The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-28
DISCRIMINATION
IN EXPRESS RATES
Board of Trade Committee
Makes Report
w. J. WOOD RETAINED
Will Go Before Interstate Commerce
Commission and Take Necessary
Steps to Remedy Situation.
Other Business Transacted

A busy meeting of the board of trade
division of the Chamber of Commerce
was held yesterday afternoon, at which
several important committees made re-
ports, among them that of the express
rate committee. The report said that
not only were the present rates unreaso1-
able, but that Birmingham was being
Disseminated against. The meeting was
well attended and quite a number OF
matters were passed upon. The insur-
ance committee reported on the local
insurance situation and at later meet
ing will present data showing the gen
eral conditions of fire risk.
j. d. Brown of the Merchants Protec-
tive association appeared before the board
and urged the board to affiliate with the
association On motion the board decided
not to act on the matter, either indorsing
it or condemning it.
A committee was appointed to act with
the protective committee from the Bir-
mingbam Ad club in protecting the busi-
ness men from fake and wasteful adver-
tising and smoker were discussed, but no
action taken the board referring the mat
ter to the membership committee. which
will make recommendations at the next
meeting of the board.
Lively Discussion of Report
The report of the express rate commit
tee was listened to with a great deal of
interest and there was spirited discus
sion which was participated in by nearly
every member of the board present The
board adopted the report in full and with
1t the recommendation to employ Judge
Wood of Evansville, Ind, to present the
situation before the interstate commits
sion i'll Washington. The report was as
follows:
Your committee on express rates have
had several meetings, and have gone into
the subject as far as the facts at hand
would allow them. We availed ourselves
of the services of the chairman of the
committee. who was on a visit to New
York, and had him call upon the traffic
manager of the Adams Express company
and the Southern Express company for a
conference with view to the adjustment
of the present determinations against
Birmingham.
This conference met with acquiescence
on his part, unless the present status
of investigation of express rates will de-
lay the same. We find that there are
already on file three complaints from
Alabama, one from Birmingham, and
complaints from Montgomery and Flor
ence.
Your committee is of the opinion that
not only are the present ratea to Bir-
mingham from points east unreasonable
in amount, but that there is manifest
discrimination against Birmingham as
compared to other cities substantially
similarly situated.
Wood Is Retained
with view of going to the bottom
of this whole matter, we have retained
at the suggestion of the attorney for the
board of trade, Judge William ]. Wood
of Evansville, Ind. and have employed
him to go before the interstate commerce
commission in Washington and find out
the exact status. and to ascertain the
exact situation in reference to the gen.
eral express inquiry now being conduct
ed by the interstate commerce commits
sion, and what is necessary for us to dc
in order to obtain reasonable rates, and
to secure adjustment of present dis
elimination against Birmingham.
The committee has had conference
with Judge Wood, and find him an ex-
pert in express and other rates, and one
who has had large and varied experience
in the adjustment of rates, and believe
him most competent to undertake the
work. He leaves for Washington at once
Your committee finds that the ex-
press companies have in making out
their way-bills is insufficient, In our opin-
ion, as it furnishes no sufficient memo
randum to trace lost package. Judge
Wood also will report upon this matter
Respectfully submitted,
LOUIS PIZITZ,
Chairman Express Rate Committee