The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-05
Classification
OF RAILROAD RATES
State Expert Talks on Re.
suits Gained at Meeting
in Kansas City

Bismarck, n. D., Feb. 81. A. Little
rate expert and statistican for the
North Dakota railroad commission, re-
turned from IL trip to Kansas City and
Chicago where he represented the
state ut a convention of rate experts
who met to review the new classifica-
ton of rates proposed to be put into
effect February Is.
The hearing held before the inter-
state commerce commission in Chi
caEo to consider changes in the west
ern classification proved to he a mat
ter of vital Importance to all western
states II particularly North akota.
AS an illustration of this point he
cited the proposed changes in ratings
on agricultural implements. 10 many
years it has beer the custom to ship
binder Irvine in mixed carloads with
other agricultural implements. The
new classification filed to become ef-
fective February Is, took Irvine and
some other implements out of the mix
ed carload ratings. AS Il practical mat
ter this meant That Irvine would gem
orally have to move at less than car
load rates and not being able to make
up Il carload without Irvine. the imple-
ments would also have to pay the less
than carload rates which are much
higher than carload ratings. Such Il
change in rating would mean that the
cost of both binder twine and implc-
ments would be considerably incrcas-
ed. The agricultural implement manu-
facturers and jobbers We're we'll repre-
scented and interposed their objections
to the proposed changes. The rail-
roads finally agreed to amend the new
classification to take care of agricul-
|tural implements in mixed carload lots.
In all, the new classification con
tains about 100 changes in rates of
which about 1000 are advances and
700 reductions. 1t was contended
that the changes above mentioned
We're made to secure greater uniform
ity of classification between various
parts of the country.
Many shippers appeared and testi-
he'd that the proposed reductions in
ratings We're on things of no great
commercial importance while the add
vances in ratings We're on the great
commodities of daily necessity. which
moved freely and that the carriers
intended to advance their charges sub
stantially under the cloak of making
a uniform classification. All of the
big shippers. their organizations and
traffic bureaus of cities appeared
through expert rate men to protect
their interests. The small jobber
tIle Icltilltl vi toIlSutIlct Weic rep
resented through the railroad commits.
sions of the various states. The fol.
lowing states we're represented: North
Dakota, South Dakota. Wisconsin
Minnesota. Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois
Missouri, Kansas. Oklahoma. and Tex.
as. The rate experts of Oklahoma
Kansas, Iowa. Texas and North Da.
kota held a preliminary meeting a,
Kansas City at which they made a
partial check of the new classification
In about three days of steady GRIND
they only checked up about So out OF
400 pages. These experts testified al
Chicago that there was a number O.
changes of vital Importance to western
states which their check disclosed ant
regarding which shippers should have
| time to inform themselves. The new
classification imposed q number of new
| packing requirements in addition t.
changing rates. The eleven state!
mentioned above, therefore joined ii
asking for the suspension of the new
classification pending a thorough
check of its provisions during which
evidence as to the effect of sucf
changes on shippers might be OBJ
| tanned. During the course of the hear
ing there appeared a number of man
u%facturers, large jobbers and small
jobbers. Some changes it was SAT-
would hurt the small jobber and bene
fit the larger jobber with whom h
competed and other changes appeared
to favor the small jobber and retail
er. The changes proposed are so nu
merous that the railroad commission
feels that each shipper in the stat
ought to Immediately list his most i'm
portant commodities and check VI
the classification to ascertain wha
changes are made and see just wha
effect they will have on his business
Each shipper should check up thes
changes as soon as possible becaus
] the interstate commerce commission
will have only n limited time in whicl
to hear Il objections If they sus
pend the new classification known a
No. 81. The railroad commission nov
has a rate department IN charge of
competent rate expert and every ship
per in the state who finds that he /
affected by the new classification I
invited to lay the facts before tn