The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-02-07
BURR WR|TESTO
COMMISSIONER
EXPRESS RATES
WANTS TO KNOW IF SOUTHERN
EXPRESS CO. HAS AUTHORITY
UNDER NEW TARIFF TO IN
CREASE RATES FROM FLORIDA
POINTS.

The following correspondence from
Chairman r. Hudson Burr of the Flor
ida railroad commission, which in
cfudes copy of a telegram he has for
warded the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, is self explanatory:
Tallahassee, Feb. 5. 1914.
Editor Pensacola Journal,
Pensacola, Fla.
Dear Sir.-On Feb. LIST, the new scale
Of express rates promulgated by the
Interstate Commerce Commission went
into effect. It was generally under
stood that the application Of these new
rates would not effect commodity rates
on which fruit, vegetables and fish
from state largely move.
Immediately after the FIRST of Feb
ruary it became apparent that some
thing was wrong with express COM
modify rates. 1t was found that in
many instances they had been mater
tally advanced. At once protests be-
gan coming to the office of this COM
mission, and although the matter is in
terstate and not subject to our juris-
diction, we undertook to assist the
shippers OF the state, and Immediately
took it up by wire with the Interstate
Commerce Commission.
I am enclosing herewith a copy of a
day letter we have just sent to the In
terstate Commerce Commission, and
request that you give same publicity
in your paper for the information of
growers and shippers. In this way the
will reach a greater num-
Der of persons than we could possibly
reach through personal correspondence
or by wire.
We wilt transmit to you in the same
way any further information on this
subject as soon as it is received
Yours very truly,
r. HUDSON BURR,
Chairman.
The Telegram Sent.
Tallahassee, Fla, Feb. 5, 1914.
Hon. C. c. McChord, care Interstate
Commerce Commission. Washing
ton, d. c.
We wired commission on third that
Express Company had raised COM
modify rates under which fruit and
heretofore moved from
points to points in other states
and also commodity rates under which
fish have beer moving out of Pensa-
cola to interstate points. We referred
to Commit ssioner Marbles letter to us
Nov. 10th, 1913. advising a follows:
This commission has not directed that
the rates prescribed by it shall super
cede the commodity rates now in effect
except in these cases where the COM
missions rates are lower" and asking
IL this were not true: also asking for
adviees. We had no answer
to this message up to yesterday aft
mission that we would appreciate an
answer, that the matter was urgent
This morning we have night letter
from Commissioner Clark stating;
New vegetable tariff has been
taken UP informally with president of
the Southern Express Company"
This does not give us information
desired. Commission must know what
it's order means, and must also know
tariffs filed under your order
are in compliance with same. We de-
sire to be informed whether under
your order the Express Company is
within its rights in raising the COM
modify rates in question.
We had long message from second
vice president Southern Express Com
pany yesterday which indicates tariffs
have been filed which do raise these
rates, stating that this was done to
square their practices with opinions
rendered by the Interstate Commerce
Closing sentence OF Commissioner
Marbles letter referred 10 says: IF
making substantial in
creases should be proposed you will of
course have ample notice" We have
had no notice from your commission
that these increases would be made,
and therefore no opportunity to pre-
sent reasons why these rates should
not be increa Sed.
In case No. 1854 Commissioner
Clements says in part.
I'VE 10 not deem it necessary, how
ever. at this time to make an order in
this case, because, as a result of our
report and conclusions IN the general
proceedings, the defendant company
has filed supplements to its tariffs. eff
fect1ve FEB. 1st, 1914, providing for
the application on the commodities
here involved of the second class rates
prescribed by this commission in all
instances where the rates are now In
excess thereof"
Relying on Commissioner Marbles
letter referred to. and the above lam
guage in case cited, we nave ADVISED
shippers IN this state that the COM
modify rates would remain in effect
except where the application of your
general order would make a reduction.
We desire an answer which is defi-
mite in order that we may inform the
shippers of these commodities. We
are being deluged with complaints
from them that should properly go to
you.
r. HUDSON BURR,