The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-07
CHAMBER FIGHTS
SWITCHING RATES
Appeals to Interstate Commerce
Commission for Relief in
Richmond.
CHARGE So ON EVERY CAR
Tariff Provisions Alleged to Be
Hurtful to Shippers
Generally.

Changes in the tariff provisions OF
the 1--WE railroads entering Richmond
are charged with working hardships
upon local shippers. and are dcs!Snat-
cd as unjust and unrea sonablc" in a
petition filed yesterday with the Inter-
State Commerce Commission In Wash
ington, by the cratic bureau Of the
Richmond Chamber of Commerce. The
bill OF complaint asks the commission
to annul the Objectionable tariffs and
TO order. the offending roads 10 mako
rcparation for the thousands of dol
lars which have been cXactcd from To-
cal business men under the discrmina-
tory practice.
me petition. prepared under the III
rcction of Z. S. Goodman. traffic man
aSer of the Chamber OF Commerce. sets
forth in eleven typewriter pages, the
grievances in full. and names as de-
PENDANTS these railroads: Tho Sea
board Air Line. the Atlantic Coast Line.
the Southern. tho Chesapeake and Ohio
and the Richmond. Frede ricksburg and
Potomac. While all OF tho roads arc
named for the sake of comprehensive
ness in the trimming of tho now tariff
that Is asked. the Chamber has no
Quarrel with the two last named. only
the Seaboard. the Atlantic Coast Line
ccrnch In the charges.
Claims Hardship on shippers.
Tho complaint centres about the
practice begun hy the thrcc roads III
1909 OF .cvyinE /, switching charge of
81 poe car on all freight. not destined
for competitive point which re-
Guirea a transfer from one road to an
other In Richmond. Competition AT
both initial aud terminal points mus,
q Tn 1\ltCt hot tct,
ing charge Is absorbed by the carrier.
Prior to 1902 all OF the five roads. in
the Interpretation given TO tho term
competitive" by all the lines entering
Richmond. were assumed to be in com
petition with each other, and no switch
ing charges We're imposed.
The imposition of this extra charge.
i, is claimed by the shippers, opera ties
to increase the tariffs upon all classes
OF mercha nd!as shipments originating
in Richmond. and places local dealers
lat a marked disadvantage compared
with shippers in Norfolk. Louisville.
st Louis, Cincinnati. Memphis and
other citicr supplying tho Southern
market. With tho exception of q
period Of q few months. during which
the Scaboard Air Line Withdrew tho
charge, it has been Levied since No.
"cmbcr, 1909
shows How 1t Hurts.
Local plants located on either the
Richm ond. Frederick sburE and Poto-
mac or Chesapeake and Ohio roads are
by virtue OF this ruling. placed under
a disadvantage because OF the fact
that neither OF these lines enters
Eichmond's natural selling territory
the South. TO deliver their products,
they arc compelled to load on their
own siding ana then have their cars
transferred TO one of the three lines
penetrating the South the operation
entaiiinE switching charge of s.
Per car because of the ruling which
now obtains that no competition OK
fists between, for example, the Chcsa-
peako and Ohio and the Southern in
tho case of freight destined for Char.
lotto or other points oil the Southern
system.
To illustrate concretely. tho Atlantic
Coast Line at present absorbs tho
switching charge only in the case o.:
shipments consigned to points at
which it is in competition with other
roads having Richmond tcrnaini also
The same practice is enforced in the
case of trap cars" and STATION order
cars" both Of which figure largely in
local shipping
To Serve Notice Roads.
While every branch al Richmond in
dustry is affected by this practice
and to that extent Handicapped in
competition with cities whore the
charge docs not exist. tho fertilizer
industry. 1t Is claimed, is the greatest
sufferer. Owing to the comparatively
low per carload value o. this commod-
ity an increase of So per car over the
scheduled tariffs. places the Richmond
manufacturer at distinct disadvantage
compared with more favored cities. and
increases the cost OF the Richmond
made product to the consumer.
Notice will be served upon tho de-
PENDANTS next week by tho Interstate
Commerce Commission. and tho roads
will be given twenty days within
which to file an answer to the charges.
The complaint was presented to the
commission by Attorneys Blair. Dray-
ton g. Hillycr of Washington.
INF MrS