The Washington times., 1913-07-22

% cents on a package. By all means
let the merchants fight this move. and
let the railroads see that We can do
our business by water"
Extra Expense Feared.
Fred Topham, of the Topham trunk
and leather store, speaking in the alb
sence of Washington Topham, who
handles the freight end of the business,
said:
II feel that the railroad company
free and with profit However, l have
not handled the freight proposition. so
do not consider myself an authority on
the best moves to make"
Mr.. Jelleff, of Smoot & Jelleff de-
clared that If. the railroads are elimi-
mating the city delivery plan because
they have less water competition than
formerly, IL is an unfair proposition for
Washington merchants. He estimated
that ii would cost from % to 50 cents
case for the hauling OF such goods
as his firm handles, meaning a heavy
expense in the course of a Year.
Manager Anton Stephan, of Dulin e.
Martin, says:
Il feel that the recent decision Of
the Interstate Commerce Commission
gave the railroad company the option
OF continuing freight delivery in both
cities. or OF dropping it in both cities.
/ do not feel that il would now be of
but do favor fight for reduced rates,
If We must do our own hauling.
Woodward & Lothrop store gave the
following statement:
We believe it would be useless to
make any fight for continuance, of the
city delivery, but We do feel that it
WOULD be unjust to maintain the present
trelght rates. with the delivery plan
eliminated. We favor action looking
toward such reduction.''- -
The Palais Royal store manager had
no statement to make in the absence of
the proprietor. A. Lisner, in Europe.
, Gerson NOrdlinGer. head of .the
Phil!psborn store, said that he had
city delivery of freight. inasmuch as his
store deals only with express
Wants Delivery Retained.
Proprietor O'DonnelI. of O'DonneIrs
drug store. estimates that it would cost
him 500 a month extra in drayage
charges II the city delivery elimination
order of the Pennsylvania stands He
would be favorable to an increase in
freight rates rather than the elimination
of the free city delivery.
THE railroads can get cheaper dray-
age than the merchants" he declared.
. a
package, even though II weighs less
than a hundred pounds. But the rail-
road can get a far better rate. | would
be favorable TO the addition of s. or
even 1, cents to the freight rate rather
than to have the delivery cut off. By
all means let the merchants stand to-
gether for a continuance of the present
system"
Manager Katspaugh, of the II. y. Off
terdingcr store, said:
This latest move Of the Pennsylvania
road is very fine for the small group
that controls the city transportation
and ] feel that they are back of this
scheme. | believe this question should
be taken up with the Interstate Com
mrce Commission"
The acting manager of Hechts Great
er Stores says: We feel about the same
as other merchants-that the store door
delivery plan ought to be maintained"
Believes Rule Will Stand.
Harry King, of Kings Palace store,
believes it is impossible to get a change
of the Pennsylvania decision. He says
that the l. C. c. ruling precluded the
possibility of action at this time. He
praised The Times for it's efforts to
fight this move of the railroad, but de-
clared that the best method is to seek
a reduction of the rates.
This move of the railroad works a
hardship on the merchants, who now are
selling at a low profit" He said Il
believe that the best thing to do is to
take up with the I. c. c. the question
of discrimination in the rate between
Washington and New York and the
rate between New York and Richmond.
Both Washington and Richmond have
a S-cent rate from New York. Now il
this city door delivery is cut out Wash
ington ought to get a rate of about 30
cents. Furthermore, the merchants
should seek TO have a more equitable
rate from the local transportation COM