The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-29
OFFICIALS Deny
truth OF RUM0R
Heads Of Trade Bodies Say
Baltimore and Washington
viii Cooperate IN Fight.
BIG SESSION TOMORROW
Merchants and Shippers Of Monu-
mental City Held Meeting Yes
terday to Debats Plans.

Ofiicials Of the Retail Merchants As
ISOLATION and the Chamber OF Commerce
yesterday characterized as "tommyrot'
the rumor which reached here from Bal
timore to the effect that there was a
possibility of the merchants OF the Monu-
mental City and Washington not CO.
operating in the legal battle to be waged
before the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion by them against the proposed dis
continuance after September Of free
store-door delivery by the Pennsylvania
and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroads.
Isaac Cans. acting president Of the Re
tail Merchants Association. declared that
the report was started by some one seek
ing to injure the cause of the merchants.
Il have not the slightest idea," said
Mr.. Gans, where the report originated.
but do know that there is not word
Of truth in it. Only yesterday received
positive assurances from officials of the
Merchants and Manufacturers Associa
ton that the cooperation of Washington
Is earnestly desired by the Baltimore
merchants. and that following a meeting
today Of the special committee appointed
to conduct the fight, a joint meeting of
the representatives of the two cities will
be held here. 1 expect the joint meeting
to be held here Wednesday, and at this
meeting tentative plans for a joint fight
will be made"
Thomas Grant, secretary Of the Cham
her of Commerce, yesterday declared the
report was "wholecioth." and had failed
in its purpose to alarm the merchants of
Washington.
''There Is nothing to IT, said Mr..
Grant. A fight is to be made. and il will
be made by the two cities acting to-
gether."
Committees Named Today.
r. p. Andrews Is expected to return
to the city today and to name the special
committee which will represent the Re-
tail Merchants Association at the joint
meeting tomorrow. The personnel of the
committee of the Chamber of Commerce
TO serve in like capacity will be an
nounced today.
Further action by the local organiza-
ton will be withheld until after the
joint meeting tomorrow, and it is not
expected that any united move by the
of both cities will be made I'M
Ill after the Interstate Commerce Com
mission has made known its decision upon
the request of the Baltimore organiza-
ton for a suspension order OF the pro-
posed tariffs of the railroads. Until
the commission has made a decision in
this matter no further steps can be
taken. for upon the decision depends the
nature of the fight to be made.
Denial of the suspension order would
mean the abandonment OF the fight for
restoration of free delivery and instead
a fight for a proportionate reduction in
the present freight rates. Favorable
action on the request for a suspension
order would mean that the date of the
proposed discontinuance of free delivery
would probably be postponed for four or
i've months. dating from September ],
lending an investigation and hearing be-
fore the commission. In this event the
will make a fight for a con-
OF free delivery and will have
four or five months in which to prepare
their case.