New Britain herald., 1915-07-27
ORDERS REVISION
 0F PORT TARIFFS
Commerce Board Holds Lighter age and Storage Rates Ambiguous

Washington, July 27.-An impor.
 tant decision affecting proposed
 changes in lighterage and storage
 unarges and practices of railroads al
 .ne port of New York was handed l town by the Interstate Commerce commission yesterday me railroads sought to obtain 1n- creased rates for lighterage service I5 5ssRraRe1Rpd other facilities at the New IorK terminals. Some of the ad- ] vantages sought were allowed, but the 1 majority were rejected. Make Thorough Revision.
 The commission suggested that the railroads using the New York ter mlnals should make thorough re- vlslonhof their tariffs, declaring that the tariffs under discussion were ann biguous as to intent, that they bore evidence of carelessness in their prep aration and insisted that they must be withdrawn and rewritten.
 In a general way the case decided yesterday was based on application by the railroads entering New York from the west for authority to increase rates or to reduce rates in service performed under present rates in connection with the delivery and receipt of freight at the New York terminals.
 Free Storage Cut.
 For example. the railroads pro- posed to reduce the period of free storage on the Jersey shore from ten to five days as to domestic inbound freight for delivery at New York Authority to make this change was granted. The commission also all lowed the railroads to make an in crease charge of one cent hundred pounds for each ten days or fraction thereof for storage on the Jersey shore of freight for New York de- livery after reduced free storage period.
 The commission refused to permit the railroads to reduce the period of free storage on the Jersey shore from ten to five days for domestic inbound freight destined for coastwise ship ment. It also withheld authority for a minimum charge of $3 for each lot of westbound less than carload freight lightered or fioated with carload lots or more of lighterage free freight. It also rejected the proposed increased charges for towing freight to certain points outside of free lighterage limits.
  roads that were either rejected or al- lowed by the commission are as fol- lows.
 Proposed Charges Justified.
 Proposed increased charges for handling and storing heavy iron and steel articles cooperage stock and sawed stone; justified.
 Proposed increased charges for rir~sY, S,lc shipments of lumber, telegraph poles; Justified.
 Proposed reduction of period of free storage at railroad pier stations of domestic inbound freight from three to two days; not justified.
 Proposed reduction of free storage of export less than carload freight at railroad pier stations from ten to five days; not justified.
 Trading Charges Hit.
 Proposed charge for loading to or unloading from lighters at other than station piers or vessels of the carriers; not justified.
 ance to shippers or consignees for loading and unloading cars on floats; not justified.
 Proposed increased charges for lightering heavy articles; not justi- fled.
 Proposed increase of minimum weight from 1000 to 2.O00 pounds for free lighterage of dressed poultry, but ter and eggs; not Justified.
 No Testimony offered.
 As to proposed increased rates in support of which no testimony was of- fered, the respondents have not sus- tained the burden of proof imposed upon them by law, and such increased rates are not Justified, according to the commission
 The commission suggested in it's opinion that the problem presented by terminal conditions at New York was very perplexing.
 < Many of the circumstances and conditions which affect the transpor- tations service at New York have no counterpart in the United States said the opinion. "Comparisons with ser- vice at other cities are therefore diff ficult The record does not justify any conclusions as to whether the terminal service rendered by the car riers at New York as whole is un- justly discriminatory as compared with terminal service at other cities" THERE IS NO HURRY