The Washington times., 1913-10-25
'L:C. {. PLANS BIC
|NQU|RY0NR RATES
Thorough Investigation on Ter
ritory in This District to Be
Made Next Month.
HEARINGS WILL BE GIVEN
Merchants, Who Have Conn.,
planned, and Railroad to
Have Chance.
HEARINGS WILL BE GIVEN

The entire rate fabric of the Wash
Observation-Disclosures territory is to be
taken up by the Interstate Commerce
Commission for revision or approval
on the complaints of Washington and
Baltimore merchants and organize
tions.
A decision to open up the entire
question Of rates to Washington as
well as rates to the South, and South
eastern and Southwestern territory,
has been reached by the Commission.
Action was based on the complaints
of alleged unreasonable and discrimi-
natory rates to Washington, follow
ing the withdrawal of free delivery
in the city September 1 by the Balti-
more and Ohio, Pennsylvania, and
other railroads.
Ordered for November.
In conference the commission decided
to give full hearing on the complaints
against Washington rates, and this ac-
tion was ordered for some date in No.
vember not yet fixed. Though It Is not
definitely known, II is. probable that
Commissioner McChord will hold the
hearings.
All the cases brought against the
70 Irnsa dc, b..
the withdrawal of free delivery will be
taken up at about the same time. The
complaints of the Chamber of Com
merce, Retail Merchants Association,
and others have already been consoli-
dated with the complaint of Judd &c
Detweiler. and these will all be heard
by the commission as one cause.
The complaint of o. ]. De Moll and
others, attacking rates out of Wash
ington to the South, as we'll as the
rates to this city, will be taken up as
a separate issue. On this cause will
come the issue as to whether Washing
ton is to get the benefits of its natural
position as gateway to the South.
The complaints of the Merchants and
Manufacturers Association, of Balti-
more, will be brought on for hearing
before the commission at about the
plants. They. too, have been ordered
set down for hearing by the full conf
mission in conference.
The present issue will undoubtedly
prove the last conflict In the fight that
has been waged over free delivery for
two years.
Will Present Cases.
Washington attorneys representing all
the parties at issue in the rate fight
will be given ample opportunity by the
commission to present their case in
full. 50 that all the rate questions grow
ing out of the abolition of free de-
livery can be finally determined
Rate experts are at work on the tar
iff obtaining data for the complaining
and 1t is declared a strong
case for Washington business Is being
made out.
Such prompt action By the Interstate
Commerce Commission in the WASH
many quarters and there has been some
doubt as to whether or not the issue
on rates would be opened by the COM
mission on a comprehensive scale. Ac-
ton just taken appears conclusive in
this respect
1t is probable that the Washington
and their attorneys will
be notified in a few days of the as
siSnment of the cases for hearings. The
hearings are to be held in one Of the
dig rooms of the commissions offices
and will probably provide a voluminous
record. The railroads affected all of
which are among those applying for
a horizontal raise of per cent in
freight rates. will fight bitterly any
attempt at a cut.