The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-12-31
ORDERS ACCENT
CUT INC0ALFRE|GHT
Rates on anthracite to PhiIadeI
phia Too High.
AWARDED GOLD MEDAL
Standards OF Safety Work Is Proors,,
ing-Awarded Gold Medal For
Work For safety--Asks State
To Gust osteopathy.

Harrisburg.-A reduction of forty
cents a ton in the freight rate for
anthracite coal carried to PhlladeL
phia is ordered by the Public Service
Commission of Pennsylvania. For
sizes less than pea reduction Of
twenty-five cents ton is ordered.
The rates which the various coal
carrying railroads are ordered to put
into effect are the same as are now
charged for coal delivered TO Phlladel.
phla for shipment to outside points
and are made as result OF the com.
plants of Harry E. BELLS, an indI.
yidual. business mems associations and
the city of Philadelphia that the rates
to that city were preferential pre
judicial and discriminatory.
The railroads affected by the order
are the Philadelphia & Reading, the
Pennsylvania, Central Railroad Of New
Jersey, Lehigh Valley and the Della.
ware, Lackawanna 4 Western Railroad
Company.
The charges were filed originally
with the Pennsylvania State Railroad
Commission, the predecessor Of tie
present body, in April, 1912. Much
testimony was heard from 10Th com.
plainants and defendants regarding the
reasonableness of the rates and the
commission appointed expert account
ants to examine the books and records
of the companies to ascertain the cost
of transporting the coal from the
mines.
The substance of the complaints was
that the existing rates of freight
charged for the transportation Of
anthracite coal from the various dis
tricts in which the coal is mined to the
city OF Philadelphia are unreasonably
high, and are preferential, prcjudlcd
and discriminatory.
Findings OF the Commission.
The commission, in submitting lis
findings, says
After a careful consideration Of all |
OF the facts, giving due weight to the
large amounts invested in this traffic
by the respondents, endeavoring to de
termine what would be a due return
upon these investments, and proper
compensation for their service, We
have reached the conclusion that the
experience of the respondents has
itself established the measure Of what
would be fair and reasonable rate iof
the transportation of anthracite coal
10 Philadelphia, when that experience
established the fact that the rates nov
charged for such coal shipped out
side the capes" was a profitable
charge. We think, therefore, that the
rates for the local delivery OF coal IN
Philadelphia as now existing ought |"
be reduced forty cents a ton except lOI
sizes less than pea, and that the rates
upon these sizes should be the same as
upon pea COdl. ut tl'NN VI '
duction will be to put Philadelphia Ill
this respect on an equality win 'N
other cities and ports of the country
"If 1t be true that the existing Ta'e'
covering all freights upon the railroads
of the country are insufficient to aHolu
them a proper return upon thelr III
vestments, it is entirely clear thal 'ne
method of correction should be seI
eral advance in such manner as
equalize the burdens and to aheC' al,s'
all interests and all subjects oil uSI'
and transportation. To secure aue
Quate returns by placing unequal W.
dens upon localities and commOuiu'1
where 1t may be possible would Oe
imperfect and unsatisfactory ineu"'
which ought not to be tolerated