The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-04
Question of Higher Rail
road Tariff Vital to
Great Industry.
WANT EXPERTS
TO HANDLE IT
National Association Opens It's
Twenty-Fourth Annual Con-
vention and Goes Promptly
to Work-Jobbers Send In
First Complaint-Many
Social Features.

Railroad rates as they affect the
paint. oil and varnish Industry. and
the present upward trend of freight
schedules on all the large transcon-
unental roads, was the topic which
arouSed the greatest debate at the
second business meeting Of the Ma
tional Paint Oil and Varnish Asso-
citation. in wenty-fourth annual con-
vention at the Jefferson Hotel yester.
day The subject was launched by
Howard Citing. of Chicago, reporting
for the transportation committee of
which he Is chairman He reviewed
ut length the recent rulings OF the
courts bearing on the right Of the
railroads to inaugurato a general in
crease In transportation charges and
tho influence exerted on rates BY the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
Whether We like to admit II or
not" said Mr.. Citing. I'VE are facing
to-day the problem of a possible large
increase in transportation charges on
paints. oils. varnishes and ell allied
products Already the railroads are
revising the various classihcations
and calling for a revision of the en-
tire paint and varnish schedule I'm
less We take steps to convince the
roads OF the validity of our claims TO
a moderate rate these products,
that revision will surely be strongly
upwards. or course we know that
the freight will ultimately be paid by
the consumer. but we know. too. that
the retail price OF our products is
already SO high that to effect an in
crease in price would be extremely
difficult
transportation Bureau.
To solve the transportation dificul-
ties which confront the trade Mr..
Citing proposed the creation Of
transportation bureau. composed OF
three experts employed by the asso-
citation. who shall devote all of their
time to securing data and informa-
ton bearing on every department of
the industry, and whose task II shall
be to present the associations side of
tho rate problem to the railroads. and
in this manner secure an equitable
adjustment He asserted that II was
utterly impossible for a committed,
the members OF which were widely
scattered in different cities, and able
to give the matter only portion of
their time. TO do justice TO so serious
a problem. On this point he said:
RAILROAD representatives like to meet
the manufacturers. and Will be only too
glad to cooperate with us II .hey know
that we are all interested; but few
men cannot do this work. and you must
take an interest, or your pocket-bo book
will suffer. The price OF paint and
painting materials is high enough as
II is to-day. but IL we are to pay higher
transportation charges than we are
now paying, 1t will be harder to market
our products. and the ultimate consum-
er will have to pay an advance price.
or the profits OF the manufacturer, job
Der and dealer will be further reduced"
The discussion which followed was
spirited and lengthy and resulted in
the adoption of the speakers resolution
providing for the creation of trans
portation bureau. composed OF three
experts. to look after the interests OF
the trade.
JobberS In Sad Plight.
From all sections come complaints
from the jobber of unsatisfactory trade
conditions. Year by year his profits
decrease, while his expenses increase
Each year he sells more and more OF
Improbable staples. while even those
lines which formerly We're sold at
good margin are now narrowed down TO
practically brokers' profit reported
the committee on paint jobbers. In the
absence of j. w. Bray, chairman OF the
committee, the report was read by Sec
rotary Louis L Drake. of tie associa-
tion.
II the jobber is to survive according
to the report of this committee. he will
be forced to demand greater protection
from the manufacturer whose goods lie
distributes. A plan will have TO be de-
vised which will insure to the jobber
a living profit on the specialties which
he is at present handling at what
amounts practically TO an operating
loss. He will be forced to refuse abso-
lutely to quote, sell or handle any sta
pie. specially or commodity which does
not pay its own cost of doing business
and a reasonable profit for handling
besides.
Seven Other Reports.
Reports from seven other commit
tees were considered at the afternoon
meeting-of the master painters com.
mittee, read by William II. Gregg. ,Jr..
of st. Louis; of the committee on lead
products, read by Chairman o. H.
Green. of St Louis. of the tariff COM
mittee read nv Secretary Drake Of tho
association; of the committee on naval
stores. READ by Charnia:. I. ~ D,.i,s
New York; of the paint manufacturers
committee, read by Chairman c. II.
Wetherill, OF Philadelphia; of the com
mittee on postal laws and regulations,
read by c. T. Wettach. of Pittshurg.
and of the varnish committee. read by
Secretary Louis L. Drake.
The association went on record as IA
voring 1 cent letter postage. and car
ried n resolution offering the support
of the body to the National One Cent
Letter Postage Association, of Cleve-
land. which is leading the fight for Its
: establishment,
Addresses of Welcome,
The twenty fourth annual convention
of the Paint Association was called to
order at 10 o'cl6ck yesterday morning
~ ~