The Washington times., 1914-06-02
CLASS RATES TO THE
SOUTH ARE ILLEGAL
Washington Merchants Gain
Concession in |. c. c. Rate
Decisions.
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First Page)
With rates for similar distances between
ther points in the same general terri
'ory.
II was held that there was no evil
1ence to show that upon the institution
r Store-door delivery in Washington
there was an offsetting increase in the
rates. and weight was given to the
contention of the railroads that the
s"rvice was instituted years ago. be-
rause Of poor station facilities, which
since have been improved.
Summing Up, the commission does not
nd that the rates in question are I'M
reasonable, or that their effect is to
subject complainants to unjust discrim-
nation or undue prejudice. and the
"omplaint was ordered to be dismissed
The same finding as to store-door de-
'Nery and rates into Washington is
naGn in the Chamber of Commerce and
- Mol cases in the decision, which
VAS written by Commissioner Hall, but
a decision favorable to the shippers is
given as TO rates from washington to
he South. The contention of the rail-
Dads that the lower rail rates from
Nv York to Richmond than from New
York to Washington were due to water
competition was not sustained.
IN this point the decision said:
Rates Are Affected.
The evidence shows that the rates to
Richmond are affected by water COM
petition. but the same is true of the
~ates to Washington; and we do not
hlnk the record furnishes justification
lcT lower rail rates Ia Richmond than
o Washington, on account of sucn
competition
Washington is intermediate to
richmond on the all-rail routes from
New York. 1t is not shown that water
competition ia enough stronger. If
stronger at all. at Richmond than at
Nashington to justify a difference in
he 2D-rail rates in favor of Richmond.
that portion Of fourth section. applica-
''0U No. lTSI. which asks authority 10
onllnue lower rates TO Richmond than
70 Washington on the several classes CT
TeiSht from New York and other East
I'm points. will be denied
Heparation was asked by Washing
ION shippers on past shipments made
inder the higher rates. but this was
not allowed by the commission.
New Southern Schedule.
Deciding the rate contentious of
Washington shippers on shipments out
= Washington to the South, the Com
Missions decision declared that no evil
Gence had been submitted in defense
If the present adjustment, which shows
rateG from Washington to the Carolinas
nd the southeast to be higher in
many instances than the aggregates of
he intermediate rates based on Alex
.indria
Since the proceedings were started,
NoWeyer, the Southern Railway, the
N arlington. Southern. the Richmond.
fredericksburg, and the Atlantic Coast
inc have filed amended tariffs max
rns the through rates from Washington
to points in the South considerably
over than the intermediate rates based
NJ Alexandra. The new adjustment the
cmmission declares, also will remove
the discrimination as TO lower combina-
tion rates from Eastern points to the
South via Baltimore and via Washing
ton ....r
Under the circumstances,g the de-
Cision says,''no order will be made with
espeCt 10 the rates from Washington
'p thC South at this time. The proceed
ms will he held open for a reasonable
me after the effective date Of the
rariffs -efcrred TO. in order to afford op-
HoTtUnity 10 shippers TO become ac-
cGsinted with the operation of the new
-rhedules. II ii should be developed
TAT the relief is not in all respects
hat the law demands. the facts may
brought TO the attention of the Com
mission with a view TO such further re-
'yl as may be deemed proper
The proceedings also will oe held
nit evidence to show thyy arc entitled
% reparation for past shipments to
hese Southern points.
Grossly Discriminatory.
In disnissing the case brought by the
Merchants and Manufacturers Associa-
ION of Baltimore, the commission se-
,erates its former declaration that the
store-door service in Baltimore ard
Washington presented features which
ere grossly discriminatory
The service was accorded 0niy within
ostricted limits in each city" the de-
Ision says, and was never accorded
70 any other city by the respondent
arrers. nor TO freight from points
pther than those in the restricted terri
rory referred TO. BucalC, Cleveland,
'ittsburgh and Harrisburg and other
uportant cities. all in commercial com
retition with Baltimore and Washing
on, were not only never given such
Ie'iVery service, but the privilege vas
denied to traffic from those cities 70
'altirlorc and Washington. although 10
.ireCt cmpetition with traffic frCm
Philadelphia, New York and New Eng
md.
Tho discontinuance Of the service has
Nad the effect to place BaitimOr1 and
Washington on the same relative basis
th other large cities served ty the
ailroads. and its tendency IS toward a
naturalization Of the practices Telat-
ug to traffic delivery. reduction of
ne rates for the first three classes, as
~ere Contended for. woulG tend TO re-
sta Dlish the same discrimination a we
Ondemned in the Washington case To
r"mcdv situation like this. inevitably
auses some hardship. but 70 refuse TO
"medv IL would be TO peTpetuate un-
.g2t discrimination.