The Washington herald., 1914-06-28
LOOKFOR &c.
DECISION july 4
Rate Case Opinion Probably
viii Be Withheld Until
Exchanges Close.
TARIFFS ARE SUSPENDED
Body Advances Spotting and Switch
ing Charges Filed BY Eastern Car
riers Until October 2o.

Indications now strongly point to de-
eision in the advanced rate case on next
Saturday. July l. There is some expec-
tation that the commission will hand
down It's decision next Friday after
o'clock; that is, after the New York Stock
Exchange and other important American
exchanges close. However. this has
aroused such adverse comment that Il
is believed that II the commission did
intend to hand down the decision on that
day with the object of allowing its de-
cision to be read and studied on Saturday.
which is holiday. Il would initiate
strongly against the American exchanges.
Time fer Mediation.
II il pointed out that on Saturday aft
ernoon. any time after l:30 O'Clock. would
be an ideal time TO hand down the deci-
sion. as then all exchanges would be
closed and enough time could elapse for
the nature and tenor of the decision to
be understood.
II appears that many contracts are
awaiting the decision. particularly coal
contracts, and that these contracts must
be renewed by July l. Hence, the i'm
portance from the standpoint OF con-
tractors and others as to the date Of the
decision. II was stated yesterday that
the government itself could save hun
dreds OF thousands Of dollars II IL were
in possession Of information as to whether
or not an advance was going to be per-
mitted on coal.
II Is even stated here that the COM
mission is purposely Withholding its de-
cision until after the close of the fiscal
year. June 90 in order TO call the blur
Of the carriers made during the taking
OF testimony that the commission. in or
der TO prevent a crisis in the railroad
world, must act at once. Nearly two
months have elapsed since the date when
the carriers predicted an imminent crisis.
Tariffs Are Suspended.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
yesterday announced that II had suspend
ed from July l until October . the oper-
alton Of certain tariffs fled by the East
ern trunk lines. including the Pennsyl-
vania, the Baltimore and Ohio, the New
York Central, the Erie. and others oper-
ating in Official classification and central
freight association territory. The sus-
pended tariffs provide for a charge of 5I1
cents per ton net or gross, as rated. with
a minimum charge of 81 per car for
switching freight to and from points To-
Gated on private sidings and industrial
plant tracks. These are what have been
referred to so much in the advanced rate
case as spotting and switching charges
The action of the carriers in filing the
tariffs and the commission in suspending
them appears to have a significance in
connection with the advanced rate case
that is interpreted in opposite ways here
as applied to the advanced rate case.
One Interpretation is that the commis-
sion Is going TO allow A straight increase
in freight rates 10 the carriers to some
degree. and that hence there will be no
necessity for the carriers to make these
charges to increase their revenue. An
other Interpretation is that the commits
sion will turn down the application for
increase and show how by enforcing
these tariffs for spotting and switching
and enforcing other reforms the COM
mission is going to suggest. there will be
no necessity for the commission to allow
q straight increase in freight rates.
Announcement of Suspension.
In its announcement yesterday suspend
ing the tariffs the commission states
that said schedules make certain in
creases in rates for the interstate trans
portation Of various commodities, and
the rights and interests OF the public
appearing TO be injUriously affected there
by, the effective date OF the schedules
contained in the tariffs should be post
poned pending hearing and decision"
II is announced that the commission
will later announce the time and place
of the hearing or hearings to be accorded.