Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-11-19
TO APPEAL FROM
FREIGHT RATES
Northern Jersey Trade Boards
to invoke Aid of Interstate
Commerce Commission.

Ways and means of fighting the
alleged discrimination practised
against Newark and cities in the
northern part of New Jersey in favor
of New York city by the railroads
having their terminaIs on this side
of the river were discussed at a joint
meeting of trade organization repre-
sentatives from ten cities in the
Boa9d of Trade Chambers late yes
terday afternoon. Jersey City, New
Brunswick, Paterson, Elizabeth, Or
ange. Trenton. Bound Brook. Belle
vile, Perth Amboy and Newark were
represented.
The cost of carrying the matter
before the Interstate Commences
| Commission was discussed and the
consensus of opinion was that almost
any reasonable expenditure would be
justified In bringing the change
about, as 1t would probably mean
saving of at least $2O,O00.0O to ship
pers in the northern part of the
State.
James M. Reilly, secretary Of the
local Trade Board, said the appeal
could be made for $4,000. and de-
clared the Newark board could raise
that amount alone If necessary. Az
surance of financial support was
pledged by all the representatives.
The transportation committee of the
Newark Board of Trade had pre-
pared a brief which was submitted to
the meeting. BY Its showing of deci-
sions already reached by the Inter-
state Commerce Commission 1t APP
peared that the appeal cannot lose.
The main points made by the dec;-
stonS quoted were that no railroad is
entitled to charge more than the cost
of transportation Of freight for its
carriage, that the railroad cannot
charge the same to one point as to
another point where 1t can be shown
the cost is lower and that 1t is evil
dence that the latter cost Is lower in
these cases because purely local rates
are cents a hundredweight cheaper
than the rate through to New York.
The effect of the brief on those who
heard 1t read was to excite surprise
that such<an unfair state of affairs
could have existed so many years.
The brief recited the fact that the
fiat rate for all points in the New
York zone is really maintained at
the orders of the New York Central
lines. which set the rates. The rep
resentatives present at yesterdays
meeting are determined to have some
thing to say about the fixing of tbs
rate by putting 1t up to the Inter
state Commerce Commission.
The grievance which New Jersey
freight rate points will bring into court
when the appeal goes to the Inter
state Commerce Commission is that
New York is favored by rate which,
II II It does not include the three cents
hundredweight for lighterage SER
vice, Is differential and discretionary
rate. II 1t does include that charge,
then New Jersey shippers operating
In the same zone have been paying
the extra charge for many years
without getting any advantage for it.
What arouses the indignation of the
| representatives of the Board of Trade
is that natural advantages possessed
by factory sites In New Jersey to
shippers from and to the West and
South have been nullifled by the fiat
rate for the New York zone. Any
manufacturer who had to consider
the payment of 8 cents a hundreds
weight lighterage charges to New
York might prefer to establish on the
west bank of the Hudson and so save
the lighterage charges, IL is held. I
The railroads. however. have under
taken to offset the advantage by
granting free lighterage service in
New York Harbor.
On the other hand. when shipper
In Newark ships goods to New York
he pays cents a hundredweight,
although the rate to Jersey City Is
only s cents. From Bayonne to Jer-
n oh icsR Re - MA4xg
York 0 cents. From Elizabeth the
charge Is cents to Jersey City and
cents to New York. From Metuchen
the charge is 7 cents to Jersey City
and 10 cents to New York. From
New Brunswick the rate to Jersey
City is cents, to New York IL cents.
ii Long-distance rates make no such
difference The writer's of the brief
think the railroads have left an awk-
ward loophole for the destruction of
the fiat rate through the differences
In the local rates to New York and
Jersey City.
The way the fiat rate works out on 3
carload of grain of 10000 pounds is
as follows: To Newark and to New
York the rate is the same, 1877 cents a
hundred pounds. $3.50 In ALL The I
railroads over which the grain passes
are the Nickel Plate and the Della
ware. Lackawanna and Western. OF
the Iull hIlOunt . Genus nunureu- +
weight has to be paid for lighterage
charges. The railroads divide the
rest.
If the grain is bound for New
York the railroads divide the total
charge of $3.50 as follows: Lighter
age, SIS; Nickel Plate, freight from
Chicago to Buffalo. $3.50; Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western, freight
from Buffalo to Hoboken, sa1. If
bound for Newark the division Is
simply: Nickel Plate, freight from
Chicago to Buffalo. t46.b0; Delaware.
| Lackawanna and Western, freight
from Buffalo to Newark, t38. II the
local Board Of Trade could make a a
present Of that SIS q car load to
matters locating here It would attract
few more to the meadows. 1t Is
/ thought.
Secretary James M. Reilly Is send
| Ing copies OF the brief to all boards
of trade in the district affected by
the discriminatory rates. The plan
of action outlined by those already
interested is to engage lawyers and E
experts and take the appeal directly
to the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion.
The members OF the transportation
committee of the Newark Board Of
Trade who evolved the brief as a res
suit of about four years investiga-
ton are as follows: George r. Reeve.
chairman; James M. Reilly. secre
tary; Joseph o. Amberg, William ].
Eisner, Frederick A. Fielder, Will
i liam H. Coates. H. B. r. Potter.
John ]. Lane and G. H. Gulick.
The representatives present at yes