant points and on
lines OF distant roads to or with which he
has no specific joint rates Consignors
and consignees should cooperate with
agents OF carriers IN avoiding mlsunder-
standings and errors In routing and must
expect 10 bear some responsibility In con-
nection Herewith.
So many serious disputes have arisen
such matters that the above rulings Will
full CT, nd NV 60 Lake nd