The Washington times., 1913-07-25
COMING To DISCUSS
i FREIGHT DELIVERY
Baltimore Merchants, Following
Meeting, to Take Up Case
: With Washingtonians.

Following a meeting today in Balti-
more of the Merchants and Manufac-
turers' League, A. E Beck. traffic man
ager, and other officers of the league
are expected to come to Washington to
confer with Washington leaders in the
fight for free store-door delivery of
freight by the Pennsylvania railroad.
The conference here is expected to
take place Monday next, and at that
time full plan of cooperation prob
ably will be worked out. The Retail
Merchants Association will be repre-
Sented among others by Acting PreSl-
dent Isaac Cans and Counsel NJ. d.
Rosenberg. and the Chamber of Com
merce by p. I. Moran, chairman of the
trade and transportation committee
Mr.. Cans today continued his activity
IN the fight. talking for long time
over the long-distance telephone with
officers Of the Merchants and Manu-
facturers' League of Baltimore.
At the meeting of the league today in
baltimore, Mr.. Cans was told that
nearly the whole membership of the or
ganization was present Baltimore las
already moved to the extent OF filing
protest with the Interstate Commerce
Commission, and making request for a
hearing.
1t was announced today at the Of
nee Of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission that action on this request for
a nearing will be prompt The import
ance of the case is so great 10 mer-
chants of the two cities, members OF
the commission feel, that prompt de-
cision as to whether a hearing shall ho
granted is desirable. Moreover the
tine before the suspension order be-
comes effective on September !. is not
long, and the commission, If a hear
ing is to be allowed. wishes to have
the case disposed of before the date.
7
So-called free delivery OF certain
classes of freight in Washington. is not
free delivery from Baltimore. There is
an extra cents hundred pounds on
certain Sonmodity rates to pay for the
delivery. Two rates are provided in
official tariffs at the Interstate Com
rate, and a cheaper rate for warehouse
delivery.
The Times is in possession of bills of
lading on consignments shipped to a
Washington merchant from Baltimore.
These bills on the same commodity
show two different rates, and on one of
them there is tackled a drayage charge
of 80 cents, which the Washington
wholesaler had to pay.
Why, il was asked by merchants to-
day. If there are two rates from Baitl,
more, one street door delivery rate, ana
one warehouse delivery rate, can there
not be similar rates from other Eastern
points
That so-caIied free delivery from
Washington and points East, is not + ee
delivery in fact is the opinion OF Z. b.
Adams, one of the city's biggest Whole-
salers, who declared today that While
the railroads were technically right III
calling IL free delivery, in his opinion
the delivery charge had been aosorDeu
in the various rates. thus paying TOT
the delivery
Get Cheaper Rate.
Not only this said Mr.. Adams
but points West, without water com
petition, -are. getting cheaper rates to
washington than New England and
New York producing territory. Tbs
would tend to show that the Eastern
rates are high enough to absorb at least
a portion of Athe delivery cost TO the
railroads. This would seem TO De the
colored gentleman beneath the timbsr'
OF course conditions have worked up
through a long period OF years, making
II hard TO produce any immediate and
substantial proof, but l am assured q
the fact that some rates, at least from
Pittsburgh producing territory, as TAR
West as Ohio, are lower than similar
rates from New York, despite the fact
there is difference of at least 100
miles in distance in favor OF New YORK
Also, New York is susceptible 10 wafer
competition. Pittsburgh territory is not.
Therefore is il not a fact that since
free delivery was begun that other rates
have been reduced in far greater pro
portion than the free delivery rates, CIV
ing a gradual process of absorption.
washington merchants" continued
Mr.. Adams, should make a stin fight
for more advantageous rates, as in that
way alone Can they gain the prestige in
the country's commerce that the city
should command"
The delivery rate from Baltimore.
which provides a higher charge than
the ordinary rate, also provides for
pickup of the freight in Baltimore.
That is, the Baltimore and Ohio rail
road will send to the place Of business
of a Baltimore merchant, haul his mer-
chandise to the train, and then deliver
it to the door of a Washington merchant !
for an addition OF cents a hundred
pounds over the ordinary freight rate. |
For instance, on wrapping paper, 200
pounds, ten rolls from Baltimore costs
is cents per 100 delivered. II costs hut
II cents per 100 warehouse delivery, and
the usual drayage charge for delivery IS
80 cents.
The railroad company takes the ter
rolls of paper TO the station In Baltl-
more, and from the station in Wash