The Washington times., 1913-07-21
MERCHAN IS FIGHT
FOR FREE DELIVERY
Business Interests Aroused by
Railroads Action - Means
Rate Increase.
Continued from First Page)

said that so long as Baltimore en-
joyed the service, Washington also
must have 1t.
Evidently Commissioner Marble was
not much impressed with the conten-
tions of the railroads. In the course
of his opinion. he wrote:
There are suggestions In the record
that II 1.-THE delivery servicel has been
instituted and maintained as a means OF
competition against the boat lines trad
ing from Boston, New York. and Phlla-
delphia. There is no suggestion that
any attempt has been made to make
freight deliveries in the manner Gus
tomary to American railroads nor is
there any adequate showing that such
attempt would, under proper warehous-
ing rules, result in any congestons
which are not now caused by delivery
through the same warehouses to rail-
road drays instead of to drays belong
ing to or hired by the merchants"
Competition Thought Cause.
Which is equivalent to saying that the
commission didn't believe the practice
was adopted in order to relieve conges-
ton, and did suspect that 1t was
adopted in order to overcome the COM
petition of the boat lines.
Suppose the free delivery was adopted
for that purpose; then can 1t be with
ton is no longer so serious as 1t once
was?
cided that 1t cannot
It so decided on June II of this year.
the self-same day when the Washing
These two cases have need to be studied
side by side. Commissioner McChord
wrote the other decision. 1t was in a
case involving pig iron rates from tide
water points Of the Chesapeak, virginia
and Carolina region. to philadelphia. In
that case It was held that rates once
made and long maintained, in order to
destroy water competition, could not,
when the water competition had disap-
peared, be again advanced.
The facts in this case were that
twelve to fifteen years ago much pig
iron from Virginia, Carolina. and Ten
nessee was moved to Philadelphia by
boats. The railroads wanted the busi-
ness. So they made a water-competitive
rate to get II. The boats could not meet
the rate, and many Of them quit the
business.
Reason Is Explained.
After a general explanation Of the his
tory of these manipulations, Commits
sioner McChord proceeds TO tell why the
railroads cannot now raise the rates.
The explanation lies in this very point
ed section of the Interstate Commerce
act:
Whenever a carrier by rail shall,
In competition with a water route
or routes, reduce the rates on lhe
carriage of any specials of freight
to or from competitive points, 1t
shall not be permitted to increase
such rates unless after hearing oy
the commission it shall be found
that such proposed increase rests
,.an conditions other than
the elimination Of water competition.
Taking the two cases together. 1t be-
That Commissioner Marble believed
the real purpose of the roads in giving
the delivery services In Washington and
Baltimore was to defeat the water
lines; and
That the law forbids, and the COM
mission will not allow, rates once re-
duced for that purpose to be raised
again.
The privilege, once given to these two
cities, was OF great value to them. 1t
was willingly given. 1t has resulted
in Strengthening the railroads very
much as against their water competi-
tors. To withdraw it now will inture
these cities. It is almost certain that
proper contest against the order will
defeat 1t, and 1t is certain that contest
will be made.
One very important point will be de-
cided In this connection. The new Pub
lie Utilities Commission OF the District
has under consideration the question Of
its powers to take a hand for protec-
ton of the city's interests. It Is con-
fidently believed that. as State railway
commissions and public utility commits
sions have the right to institute origi-
nal proceedings or TO intervene In 9TH
ers. before the Interstate Commerce
Commission, II will be held that the new
commission for this Jurisdiction also
has that right II so. II opens a pro-
cedure by which the whoic difficult
problem OF traffic conditions in Wash
ington and freight-rate discrimina tions
against this city, may be taken I'D and
brought to early and effective deter
mination.
Chamber of Commerce, who appeared
before the Interstate Commerce Com
mission in the Washington case, said
today:
This change of the Pennsylvania
railroad is most unjust to the mer-
chants Of Washington. and the Cham
Der OF Commerce will do all in It's power
10 resist 1t by all legal and equitable
means In the interests of Washington s
merchants"
Mr. Brown declared that the PROPOSE
tiCn of the Pennsylvania amounts to a
grab. The road. in It's decision. pro-
poses to eliminate the delivery system
without changing rates. It thus re-
ceives a large return which has gone
into the cost of delivery to the store
door. The rates, al now proposed, Mr..
Brown claims are unjust and unreason-
able.
D. ]. Kaufman. clothing merchant,
said:
%! am opposed to this change. for
feel that II is unfair to Washington
merchants. The railroads can well af-
ford 10 keep up the present system.
They claim that the cost of improve
ments make n change necessary. but
this cost has not gone into freight SER
vice" Mr.. Kaufman pledged himself
TO get into the flight against the Penn
sylvania.
One merchant. who declined TO be
quoted, made the suggestion that the
merchants band together to throw their
business to the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad which gives free store-door
delivery. This suggestion, however.
did not meet with approval. in all
quarters Mr.. Brown suggested that
such = move would probably nor be
successful, because of the probable
cooperation of the two companies.
Urges Quick Action.
Thomas Grant, secretary Of the
Chamber Of Commerce said:
81 believe strongly that the trans
nortat.on committee of the chamber,