The Washington times., 1913-07-22

wants to take off the delivery conces,
sion.
The proposition is unfair to the mer-
chants Of Washington said Mr.. Det-
weller. II certainly am opposed to the
elimination plan, without reduction OF
rates"
Isaac Cans, manager of Saks & Co,
feels that the fight should be for main.
tenance of store door delivery
Il am very much opposed to the latest
move of the railroads. he said This
will mean, I believe, an added expense
of from $4,000 to $4,000 GA year for the
citys merchants. Personally I prefer
to have the delivery system maintained
rather than to try to force down the
freight rates.
Manager Samuel Hart, Of the Lans-
burgh store, Seventh street, declined tc
give his views on, the subject.
Manager Johnson. of the Julius Gar
fnkle store. does not expect to take
any part in the controversy.
Would Appeal To /. C. C.
According to C. C. Cornwell. manager
of G. G. Cornwell & Son. washington
merchants ought to take the suspension
of free freight delivery before the In
terstate Commerce Commission because
ing the freight rate by just the amount
which is charged in transportation"
]. L. Whitmore, of the Berry & Whit
more Company. expressed a similar
view, although he added that lit is
possible to see something on the rail-
roads side of the question"
The legal rights of the business
houses affected ought to be determin-
ed" declared Mr.. Whitmore. If wash
i. -fertaN fra
continued after enjoying 1t for forty
three years, the fact ought to be de-
termined. Perhaps there is no such
right, but would be well to ascer-
tain definitely"
William r. GUIDE says washington
has no moral right to ask for free
freight delivery when other cities eX-
cept Baltimore do not get II. This
will not be the popular view. but 1t is
clearly the case nevertheless"
J. A.. Whitfield, president of the J..
A. Whitfield Company and the Old
Dutch Market Inc. strongly favors
investigating the legal aspects of the
freight suspension order.
Either the suspension order enjoy
ed SO long ought to be continued"
said Mr.. Whitfield, "or correspond
ing reduction in rates ought to be
not exactly a lawyer may not say off
hand what the legal rights of mer-
chants are il these premises, but
when a service such as this has been
given for years, that establishes a
business custom. At all events the
rights of Washington merchants
should be specifically determined"
Urges Water Shipments.
Shipment of freight here by water is
urged by o. J. DeMoll. piano and
music dealer, in case the roads insist
upon the suspension of free freight de-
livery.
II am glad to see The Times taking up
this matter said Mr., DeMoll. Ger
tainly something ought to be done and
If the Interstate Commerce Commission
can give us relief, its aid ought TO he
invoked This concern will ship by
water here wherever practicable If the
free freight delivery which has been
furnished us for so long Is cut out.
Water shipment of course will be more
available to some lines than others but
it is available in the piano business"
Arthur Bauer, manager of the Joseph
Hall Chase Piano Company, Inc, like
wise urged a cooperative effort to de-
feat the threatened loss OF store door
What our rights are snouId be de-
termined by the Interstate Commerce
said he. Merchants
should unite in fighting for what has
become the usage of long years. Cut
ting out the delivery is the equivalent
Of an increase in rates"
Big Loss to Piano Dealers.
Norman P. Foster. Of the Percy s.
Foster Piano Company. said that the
loss TO men in the piano business viii be
shipments come from New York. This
house will not be so greatly affected,
but il will hit other merchants hard,
said Mr. Foster. "and II any redress is
to b. had from the Interstate Commerce
Commission it should be sought
promptly"
II. c. Bergheimer, manager of Gait
& Bro, said that the jewelry business
will, Of course. not be directly affected
because no merchandise comes to jew
elers by freight.
But it is a case where all merchants
should stick together" said Mr.. Berg
heimer, land / am in favor of taking
what steps We may. II there Is any
case at all. ii ought to be taken to the
Interstate Commerce commission.
Water Rates Cheaper.
L. c. Brooks, Of Z. F. Brooks & Co,
who has been active in the last cam
paign on freight rates. said today:
Let the merchants of Washington
band together to encourage water COM
petition There has been talk of new
ines to operate between New York,
and Washington. Let's
make the railroads sit up and take no.
.ice. We can do it il we show them
that we can ship by water.
Water rates now are 10 per cent
ower than rail rates, but If We have
10 accept the present rail rates and
hen do our own drayage. II will mean
an increase of from 30 to 40 per cent.
",The Times is absolutely right in its
contention as 10 water competition.
rhe railroads are merely taking this
move now because they do not fear
water competition.
"Aoreover, If the merchants of
allow this plan to go
through, they will. be at the mercy OF
he local transportation companies
which now make minimum charge of