The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-07-22
Railroad News
REVOLUTION IN
FREIGHT CLAIMS
SHIPPERS SAY COOPERATION
HAS IMPROVED METHODS
RETIREMENT STILL POSSIBLE
ON BOTH SIDES, SAYS RAILWAY
BUSINESS ASSOCIATION.

A revolution in freight claims" Is
reported by the Railway Business as
sociation, manufacturers OF material,
equipment and supplies in a STORY of
how by corporation the shippers the
railways and the government have
transformed a national crouch into
ast-spreading satisfaction"
Five years ago, says Pres. George
A. Post, practically every shipper in
the United States regarded freight
claims as grievances; today many of
the men employed to handle such
claims for concerns or for bureaus says
claims for concerns or for bureaus say
that while there is still room for Inn
provement in connection with this an
cient grievance, satisfaction has large
ly taken the place of resentment.
''The railways" Mr.. Post says. "are
constantly doing progressive and
creditable things of which the public
should be told" This pamphlet is
published ito impress upon the ship
pers some of the things they can do to
help achieve still better methods" and
ito lay before the carriers. together
with the praise, the criticisms still
sire full information and will act with
vigor upon any feasible suggestions.
Quotations are given from letters of
shippers, traffic bureau managers and
others from Seattle to Boston.
Interstate Commerce Commissioner
Harlan, who has freight claims in
charge has found the carriers mot
only ready, but willing to cooperate"
A. ferf14 IafV I'm
Praise From Shippers.
]. M. Belleville of Pittsburg, chair
man, freight claims committee, Ma
tional Industrial Traffic league, repre-
senting $4,000 shippers, declares that
''the progress during the past two
years particularly has been phenom-
email" and 1--WE have had no real COM
plants from our members for more
than year past" Mr.. BelleviIle says
that many shippers are having their
claims settled In thirty days, In which
he is borne out by r. L. Fairbanks of
Seattle, manager, freight claims de-
partment, Pacific Coast Shippers as
ISOLATION, and by F. G. Broadway of
Kansas City, lumber traffic manager.
E. ]. Mcvann, manager traffic bur-
eau, commercial club OF Omaha, says:
"The general disposition of the car
riers is to pay just claims with rea-
sonable promptness"
p. w. Coyle Of st. Louis, traffic
commissioner of the Business Mems
league Claims are now handled
with dispatch and general satisfaction
obtains"
Sears, Roebuck & Co. of Chicago
say that with no important excep-
ATOMS our claims are handled today in
b manner that Is entirely satisfactory
80 u.s."
Reports OF Improvement come from
William III. Frederick Of Buffalo, traf-
fic manager Of the chamber of COM
merce, and from N. BNKelly Of Phila-
delphia, freight commissioner OF the
chamber of commerce.
Produce, Cotton, Grain.
Thomas p. Wallace, president of the
Fruit and Produce exchange of Greater
New York. dealing in commodity pc
culiarly subject to damage, says: eve
find a great improvement has taken
place with the various transportation
companies in the matter Of settling
claims when properly presented"
T. r, Leavttt OF Boston, manager of
the New England Cotton Freight Claim
bureau, reports "a decided improves
ment on the part Of the transporta-
tion companies in the handling and
adjustment OF freight claims" while
Charles M. Cox Of Boston. grain mer-
chant. reports that in the last five
years his outstanding claims against
the Boston s. Maine have been reduced
81 per cent and against the New Haven
So per cent with a corresponding re-
duction in the cost Of following claims
up.
The frame OF mind in which the rail-
roads have set about the problem is
illustrated by a quotation from a
speech Of J. S. Tustin MeEhe Missouri
Pacific, who haa1jus4sgaau rushed the
presidency of the Freigla&N Claim assoc
citation: 1--WE want to hear the griev-
ances OF the American people and have
them explained If the claimants are
wrong and have us work for more eff
nciency II we are tagging"
The pamphlet describes the elabor-
ate efforts of various railway associa-
tions in different departments to ex-
pedite claim settlements and prevent
loss. damage and overcharge. There
are also descriptions OF the efforts
made by business associations to
DrinB ABOUT among Shippers an Inn
d provements in packing marking and
the presentation OF claims and
chapter on the activities of the gov
eminent, which in the matter OF pack
Ing now regulates the shipper in the
interest Of lower operating costs, and
hence lower freight rates, and regu-
lates the railroads to be sure that no
freight claims are paid as disguised
rebates.
Still Criticisms on Both sides.
Criticism by shippers and others for
the benefit Of the railways and criti-
cisms by the railways as to the meth
DDS OF shippers are given. 1t appears
that in Chicago there is a movement
ca the part Of jobbers to secure
Smoother settlement Of claims. par
&acularly over-charge, OCCURRING at
stations out on the line, where the
consignee is not able to employ a traf-
J fic manager and the station agent has
not full power.
The pamphlet concludes with the
following:
III every consignee were endowed