The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-02
ROADS TO ABSORB
SWITCHING CHARGE
Interstate Commerce Commission
Sustains Richmond's Fight
Against Discrimination.
SHIPPERS TO SAVE $4,000
Petition Filed by Chambers
Traffic Bureau in January,
1912, Brings Relief.

Local shippers viii save approximate
ly $4,000 annually ns "a result OF the
Interstate Commerce COMMISSIONS de-
cision yesterday holding ts unduly dis
crlininatory charges imposed by the
Seaboaid Air Line R;slway. the Allan
tic Coast Line Railroad and the South
ern Railway for switching interstate
carload freight at Richmond, and or
dering Il revision In rates urged In
Il petition presented to the commits sion
ON January 9. 1919. By the Richmond
Chamber Of Commerce. The three
roads are ordered TO abstain from the
practice OF discriminating against ship
pers and receivers or freight in iich-
ulond in charging higher rates for
switching Interstate carload freight
here than is charged at Norfolk and
other cities. ION or before Scptembcr
]. 1919. and for a period Of not less
than two years thereafter"
The decision Of the commission was
the outcome OF "a complaint Of the Rich
nond Chanher Of Commerce. which
centred about the practice Of the three
roads begun In 1909. OF levying a
switching charge of 81 car on all
freight not destined for a competitive
point which required transfer from
one road to another in Richmond and
the decision Of the commission in or
deriig the railroads TO abstain from
icvying the objectionable tariffs is re-
garded as substantial victory for
Richmond shippers.
PETITION FILED ny
TRAFFIC. BUREAU
The petition OF the local shippers was
prepared by f.. :. Goodwin. traffic mar
agcr OF the Richmond Chamber Of Com
mercc. which set forth the grievances
In full. and named as defendants the
Scaboard Air Line. Atlantic Coast Line
Southern. Chesapeake and Ohio. and
Richmond. Fredercksburg and Poto-
mae Railroads. While all Of the roads
entering Richmond were named IN the
petition for the sake OF comprehensive
ness In the framing of the new tariff,
the chamber had no grievance ngaius,
the last two lines named. only the Sea
board Air Line. the Atlantic Coast Line
and the Southern being directly con
cerned In The charges. Tho chamber
represented by William y Glus
gov. Jr., and Charles H. praVtun. whilc
Merrel l.. Galloway and Frank w
Gwathmey represented the railroads.
The Chamber OF Commerce cont.ndcd
that the practice Of the railroads in the
matter OF the switching charge affected
adversely practically every branch OF
Hichmond industry. Teh practice, II is
contended. has Handicapped Richmond
III competing with other cities where
the charges complained OF have not
been made, and local Industries will
therefore derive substantial benefit
from the commissions decision
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE;
CHARGED DiSCHIMINt ALTON
II was charged by the Chamber OF
Commerce that the railroads discriini-
nated against receivers and shippers OF
freight In Richmond by rcfusint, to alb
sorb switching charges on Interstate
carload freight from connecting lines.
while no charge was made for similar
switching service AT Norfolk. Memphis
Tenn. Louisville, Ky Cinciniati o.
ST. Louis. Mo, and other cities. Tn.
imposition OF the extra charge upon
local shippers operated TO increase
inrins upon all classes OF merchandise
shipments originating locally ana
placed local dealers 1t :. marked dis
advantage In competing with the deal
ers In other cities where the charges
were not imposed.
The, commission holds in it's opin-
ION that in cases where the traffic.
moves from the same points of origin
aud the switching charge is absorbed
III tie one case and not in the other
there is violation of the statute. AS
The existence of competition in the one
case and not in the other clearly docs
not constitute substantial dissi,ui-
larfty of circumstances and condi-
lions. Even. however, in the case OF
traffic which moves from different
points, the commission holds the com
parative conditions relied upon are
not sufficient TO constitute that sub
stantial dissimilarty Of circumstances
and conditions within the meaning of
the law.
no SUCH CHARGES
MADE AT NORFOLK
The imposition of switching charges
on Interstate carload freight ut Rich
mond, while at the same time no
charge of a like character is imposed
at Norfolk on similar traffic SAYS the
commission. constitutes undue discrim-
ination against receivers and ship
q iph at i,,l,p
mission does not sustain the complaint
of tho Chamber OF Commerce with re-
spect to unreasonable and discrimlna-
tory charges on tramp. peddlcr and
station order cars.
Commissioner McCord, who read the
report of the commission. said:
THE complaint OIL this case is di-
rected against the Atlantic Coast Line
Seaboard Air Line and Southern, all
of which, on November 6. 1909, ceased
their indiscrimin absorption of con-
necting-line switching charges OH car
load traffic at Richmond. and provided
that thereafter such switching charges
would be absorbed only when the car
rier performing the transportation
service was in competition for the
traffic with the switching line Dis
continuance of the absorption of con
necting-line switching on trap, ped
dler and station-Order cars, and the
making of a charge for the switch
Ing service when from Industries on
the line of the carrier performing the
road haud, was also challenged. 1t
was further asserted that cancellation
OF through routes and reasonable rates
has been effected, and we were asked
to restore them. The Chesapeake and
Ohio Railway and the Richmond,
Fredericksburg and Potomac were
made defendants. presumably because
of their prayer for through rates.
DIFFERENT POLICY FOR
VARIOUS CUSTOMERS
THE carriers pursue an entirely diff
ferent policy from the Southern lines
and absorb connecting line switching
on all carload traffic from and to other
than local points on their respective
lines. 1t was the restoration or adop-
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