The Washington times., 1913-03-26
FIGHT
FREIGHT DELIVERY
Officers Declare Free Street
Door Transportation Will
Make Cities Envi0us.

w. w. Bowie. local freight agent of
the Pennsylvania. and Robert c.
Wright. Of Philadelphia. general freight
traffic manager, took the stand before
Commissioner Marble. of the Interstate
Commerce Commission, today, in the
free store door delivery case. Opposed
to the Pennsylvania and the Baltimore
and Ohio are the retail mercantile in
terests Of Washington. represented by
NJ. d. Rosenberg for the Retail Mer-
chants Association; j. Raymond
Hoover, for the original complainants
against the discontinuance order OF the
roads: and H. carlton Hanes, for the
Chamber Of Commerce.
Officials of the Chamber, of the Mer-
chants Association. and the Board of
Trade were present. and so was John L.
Newbold. president Of the Merchants
transfer Company, which has been do
Ing the hauling for the Pennsylvania.
The hearing began with a formal pro-
test by Henry Wolf Bike counsel for
the pennsylvania, against the commits
sions taking jurisdiction on matter of
service. This protest was oyerruled
and Mr.. Bowie was called to the stand
Reason for Discontinuance.
He testified that the Pennsylvania
had instituted this free delivery of GER
tain classes Of freight in 1894 because
it then had limited freight warehouse
facilities here. The same condition
now obtains in Baltimore, and the
pennsylvania is eager to be allowed to
continue that service here.
Mr.. Bowie testified that, with the in
crease in freight facilities here and in
creased demand on the part OF WASH
ington merchants. the road decided
service. Mr.. Wright gave testimony
about the rates involved
II Is asserted by the counsel for the
Washington interests that the rate,
with the free delivery done away with.
In favor OF Baltimore. This first point
was made by Mr. Hoover in cross-ex-
aminlns Mr.. Bowie. Mr.. Hanes argued
relative to the alleged discrimination
Richmond Wants Service.
According to Mr. Bikle, Richmond,
Va, merchants are awaiting the de-
cision in this case with eager interest
n the roads are forced to continue
Tree delivery they will be prompt IN
demanding similar service there. Phil
adeiphia mercantile interests also are
restlve. and the roads attorneys say
that every city in the country will
make demand on them for free de-
hveries II 1t is granted here.
Mr. Sikie contended that TO give serv-
criminatory because the two sets of
merchants, he said are not competitors
This afternoon Mr.. Hoover made the
point that the proposed charge will be
In violation of section four of the act
to regulate commerce. in that the pres
ent rates We're made on account OF
water competition with the old Clyde
boat lines from New York to Philadel-
phia: The act provides that. when a
carrier reduces a rate. to or from COM
petttive points. in order 20 meet such
water competition. 1t shall not be per-
mitted to increase such rates after the
elimination OF such competition unless
the Interstate Commerce Commission,
after due hearing, grants permission for
same.
by the proposed change" II is de-
clared. the carriers would derive an
additional revenue of about cents
per hundred pounds since by the pro-
posed tariffs. there Is no change in the
freight charges. and the carriage service
being eliminated. the roads will save
this amount" Mr.. Hoover stated that
such charges would be unreasonable
and therefore in violation OF section l
Of the act to regulate commerce.