Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-09
Washington Merchants Lose
First Round in Fight With
Railroads.
/. C. c. RULES AGAINST
SCHEDULES SUSPENSION
Petition Dismissed Without Preju.
dice, Leaving Fight for Lower
Rates in Order.

=
The interstate commerce commission
has declined to suspend the operation of
the Pennsylvania railroad and Baltimore
and Ohio railroad schedules which with
draw free store door collection and de-
livery Of freight in Washington and Bal
timore The withdrawal schedule will
therefore go into effect September 1.
In announcing its decision. the commits
sion, through It's secretary. states that
this action Is without prejudice to the
right Of the Chamber of Commerce and
Retail Merchants Association of WASH
ington. and the several Baltimore COM
merciaI organizations to file formal COM
plant against the schedules, which be-
come effective September /.
To File Formal Protest.
Before the Chamber of Commerce and
Retail Merchants Association jointly
petitioned the commission to suspend the
rates pending a thorough investigation
1t was decided that should this request
be declined a formal protest against the
new tariffs would then be filed.
Had the commission compiled with the
request. however, the new tariffs would
have been suspended for a period of at
least six months, during which time the
local merchants could have gathered to-
gether the data which they declare sub
stimulates their contention that the free
store-door delivery should be continued.
AS it is. the new tariffs will go into effect
September !.
Suspension Of Free Delivery.
This will mean that on that day free
delivery Of freight to store doors will
cease both in this city and Baltimore.
Firms without adequate hauling facili-
ties will either have to purchase addi-
tiOnal wagons or auto trucks or have
their hauling done by drayage companies.
Even II a formal protest against the tar
ifs be filed within the next day or so. 1t
may be a matter of many months before
the commission takes action on the mat
ter.
Fight for Lower Rates.
The action Of the commission in de-
Ginning to order a suspension Of the new
tariffs. which do not provide for free
store-door delivery, is Interpreted to
mean that the merchants Of Washington
must now fight for lower freight rates,
abandoning efforts to bring about the
continuance Of store-door delivery.
II store-door delivery is no longer
given free Of charge by the railroads the
existing freight rates are entirely too
high, the local merchants say. AS long
as the rates included free delivery, how
ever, they were comparatively fair.
Await Baltimore Outcome.
Chaplin Brown, general counsel of the
Chamber Of Commerce. is Of the opinion
that protest against local freight rates
should not be made Immediately; that
the Washington merchants may profit
1,xy Hv-o< <1,1 r. q
being made by Baltimore merchants for
the continuation of free store door de-
livery Of freight. Mr.. Brown explained
that while the decision of the commits
door delivery stated that the railroads
could not discontinue such service in
Washington and not do SO in Baltimore,
1t did not specifically state whether the
roads had a right to deprive that city
Of such service.
He believes that the Baltimore mer-
chants may convince the commission
that free delivery should be continued
in that city, where water transporta-
ton plays such an important part. If
such is the case and free store door
delivery service In Baltimore is con-
tinued Mr.. Brown believes the Wash
ington merchants would then be in a
excellent position to have the old
reinstated in this city.
II am Of the opinion we should do
considerable investigating before maxi
Ing the next moys said et ME- Free sr st~rs
door delivery. Even il we fail in this
we are in a position to make strong
fight for lower freight rates. l plan
to go over the situation with MI. Ro-
senherg, general counsel for the Re-
tail Merchants Association. and we viii
ascertain the best plan of action
Fight Is Not Weakened.
M. D. Rosenberg, general counsel for
the Retail Merchants Association, said:
''The decision OF the interstate COM
merce commission in refusing to suspend
the new freight tariffs pending an tnvesti-
CATION has not weakened the fight OF the
Washington merchants for relief as to
freight rates. Our fight Is strengthened.
for the situation now assumes definite
shape.
the interstate commerce commission and
protest against the existing freight rates,
which, without delivery service. are ex-
cessive and unfair. This will bring about
a complete investigation Of the local
freight situation. Besides applying to
classes Of freight which heretofore have
been delivered without extra charge. the
Investigation will cover all freight ship
ments. The existing rates to the south
and west will be investigated.
II believe that in the end the Wash
ington merchants will como out VIC
torious. We are in a position to make
a strong fight for lower freight rates
I believe the outlook regarding fairer
freight rates is better than 1t has ever
been before"
Large Sum Has Been Saved.
Mr. Rosenberg said today that not
withstanding the fact that the so-can-
ed free store door delivery service will
be discontinued September 1. between
$4,000 and $4,000 has been saved tho
merchants Of Washington as the re-
suit Of having made the initial fight
against the discontinuance Of such serv-
ice last February. Such service would
have been discontinued at that time had
the local merchats not protested.
This brought about the ruling Of the
interstate commerce commission that the
railroads could not discontinue the serv-
ice in Washington and continue it In
Baltimore.
Today's Presidential Nominations.
The President today sent to the Senate
the following nominations:
To be secretary Of the legation at Quito.