Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-10
PLAN TWO FIGHTS
ON FREIGHT RATES
Washington and Baltimore to
Wage Own Battles Against
Railroads, Is Decision.

Washington and Baltimore will not file
a joint petition attacking the rates ON
points from the north to these two cities,
which formerly carried the free store
door delivery of freight. This was de-
cided during the conference yesterday be-
tween John b. Daish. representing the
Merchants and Manufacturers Associa-
ton Of Baltimore; H. carlton Hanes, spe-
cial counsel for the Washington Cham
Der of Commerce. and Maurice D. Rosen-
berg. for the Retail Merchants Associa-
ton.
II was pointed out at the conference
that as long as the free store door de-
livery of freight practice was involved.
then Baltimore and Washington had
common interests, but as the commits
sion has refused to reopen this case. and
the matter having now developed into
one attacking the rates. the interests Of
the two cities were entirely different.
Baltimore's Hand Played.
ON the other hand, 1t was explained
to the Washington attorneys that Bal
timore had played her hand In the case
by the filing of petitions before the
interstate commerce commission and
also by the delivery to the Department
81 Justice of a petition alleging a mo-
nopoIy between rail and water lines
delivering freight to the Monumental
city
1t was declared this morning, how
ever. that the overtures made at the
conference yesterday had been submit
TED to the Baltimore interests for
action.
II is not believed now that these ir,-
terests VIII agree to the filing Of joint
petition SO long as the matter is one of
rates. Baltimore, 1t was pointed out.
would not agree to accept the same rates
from points in the north as Washington,
because the former city would be forty
miles nearer points north and therefore
should have graduated scale which
would give a lower rate to that city than
to Washington
Action Expected Soon.
It was declared today that the confer
ence yesterday was the last between
counsel In the case, and that some action
by the Washington attorneys could be
expected very soon. The material gathered
by the experts for the Washington attor-
neys from tariffs on file In the interstate
commerce commission, 1t was declared,
u
petition which is now being drawn up for
submission to the commission.
These rates In general show that
Washington is compelled to pay as high
rates on goods from a given point as
city several hundred miles further
than Washington from that point. In
other words. 1t was declared, the petit
ton which Is to be filed will be what
is called a comprehensive rate case .
and the matter of store-door delivery
will be dropped entirely.
Work for Reduction.
Although Washington and Baltimore
Will have different cases before the in
terstate commerce commission 1t was
stated by one of the attorneys this morn
ing Il at counsel for the interests Of both
cities would work before the commission
Ito common end"-the reduction OF
rates TO the two cities.
Baltimore having played her hand In
the rate fight, which promises to be one
O: the most important cases ever pre-
s.nted by. either of the two cities before
the commission, all eyes are now focused
on the petition which. 1t was announced
The Washington attorneys will file within
q few days.
In connection with the rate fight as
consequence OF the withdrawal of store
duor delivery in the two cities informa-
zion came from Baltimore today that ,ns
railroads were having much trouble ir
setting the merchants to move theiI
freight promptly.
Ii was stated that the matter had be
come SO serious that the railroad COM
panies had been forced to give up part
OF the room which it used for storing
goods In transit. for which it received
pay. in order to take care of the large
amount of freight (which is piling up
The merchants have forty-eight hours In
which to remove the freight before
storage is charged. and 1t was declared
that much of it is laying In the freight
stations the full limit. Such a condition
does not prevail here. 1t was declared
ay local freight agents.