The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-20

penses
THE report in the Industrial railways
case. just announced, shows that these
| allowances and free services, which are
fruitful sources Of unlawful discrimina-
lions against the small shipper. are also
a heavy drain upon the revenues Of the
carriers.
THE aggregate amount of the allow
ances and the cost Of the free services in
official classification territory were esti-
mated in that report TO deplete tho car
riers' revenues by not less than $4,000
900 n year. Action should clearly be
taken by the carriers forthwith to abolish
all such illegal allowances and free SER
vices
"Other investigations undertaken by tho
commission show that other extensive
services are rendered by carriers without
charge. In addition to the rate. and the
Investigations tend to show that these
free services often become the means of
unjust determinations against the smaller
shippers. They also add largely to the
carriers cost OF operation"
Statement by Mr.. Harlan.
Commissioner Harlan. who has charge
OF the invest igation In the rate advance
case. gave out n formal statement to-day
In the course OF which he corroborated
the statement in THE Sun a day or two
4 that the advance rate case would be
d. sed Of before the summer recess.
lie also outlined additional testimony
that the commission would require be-
fore deciding the case. To clear up the
situation with reference TO the recent
suspension OF the rates until September
IL Commissioner Harlan said
The action Of the commission on Mon
day last in further suspendinE until Sep
tember IL the proposed Increased rates
Involved in this case seems to have been
misundei stood by those not familiar with
the practices OF the commission. 1t may
be we'll therefore for me to say that the
order then entered has no Significance
beyond the fact that the case Is not yet
ready for decision. Recognizing the pub
lie Importance of an early disposition OF
the problems before us here the car
riers. shippers and the commission are
using every effort TO bring the Inquiry
20 an early conclusion. and there Ii reason
to think that the record on the main
issues In the case may be closed and the
arguments had in time TO enable the
commission TO dispose Of those questions
before the summer recess.
Commissioner Harlan said that hear
ing will be held IN Washington on Foo
ruary 81 and IS TO consider further the
question OF making a charge for spottinS
cars for loading and unloading on private
spur and sidetracks. for trap or ferry
car service and for the tunnel and light.
erage services in Chicago.
Separate hearings will be given In
New York to consider lighterage and
other special services at New York city
and in New York harbor. but no dates
have been fixed. The statement of Mr..
Harlan Is In part as follows:
"Our records disclose that there are
some 2a. 900 private spur tracks and sid
ines in the territory east Of the Missis-
sippi River and nanlfestly II Is neither
at 10 aynin in Ia.
tail each Of these operations. But typical
examples OF the different classes VI pri-
vate spur and switch tracks Will be help
full In enabling the commission to deter |
mine:
1.-THE propriety OF q charge by car
riers In addition 10 the rate for the spot
ting and trap car service,
1.-The amount of the charge and the |
manner IN which 1t should be assessed.
Farther Testimony Desired.
while the general conditions IN this .
regard at Chicago were outlined AT the /
recent hearing. further testimony IL de- /
sired and the commercial interests OF chi .
caEo that have already participated In 7
these proceedings and others that desire .
TO do so are requested to come together .
promptly in conference among themselves ,
In order that at the approaching hearing 4
the commission may have further details |
respecting private spur and switch tracks |
by means Of illustrative cases,
THE commercial interests Of Detroit, /
Cincinnati and Indianapolis are also re- |
quested 10 come together In conference in /
order that they may be represented at the /
next hearing by witnesses. who viii be
able by means OF illustrative cases TO ,
advise the commission OF the conditions |
existing at those places So far a. the
time permits representatives of other |
cities will be heard. Valuable testimony |
has already been given bearing upon the |
situation at Buffalo
THE conditions developed In this WAY |
IN respect OF these matters at Chicago, !
Cincinnati. Detroit. Buffalo and Indian |
apolis. together with report OF typical /
spur track conditions IN villages, towns .
and the country districts will probably be /
sufficiently illustrative as to give the COM /
mission broad view OF the general con. /
ditions In this regard throughout the ter |
ritory east of the Mississippi River.
The spettins service.
AT the hearing on February 81 and rs
none OF the services TO and from and
within Industrial plants OF the general
character described In the Industrial rail- .
ways case will be further considered, but
throuEhout the territory the spotting SER /
vice Is performed by the carriers TO coal
yards lumber yards. elevators ware
houses and factories by placing cars for
loading and unloading at particular points |
on tho private spur tracks leading to them
in accordance with the requirements OF ,
the shippers. There are some complex
spur track situations properly coming
within the scope OF the hearing, such As
the spur tracks.
illustrative cases of these various |
classes Of tracks upon which the carriers
perform the free spotting service will /
AFFORD the commission an ample record !
upon which to set for argument the ques-
ton Of the propriety or an adequate |
charge by the carriers for the service.
Information 10 also desired at the |
hearing A. to what the amount OF the |
charges should be. II any Is TO be i'm |
posed. The suggestions already made
to the commission range from SO cents q |
car In cases where the operation Is sim
pie. the spur track short ano the distance
not oonEested. TO $3.50 a car In cases
where congestion exists and the service
Is extensive. The commission desires to
be fully advised at the hearing on this !
point