The Washington times., 1914-04-10
HAS SOMEBODY LIED?

"iuie' II HAS btcil repeatedly Cf,di gee
that this was done N order TO take
the business away from the water
carriers. This has just as regularly
been denied by the railroads.
When, last year, this delivery
service was discontinued in both
cities, there was demand that the
rates into these cities be reduced, to
correspond with the reduction of the
service. The railroads declined,
likewise, to concede this point. They
denied that there had ever been an
increase Of rates to cover the de-
livery; therefore there should be no
reduction when delivery was abol-
ished.
II appears, in view of some new
evidence on these questions, that
somebody has been lying.
Philadelphia. which didn't have
free store-door delivery, looked long
ingly toward Baltimore and Wash
ington, and wondered why they were
thus favored. It looked good to Phil
adelphia. Why shouldn't she have
free store delivery Richmond had
similar aspirations. The railroads
didn't want to extend delivery to
those cities.
So when Philadelphia asked for
free store delivery, it was told that
Baltimore and Washington really got
10 srecial privilege in that regard;
that rates TO those cities had been
raised enough to meet the extra cost
Of the delivery.
But when the delivery was a5ol-
ished in Washington and Baltimore,
these cities were old Just the op-
pcSitc story: that rates had never
beer raised to compensate for the
store delivery; therefore there was
no reason why, with abolition of the
delivery, the rates should go down,
Quite obviously, both these stories
couldn't be true. Either the rates
We're raised, or they were not raised,
when store-delivery was instituted.
Which was true?
There has just been produced and
filed with the Interstate Commerce
Commission a letter which makes
very apparent that the railroads
have had one story for Philadelphia,
and different one for Baltimore and
Washington. When, in 1910, the de-
nand for store-deliyery was pressed
by Philadelphia, the freight traffic
manager OF the Pennsylvania road
wrote to the PhiladeIp phia petitioners,
saying that rates to Baltimore had
been raised to compensate for the
free delivery. Here is what he wrote:
The delivery OF first, second. and
third class merchandise traffic to
store door in Baltimore
This condition has existed for some
thirty ODD years, it having been in
erect when we look over the old
Philadelphia, Wilmington and Balti-
more railroad, and in looking into the
matter many years ago we discovered
hat the rates were adjusted by add
'7G TO the then railroad rates to Bal
more rates per 100 pounds for cart
g which rates were furnished by
responsible transfer companies in
Baltimore. this being necessary oH-
ing 20 the water lines making de
livery. 1nis free delivery covers re-
stTictcd territory.
TO change this (which as before
nc Interstate Commerce Commission
several Years ago. would bring about
redl ction only in the rates TO Bal
iinOre and would not in any wa.
"ffect Philadelphia or any otlcr city:
N tact. 70 reduce the published rates
'p Baltimore to the extent Of the
loV3rCr for caTL2ge at this time
Mould. in our judgment. seriously in
'"rfcr" with General business con-
ditions at Philadelphia and at other
Itl"S. fci ~" TraSOH that competitive
business conditions have iouC sinoe
90iust'G Themselves to this basis o.
-'arIding
That WAS the PannsvIvania's lit
tie story for PhillGelpkia consump-
ion. " Philadelphia got free de-
livery. it "olld have its rates raised,
= the rates had beer raised 70 Bal
more. Did Philadelphia want that
Anyhow. Philadelphia didn't get
f~"c delivery. Bu. three years af-
- III" f"rcp"'o.s lettcr haI nccn
n-,1lc~. th.' raiI.oads took the other
'"'... I"d r,it;rG.,N a1o'c-:lclIvery
.."n' RatIi2 81, ah.l Washington.
1''m ,Hc' rua ,.t different story L.
1':N :. re.ir ctio1 Of the &eryicc
'.Ithout 4 c"r. .JoHding reduction o.
,-tos. Tie Pennsylvania traffic man
: :c:rcut W. equal % tho emergency.
i '~SLcd :. circular in which, among
"lhcr thing. il said:
IN. plIn cI fro. dell, cry u.as or.-inaI-
lv ncUptcd as a [ mpvIHry eXuedient
I'D was nc""r intended u be p.rlna-
Int For that reason II" iucrcasc in
''ciEht rates was made at tn time free
''liT,Ty started.
That is 70 say, when free delivery
was being denied 10 Philadelphia,
Philadelphia was told that an in
crease of rates had gone with free
delivery; but when free delivery was
being taken from Baltimore and
Washington, those cities were told
that there mad NOT been an increase
OF rates with free delivery
Testimony that gets so sadly
rnfYe6 as this. Testimony eSp..cia1lv