The Detroit times., 1912-03-16
HITCH LAW TO FREIGHT
CARS IS THE SUGGESTION OF
A DETROIT MANUFACTURER
Urges Reciprocal Demurrage
Act For Relief of Con-
gested Conditions
DETROIT SUFFERS MOST
Recommends the Matter Have
the Attention of Michi-
gan Legislature
BY A MANUFACTURERS.

Coming in contact daily with tLe
question OF freight movement in and
out or Detroit. have been interested
IN the various articles that have ap-
peared from time TO time I'm the news
papers. treating on the subject OF con-
gested conditions and the hardships
that are imposed upon shippers and
receivers OF freight through these
conditions.
While II Is undoubtedly a fact that
a free movement of freight is Kindred
by weather conditions such as have
I prevailed this winter, from observa-
/ ion and inquiry. | am prompted 10
believe that no city OF any size III The
Y country has been as great sufferer
as Detroit.
IL is and has been the policy OF
railroads TO pIomulgate plans, regqla'
ions. rules, etc, without any consid-
Grafton for the shipper. Take the
present car demurrage rules which
were formulated and put into effect
without giving the shipper any chance
10 be heard, with the result that sew
eral suits are now pending and con
dition prevailing that has kept he
shipper busy TO prevent himself be-
ing practically swamped with obloX.-
Gus and unfair rules.
believe that Detroit can gain ma
terial benefits through a reciprocal de-
murrage law For any delay III the
handling OF a car on the part OF tle
shipper, the railroad exacts charge
-er peHalty--in many eases justly and
fairly so. But that same railroad will
delay a car on its own tracks for DAYS
and weeks. subjecting the shipper 20
inconvenience and losses that are IN
calculable, without the semblance CT
any redress TO the shipper. Let any
large shipper try 10 calculate the
losses that he has been put 10 by dc
lay OF cars while in the possession
OF railroads. and | think II VIII De
surprising fear-maHt- hafe-ffet
seriously considered this feature,
because knowing that there was no
redress, they looked upon II az a
waste of time to worry about II. VIII
anyone deny that the shipper Is not
entitled 10 redress? II is fair 10 pen
alize the shipper in the shape or de
murrage and permit the railroads 10
impose incalculable losses and incon-
venience upon the shipper without
some penalty upon the railroads?
Pass Jaw compelling the railroads
within the state OF Michigan to move
every car on its tracks minimum
number OF miles per day In the turec'
ton OF its destination, and think,
without any doubt there will be
marked Improvement IN conditions.
Such a law in my opinion. is sbso-
mtely fair: IL inflcts no hardsnlps
fIrr,ta 40. tn
il will force them TO conduct tbeir
business along lines that will not only
result in fairness 10 the shipper but
be beneficial 10 themselves.
The deplorable conditions that have
existed within the past few months
have been attributed to weather con
ditions, lack of motive power and hu'
merous other causes, which have re-
suited in inbound freight lying IL the
various railroad yards for weeks: ouI'
bound freight held in the yards tor
several weeks before movement ID
destination is started; shippers uii-
able TO get cars in which TO move
their product Railroads freely "a
cept freight offered to them, when
they must or should know that il is
physical impossibility for them 10
move same with any degree OF
promptness. The shipper cannot ia
miliarize himself with the actual cCl-
-AitioHs that may prevail fFem time 10
time on the different lines. thus max
ing II impossible for him to discrin'.
mate in his routings to the extent OF
avoiding the lines most congested
and favor the lines In the best condi.
ton. With a reciprocal demurrage
law under which the railroads would
he penalized for non-movemeIt of
cars, the railroads would not accept
freight that they could not move; the
shipper would know what lines codiG