Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-22
Capital Business Men Want
Aid of Those in Bal
timore.
DECLARED NECESSARY
If VICTORY Is GAINED
Railroads Notice of Discontinuance
Of Free Delivery Expected
Soon.

appoint a special committee TO CO.
operate with the freight rates and
transportation committee Of the Cham
Der of Commerce in the fight arains,
the discontinuance by the railroad COM
panies of the free store delivery sery-
ices In both cities in a resolution
adopted by the local committee at a
meeting held this afternoon.
After listening to an explanation OF
the local freight rate situation bv local
merchants and by an expert on freight
rates the committee was unanimous in
Its opinion that Washington merchants
cannot hope to get better freight rates
without the assistance OF baltimore
Members of the Retail Merchants As
ISOLATION. who ret yesterday, were of
the same opinion.
While the railroad companies had not
Yet ofncially notified the interstate COM
merce commission OF their Intention oc
dlScontinuing free freight delivery in
washington or Baltimore up to the time
the meeting was held. all the members OF
the committee present were OF the belief
tnat such notification would ,e made
within few days
Explains Local Situation.
A. Winter. an expert on freight rates
who assisted the general counsel OF the
against the discontinuance OF free store
delivery was first nade before the inter-
state commerce commission, appeared be-
fore the committee at the request OF NJ
A Winter, one of its members, and ex-
planned the local freight situation
IF the railroads do decide To discon-
.inue free store delivery in Washing
ton and Baltimore l DO not bu.l.vs
That they can be legally proven ed from
cong SO. said Mr.. N.nter. BY rs de-
cislon recently the interstate comm, rec
commission ruled that a TO ID cou.a dis
continue such service as long as Il did
no. discriminate against any one city
n favor Of another.
Washington and Baltimore are the only
cities In the country which have ever
enjoyed Tree store door delivery service.
II 1t Is .scontinued the merchants Of
Washington can only hope to get the
commission to lower the freight rates,
which will be excessively high IL the free
delivery is discontinued.
Capital Bottled Up.
Washington is bottled up SO far -
freight rates are concerned. Both Balti-
more and Alexandria have a great adj
vantage over this city when 1t comes to
shipments to the north and south. Freight
rates to the west are fair
Mr. Winter told the committee he did
not beIle.e any definite action should be
taken until the roads do actually file
with the commission the supplements to
their present tariffs. which will contain
no PROVISIONS for free store delivery.
He said the announcement on the part
or the Pennsylvania railroad regarding
It's Intention to discontinue free store
delivery may be a move to see how tie
pubic viii take il. He said that the
commercial organizations of Washing
ton cannot take. the matter up with the
interstate commerce commission until
the railroads issue notice OF their inten-
ton to discontinue the free delivery
service.
Sees Slow Deliveries.
The discontinuance of the free store
delivery in Washington will mean more
than an increase in freight rates, said
ID. j. kaufman, director OF the Cham
Der of Commerce. in discussing the local
freight situation today.
1t will mean a delay in the receipt of
freight shipments which does not now
exist
W hen the railroads no longer will de-
liver freight to store doors tree OF cost
il will be necessary for the merchants 10
either have their own teams haul IL or
enter into a contract with the transfer
companies to have 1t hauled. hautns
by teams other than those OF the RAILROAD
company will necesstate delays
A merchant will first 90 notified OF tn
and he will then nave to notify the eN-
press company which he had engaged 10
do his hauling.
.Discontlnuance of free store delivery
will be a hard blow to Washington mer-
chants. Lit will represent an increase In
freight rates which are already high.
1t will tend to increase the cost OF ar
ticles sold in this city.
Waits Upon Baltimore.
Secretary Columbus of the Retail
Merchants Association announced to-
day that no steps Will be taken oy
that organization until word is re-
ceived from the Merchants and Manu-
facturers Association of Baltimore re-
garding the associations offer to CO.
operate with il in the fight against
the discontinuance OF free store de-
livery.
Merchants of Washington and Bal
timore are unanimous in the belief that
The situation is one which calls for CO.
operation. The merchants OF Baiu-
more have arguments which Will aid
the local merchants and We will be or
assistance to The business men of that
city, he said.
AT the Board of Trade today il was
stated that no committee of that or
his yet looked into The pro-
posed discontlnuance of free store de-
livery The mater has not yet been
officially brought 10 the attention u
he hoard