Bismarck daily tribune., 1912-05-17
Commission Will
ATTEMPT TO CLEAR
MISUNDERSTANDING

! The Board of Railroad -ommis
sioners has received numerous pro
tests from iobbers in Fargo, Gran(
Forks, Minot and Williston regarding
the proposal to incorporate rule II
Of Official or Eastern Classif1catlol
in the Western Classification in faV
or of which the Chicago Association
of Commerce has presented petition
to the Interstate Commerce Commls
sion.
! In a number of cases protesting
iobbers have stated that they under
stand that the Board of Railroad ON
missioners favored this rule which
they consider so inimical to thell
best interests.
The Board of Railroad Commission
ers wish to most vigorously refute
this statement and offer the follow
ing statement clearing up this mis-
understanding. When the Interstate
Commerce Commission announced
the suspension of Western Glassifi-
cation No. 81, it was apparent to all
that no single state could check the
classification and find out waat
| changes had been made. A rate com
mittee composed Of rate experts from
eleven western states and two com
mercial organizations was formed to
check the classification and prepare
an analysis to be furnished to ship
pers in each state. This rate COM
mittee completed its labors at Des
Moines, Iowa on March II. At the
Des Moines meeting the subject OF
carload mixtures was discussed and
the committee of rate men consid-
cred the advisability Of asking the
Interstate Commerce Commission to
incorporate Official Classification
Rule 10 in Western Classification.
The majority of this rate committee
endorsed that proposal as individuals.
not assuming to bind their respec-
tive commissions to such endorse
ment. The record of the vote there
taken will show that Minnesota was
not present, Kansas, North Dakota
and South Dakota refusing to take
any part in the vote believing that
the shippers Of the states mentioned
should be consulted and that the rate
men should not take any action
which would in any way emuarrass
their respective commissions in the
consideration of that question.
The question Of carload mixtures
Is very delicate one to handle be-
cause in the first instance the Classi-
f1cation Committee attempted to cut
out a lot of mixures prev 4ously al
lowed such as Agricultural Imple-
ments and Twine, various kinds OF
mill and mining machinery, canned
fruits and canned vegetables and
canned soups and meats as we'll as
number less important to North
Dakota such as mixtures of various
kinds of acids and chemicals.
It appears that the elimination of
mixtures of farm implements and
binder twine would mean a large in
crease in freight costs for our farm.
ers who are the largest and most i'm.
portant producers in this state.
North Dakota and all the other west
ern states Joined in asking the Inter-
state Commerce Commission to con.
tinue mixtures of farm implements
and twine.
From meetings held in various
parts of the state it appeared that
carload mixtures of canned goods OF
various kinds and combination of
bluing and household ammonia would
be desirable for the grocery jobber.
Rule 10 Of Official Classification
proposed by Chicago contemplates
the inclusion of less than carload
lots of any class of freight in a mixed
car at the highest carload rate and
minimum Of any freight in the car.
1t clearly appears that some car.
load mixtures are desired by imple-
ment dealers. grocery jobbers and
shippers generally in this state but It
also appears from the protests being
received that a general mixture such
as Chicago proposes would hurt job
bers of other than agricultural imple-
ments. Now the question of Just
how far the mixture privilege ought
to go depends almost entirely on what
business you are In and the Board of
Railroad Commissioners have repeat.
edly called attention to this very i'm
portant matter, 50 as TO get the wid-
est possible expression of opinion on
the subject.
Each line of business should have
a representation qualified to show
the conditions which make Rule lo|
either desirable or undesirable, ready
to be present and testify before the
Interstate Commerce Commission at
St. Paul May ~.
The Board of Railroad Commission
ers will be represented and will aid
In the presentation OF any testimony
which shippers care to introduce.
The Board is amply prepared to han.
die rate matters but this resolves it.
self into question Of how does the
proposed change affect the business
and on that point shippers
alone can offer competent and salts
factory testimony.
J. w. LITTLE,
Rate expert for the Board
of Railroad Commissioners
Notice Of School Election.
Especial District-AnnuaI EIection)