The Washington herald., 1913-07-25
PLANS OF RATE
Fight Changed
Merchants VIII. Not Start
War For Free Store-Door
Delivery Immediately.
WAIT FOR BALTIMORE
Complaint Made in Northern States
That Old Privilege Has Been
DiseTiminatoy.

The action Of the Merchants and Manu-
facturers' Association Of Baltimore. yes
terday, in filing with the Interstate Com
merce Commission formal application
for the suspension Of the new freight
tariffs of the Pennsylvania and Baltimore
and Ohio Railroads. proposing the de
continuance Of free store-door delivery
and collection Of freight In Washington
and Baltimore after September ], sig
naiized the opening Of the bitter legal
battle to be wased before the commits
sion by the combined forces OF the mer-
chants of the two cities for restoration
Of the privilege or a proportionate re-
duction in the present freight rates. The
petition for a suspension order was hled
by A. E. Beck, traffic manager OF the
Baltimore association. Details OF the
petition were outlined In The Washing
ton Herald yesterday.
A change In the plans OF the local
merchants was made yesterday. when II
was announced that the Retail Mer-
chants Association and the Chamber OF
Commerce would not make any formal
request to the Interstate Commerce
Commission for a suspension OF the new
freight tariffs until after word had been
received here Of the action taken IN
the matter by the Baltimore merchants
at their mass-meeting today. II had
been originally planned that the lota!
organizations would make similar re-
quest of the commission at the time
the application of the Baltimore mer-
chants was filed, but this action was de-
ferred yesterday after a conference be-
tween Charles ]. Co umbus, secretary;
Issac Cams, actirg president. and
Maurice d. Roserhurg. general counsel
of the Retail Merchants Association.
80
Commission yesterday stated that owing
to the vital importance OF the question
to the merchants OF the two cities. the
application for a suspension order would
be made special" and a decision handed
down by the commission within the
next few days. Ordinarially a suspen-
sion order is not issued by the COM
mission until a few days previous to the
date Of the proposed changes taking ef-
feet
Order May He Denied.
In case the commission denies the re-
quest for a suspension OF the new tariffs
the only redress the merchants can hope
for would be reduction in the freight
rates. Refusal to grant the suspension
order will determine once and for all the
rights OF the railroads to discontinue free
delivery in both Baltimore and WASH
ington. The merchants would be de-
prived the right OF an appeal, for there
is no judicial court which has appellate
power over the decisions OF the Interstate
Commerce Commission.
An official OF the commission yesterday
limited at the possibility of a suspension
order being denied. He stated that the
commission had only recently thorough
" thrashed out the matter and had
rapdarad decision n the matter. He
stated that the commission had stated
in its decision that the railroads must
continue the free delivery here as long
as 1t was maintained in Baltimore and
that the question to be decided now was
whether II had the right TO discontinue
1t in both places and whether or not
its discontinuance would be regarded as
an increase in the freight rates.
The privilege of free store delivery, &C.
corded the merchants Of Washington and
Baltimore. has been a thorn in the sides
OF the railroads for some time. The
merchants and manufacturers Of a num-
Der Of large cities have threatened to file
complaints with the commission alleg-
ing discrimination against them.
A merchant or manufacturer in Chi
cago. Pittsburgh, or any other point not
in the free zone. IL compelled to meet
the price OF his competition in Phila-
delphia or New York. plus the charge of
carriage from the depot TO his customers
door. II was stated at the Interstate
Commerce Commission that a number of
| letters protesting the free delivery In
Washington and Baltimore. Of shipments
from points in the free zone. had been
received.
Sec-ctary Columbus, Of the Retail
Merchants Association. stated yesterday
sL-A f-TN -..-s fno ~ hl
Baltimore association today, a joint COM
n1ittee Of the merchants of the two cities
would be formed to conduct the fight.
Headquarters of the joint committee will
be located in Washington. The first
meeting of the joint committee will be
held the first part of next week, and
attorneys will be selected 10 conduct
the legal formalities Of the fight
Conference for Saturday.
The merchants contend that the dis
continuance of free delivery practically
amounts to an increase of from 10 TO
% per cent in the present rates, which
are already too high. Local merchants
cannot comprehend how the commission
| can view discontinuance Of free delivery
| in any other light, and are optimistic OF
their gaining either a restoration Of the
privilege or a reduction In the present
rates proportionate to the benefits of free
delivery.
Secretary Columbus last night had a
| lengthy conversation over the telephone
| with A. E. Beck. trafiic manager of the
| Baltimore organization. He was informed
| by Mr.. Beck that the executive commit
tee, at its meeting yesterday, had rati-
fed the recommendations Of the traffic and
| transportation committee to fight the
action of the railroads and that follow.
ing the mass-rheeting tonight he viii
come to Washington and hold confer
ence with the local officials early Satur'
day morning. when Mr.. Beck will tel
of the plan approved by the Baltimore
merchants. Secretary Columbus stated
that a meeting OF the local organization.
| probably would be held Monday and 9
committee selected to act In cooperation
with a committee Of Baltimore mer
| chants The first meeting of the Join
committee probably will be held Monda!
night Or Tuesday morning, when plan.
for a united tight will be discussed.