The Washington herald., 1913-07-27
Store Delivery
IOBE DISCUSSED
Joint Committee Of Washing.
ton and Baltimore Mer-
chants Will Meet.
ACTION.HINGES ON REPLY
Answer of Interstate Commerce Com
mission Will Guide Future Course
Of Complainants.

Tentative plans for the al battle to
be waged before the Interstate Com
merce Commission by the merchants Of
Washington and Baltimore against the
proposed discontinuance after September
l of free store door freight delivery by
the Pennsylvania and Baltimore and
Ohio Railroads will be discussed at a
JOINT meeting OF the Retail Merchants
Association and the Chamber OF Com
merce of this city and the Merchants
and Manufacturers Association OF Bal
timore to be held here tomorrow or
Tuesday.
A. Z. Beck, traffic manager of the Bal
timore organization was in the city yes
terday comforting with the officials OF
the local organizations relative to a joint
meeting of the representatives OF the
two cities and with officials of the In
terstate Commerce Commission
The exact date of the joint conference
was not determined yesterday. Acting
President Cans. of the Retail Merchants
Association, stated that r. 7. Andrews,
president of the association, was expected
back in the city either Monday or Tues
Gay, ana that ne preferred TO postpone
a meeting until Mr.. Andrews coulo DC
present.
Special Committee Named.
The Baltimore merchants at a mass
meeting held Friday authorized the ap-
pointment of a special committee II
FIVE to confer with the local merchants
relative to the campaign to be waged
against the dscontinuance of free de
livery The president of the Baltimore
organization named l.. ID. Easter chair
man Of the special committee and will
announce the other members of the COM
mittee tomorrow.
Traffic Manager Beck at a conference
yesterday with c. ]. Columbus, secretary
OF the Retail Merchants Association,
stated that no further steps would be
taken by his organization until a reply
is received from the Interstate Commercs
Commission relative to its request for
a suspension of the proposed new tariffs
Cf the railroads. He stated there was
nothing that could be done in the fight
until after the commission had decided
on the request Cor suspension order. IL
the commission denies the request the
entire plan of battle of the merchants
will have TO be changed, for there is no
Federal court that has appellate pov FL
over the decisions of the Interstate Com
merce Commission.
A denial of a suspension order would
sound the death knell of the hopes the
merchants have for a reStora ton of free
delivery. II wuIld mean that they must
abandon their fight for free delivery and
tight to gain proportionate reduction in
the present fyoi"ht raroG \ ds"iSi"u
n the matter is expected some time this
week.
In case the commission suspends the
proposed changes of the railroads IL
probably will postpone the date of effect
four or five months from September /.
which will enable the merchants to-
gather the necessary information and
evidence TO appear before the commits
sion.
The Washington merchants will follow
the same action ar that taken by the
baltimore merchants. They first will
request suspension Of the proposed
tariffs of the railroads and in case of a
denia' they will take steps to fight for {:
reduction in the present freight rates.
Contest Next Week.
Secretary Columbus declared yesterday
the contest would be on in earnest by
the middle of next week. He stated that
while the local organization had not
taken any formal action in the matter.
they had not been asleep and had map
ped out a tentative plan of battle. Sec.
retary Columbus is busy collecting data
on the cost to the local merchants of the
diScontinuanCe Of free delivery To b.,
used i'm the f~ht. He stated Yesterday
that as an offhand estimate he should
say that disCOn tinuance OF free livery
would cost the merchants of Washington
slOO.UJ annually. This he estimated as
actual increase of from 10 to y per
cent in the present rates.
Definite plans for a fight against the
WITHDRAW wal of free freight delivery and
collection were made by the Baltimore
merchants at a mass meeting held Fri
day afternoon. A. r. Beck. tra Hic man
ager Of the Baltimore organization, at q
conference yesterday with Secretary Co.
iumbus stated it had been decided to en-
ploy counsel and fight the case to a
finish before the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
He stated the president of the organiza-
tiOn had been authorized to name A spe-
Cial committee to cooperate with the
traffic and transportation committee in
raising a fund to defray the costs of the
night Mr.. Beck stated the withdrawal If
free delivery in Baltimore would cost the
merchants of that city at least s35O,ooO
annually. He declared this meant an in
crease Of from II to % per cent in tie
present freight rates.
DEVELOPMENTS in the fight are expected
this week following the decision of the
Interstate Commerce Commission on the
request of the Baltimore organization for |
a suspension of the proposed tariffs pend |
ing thorough investigation and hearing !
before the commission. Nothing will be !
done by the local merchants until after |
the joint meeting of the representatives |
of the two cities either tomorrow or Tues
RNED To DEATH