The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1914-03-06
THE NEW
EXPRESS RATES.

EAT MOD ~ L Ed.
A couple of weeks ago the News
mentioned a hurry call sent out BY
the State Chamber of Commerce tt
all organized bodies in the State, II
Immediately petition the Interstate
Commerce Commission and others il
authority to knock the express com
panies on the head, on account OF
their new rates. 1t was alarmingly
claimed that under them the truck
ers of Florida would be ruined.
The. Palatka Board of Trade replied
that it would be better to know al
details before taking any decisive &C
ton, that the Interstate Commerce
Commission, having knowledge Of
rate making, would not allow injus-
tice, that the new tariff had been is
sued by consent of the commission
that in some cases rates were lower
than those given by the peoples own
parcels post, that rate making was
expert work, and that it would be
better to hear from shippers.
Several boards however got busy;
a meeting was held at Ocala, and the
express officials being present, they
explained affairs so satisfactorily that
statement was issued to the effect
that the situation was not as bad as
had been painted, rates having been
readjusted and the thing to do was
to await developments.
Now comes Lloyd s. Tenny of Or
lando, Secretary Treasurer of Flori-
da Growers and Shippers League,
who says the new rate is correct with
out a doubt, that the Interstate Com
merce Commission understands rate
making, and in making sweeping re-
necessarily made some
slight advances as well as many re-
auctions. Mr.. Tenny says:
"Now that the new express rates
are in full operation, the Florida
Growers and Shippers League de-
sires to obtain definite information
as to the effect of these new rates
on shipments now going out by ex-
press from various points in Flori-
da. 1t is impossible for anyone to
pass upon the justice or injustice
of the changes, until we have con-
siderable amount of data.
A number of shippers in different
parts of the State have been ask
ed to keep records of their ship
ments for a period of ten days and
to submit the results to this League
so that we may accumulate consid-
cradle data from which to deter
mine the effects of the changes,
and if necessary later to use the in
formation at an Interstate Com
merce hearing. The manager of
the League desires the co-opera-
ton of other shippers in this same
work. Will you kindly send to the
League a statement covering GER
tain information about your ship
ments for ten days, being very
careful to include every express
shipment of fruit or vegetables
made during this specified period.
We DO not want the shipments Sc
lected because the rates happen 70
be higher or lower in that particu-
lar case; We must have data on
every shipment handled during the
ten days. The following informa.
ton covering each shipment should
be sent:
/. The date of shipment.
2. The number and size of the
boxes or crates in each shipment.
3. The kind of fruit or vegeta-
bles shipped.
a. The estimated weight of the
shipment.
5. The point to which the ship
ment goes.
6. The amount charged for the
shipment.
This will mean some work on the
part of the individuals furnishing
this information. If a large num-
Der of the shippers will cooperate
with the League in this matter,
however, we will secure an invalua-
BILE amount of information.
The basis of this new rate is cor
rect without a doubt. The Inter
state Commerce Commission has
spent much time in developing a
system of rate-making which is
fundamentally correct. 1t is to De
expected that in making such radi-
cal changes, some mistakes would
be made. The idea that every cX-
~ ess shipper of fruits and vegeta-
bles in Florida is paying high
er rate than formerly is entirely
wrong. There have been many re-
auctions. There have also been in
ueases, especially on single hex
lots to certain north, IN points. i he
Florida Growers and Shippers l.ra-
que can do nothing to correct any
injustices until we have a mass of
information to present. The ship
pers must furnish this data.
Moral: Keep your heads and saw
wood.