Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-25
First Guns in Contest Between
Washington Business Inter-
ests and Railroads.
MAY CONCLUDE HEARING
LATE THIS AFTERNOON
Business Men Of Capital Allege Dis
elimination in Opening Statements
to Examiner Pugh Of I. c. c.

| With prominent business men of
Washington and attorneys present, the
first guns in the Washington freight
rate war for lower rates into and out
of this city growing out Of withdrawal
by the railroads Of the so-called free
store door delivery were fired when
the taking of testimony was begun be-
| fore Examiner Pugh of the interstate
commerce commission this morning.
The hearing is being conducted on the
messanine floor Of the New Willard
Hotel and probably will be concluded
late this afternoon.
| Before the actual taking Of testimony
was begun 1t was decided that the Sow
eral complaints which were filed before
the commission should be consolidated, as
| they all dealt with practically the same
thing. These cases included those Of o. ].
DeMoll and others, the Retail Merchants
Association Chamber Of Commerce and
Judd & Detweiler.
While store door delivery entered some
what in the testimony. It was principally
to show that the withdrawal Of the serv-
ice was equivalent to an increase In the
rates. The main question involved In the
case, however. Is the question OF a reduc-
VI
lis alleged, result In discrimination against
Washington, from a business standpoint,
and make it impossible for this city to
compete with other cities similarly sit
uated.
Business Men Heard.
George w. Judd of Judd & Detweiler
was the first witness. He was followed
by A. E. Beck Of the Merchants and
Of o1
more, John L. Newbold, president OF
the Merchants Transfer and Storage
Company of this city: Judson c. Well
liver, a newspaper writer. and M. NJ
Caskie, assistant manager of the
Freight Audit and Adjustment Com
pany.
Representing the railroads as counsel
were Henry F. Bike for the Pennsyl-
vania and allied lines and NJ. P, Gallo
way for the Merchants and Miners.
counea amy Earon
Hanes were present for the Chamber
of Commerce, Maurice D. Rosenberg
for the Retail Merchants Association
and John B. Daish and ]. Raymond
Hoover for Judd & Detweiler.
Mr.. Judo on Stand.
After consuming some moments on the
question Of procedure at the hearing,
George H. Judd. president Of Judd & Det-
weller, Incorporated. printers. who insti-
tuted one of the cases attacking the
rates, was placed on the stand as the
first witness.
The direct examination was conducted
by Raymond Hoover. Mr.. Judd asserted
that he received about 1000 pounds of
freight a month. and that as a result Of
the withdrawal of the store door delivery
he had to pay for the hauling Of his
freight.
That entails a difference in the rates,
doesn't it," asked Mr.. Hoover.
1T is, in effect. an increase in rates"
responded the witness.
How much does this increase amount
to-"
Il have no way Of knowing. The bills
are sent to us and we pay them.
They amount to about $s or $40
month. We don't know why we pay.
There seems to be no set charges. We
have no way of finding out
Judsou c. Welliver, newspaper
writer then took eSs+ the stand ia ia MI
sued railroad Investigations, he didn't
know whether he could qualify as an
expert.
ton Of the store door delivery practice.
and declared that Washington and Bal
timore were the only two American
cities which enjoyed the practice ex-
tensively.
Practice In England.
I'm England" he said, '1t is rather
the rule to deliver freight free. It is
largely true on the continent Of Europe.
understand 1t is included In their
rates"
Henry F. Bikle, counsel for the Penn
sylvania railroad. then cross-examined
Mr.. Welliver.
do you know that in England and In
Europe that receivers Of freight can send
| for their goods. and relieve the railroads
Of delivery" asked Mr.. Bike.
mo, SIR"
Then you are not familiar with the
fact that the receiver can send for his
goods. and have the drayage charge de-
Quoted from his BILL"
mo, SIR
A. E. Beck of Baltimore. traffic expert
in the employ of the Merchants and
Manufacturers Association Of that city.
then was placed on the stand. Under
| direct questioning by John B. Daish he
believed a fair basis for rates to WASH
| ington would be % cents a hundred
pounds from Philadelphia, 80 cents from
New York and Al cents from Boston.
chants Transfer and Storage Company
| Of this city, when put on the stand ex-
planned that his company had contracts
with merchants to deliver their freight
from the station, since the withdrawal OF
| free delivery.
He said the present rates for drayaSe
| were very unsatisfactory, but the public
will not pay more. He said he received
more from railroads at the time store
door delivery was in practice than he
| now gets from the public.
DO the railroads pay you anything
now" asked John B. Daish.
mo, SIR"
Took Over Blue Line.
Mr.. Newbold said that on January /.
1914. his company took over the Blue
Line Transfer Company. a subsidiary
L AZ hA Rolf