The Washington herald., 1913-07-26
joint Meeting
in Freight war
To BE PLANNED
Representatives Of Local and
Baltimore Bodies Will
Confer Today.
MERCHANTS ARE ACTIVE
tentative Plan of Action Has Been
Agreed Upon by the Monumental
City Organization.

ARRANGEMENTS for a joint meeting OF
the Representatives selected by the Re
tail Merchants Association and the
Chamber of Commerce Of this city, ana
the Merchants and Manufacturers AS
sociation of Baltimore, TO cohduct l"e
legal battle to be waged before the IN
terstate Commerce Commission by the
merchants of Washington and baltimore
against the proposed discontinuance AFTER
September ! of free store door freight
delivery in the two cities by the Penn
sylyania and Baltimore and ONO hail-
roads. will be made this morning at
conference between Representatives OF
the local and Baltimore organizations.
The first Joint meeting of the represen-
tatives of the two cities probably Will
be held here Monday morning
The Merchants and Manufacturers As
sociation. at a mass meeting held yes
terday. approved the tentative plan Tor
conducting the fight as outlined by the
traffic and transportation committee OF
the organization. Secretary Columpus' Oh
the Retail Merchants Association, last
night received word from A. +. Beck
traffic manager of the Baltimore Or
yanization, that he would be in the city
this morning to make arrangements for
a Joint meeting of the representatives
of the two cities.
Mr.. Beck stated that the Baltimore
merchants had agreed upon plan OF
action and were anxious to obtain the
cooperation of Washington merchants.
He will bring with him today the iuii
minutes of the various meetings OF his
organization and explain in detail its
plan of conducting the fight
Action Held in Allowance.
Action by the local organizations in
regard to the threatened discontinuance
of free store delivery by the railroads
is being held in allegiance, pending the
conference this morning and the joint
meeting of the committees of the two
cities The local merchants, while with
holding formal action, have not allowed
any grass to grow under their feet,
but have been quietly formulating plans
for the fight to be waged against the
proposed elimination of free delivery.
Isaac Cans, acting president of the Re-
tail Merchants Association, has been in
constant communication with members
of the Baltimore association, and was
fully advised of every step taken by it.
Mr. Cans stated last night he had re-
ceived word that the attendance at yes
terdays mass meeting il Baltimore
broke all previous records for numbers
He stated that he was confident that
when the cali was sent out for the local
merchants to meet to discuss plans of
action they would respond to a man.
While official announcement of the pro-
posed plans of the Baltimore merchants
had not been made last night. il was
learned on good authority that a large
sum had been raised to fight the case be-
fore the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. and that the commission would be
asked to compel the railroads TO either
continue the practice of free delivery or
make a prCportionate reduction in freight
rates.
Regarded us Freight Increase.
This action is in line with the sentiment
EXPRESSED by a large number of local
merchants, who regard the action of the
railroads as practically increasing the
freight rates from 10 to . per cent. and
will doubtlessly be the basis of the COM
plant of the local organizations. Fol-
lowing the joint meeting of the represent
atives Of the two cities, the local organi-
cations will unite with the Baltimore as
ISOLATION in requesting that the Inter
state Commerce Commission suspend the
proposed tariffs of the railroads, pending
a thorough investigation and hearing.
The local merchants have been advised
by officials of the Interstate Commerce
Commission that early nsideration will
be accorded their request for a suspension
order Owing to the great Importance of
the question to the merchants of the two
cities the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion will probably hasten its action and