The Washington times., 1913-07-24

decided this afternoon to await the &C
ton of the Merchants and ManufaC-
turers' Association, of Baltimore, gen
eral meeting tomorrow before taking
further. action. Arrangements Will be
made for a conference of representa-
tives of the three bodies after the Bal
timore organization takes action.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
probably will take early action in the
matter of setting a date for a hearing on
this petition, inasmuch as both Wash
ington and Baltimore merchants are
anxious for a decision as soon as pos
sible.
F. +. Moran, chairman of the freight
Chamber of Commerce. today denied
the statement of morning paper that
the Chamber had dropped the idea OF
getting a continuance OF the store door
delivery plan. AS matter OF fact, Mr..
Morans committee has taken steps to
have q Joint meeting OF the Chamber
OF Commerce and Retail Merchants,
and there is no intimation of dropping
this end of the fight.
Secretary Columbus, of the Retail Mer-
chants Association, declared today
that Washington undoubtedly would
put in a separate petition, seeking to
have the present delivery plan main
tained.
At any rate, Washington and Bal
tinlorv commercial organizations will
The executive committee of the Mer-
chants and Manufacturers Association
of Baltimore, is scheduled to meet to-
day to discuss plans for the fight, and
a general meeting of the body is called
for tomorrow.
With these meetings completed. Wash
ington and Baltimore will have the basis
for united action. Then a conference
of all the organizations Interested VIII
be called at an early date, SO that the
fight may be carried on Immediately
and vigorously.
Second Rate War Planned.
Business organizations undoubtedly
will soon take steps to meet the oppor-
tunity of making this city the actual
commercial gateway to the South. Seri-
Gus freight rate discrimination, working
against Washington, as shown in The
Times yesterday, will probably be made
the subject of a second rate war.
AT present, the commercial organiza-
tons prefer to fight the store door de-
livery proposition solely. but the South
ern rate fight appears today to be as
sured
Secretary Columbus, of the Retail
Merchants Association, came out
strongly today In favor of an investi-
cation of the Southern rate discrimina-
ton subject as il affects Washington.
the Interstate Commerce Commission to
get a more equitable adjustment. Sec
retary Grant, of the Chamber of Com
merce, also favors fighting the South
ern rate.
As pointed out in The Times yester-
day, Baltimore and Alexandria get the
advantage over Washington in many
cases. thus shutting Washington out of
the race for commercial business in the
South. ..-
Share of Trade Possible.
Traffic Manager Watts of the Freight
Audit and Adjustment Company, Inc,
points out that it is not necessary to
make Washington manufacturing
city to gain for it a position of business
supremacy. But Washington, by grasp
ing its present opportunity, Mr.. Watts
says, can have a share in the Southern
wholesale trade, which now goes to
Alexandria and Baltimore
As matters now stand, Washington
does practically nothing in the way of
commercial distribution to the South.
Yet with a more equitable freight rate
adjustment, he says, Washington could
come into its own-and without detract-
ing from the beauty of the city as a
residential and social center.