The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-28

1905, the Baltimore scale was reduced,
beginning with IS cents, first class,
and after much protest and insistence
on the part OF the Norfolk and Rich
mond Chambers of Commerce. the
scale from Virginia cities was reduced,
beginning with so cents. first class 1t
should have been reduced to 10 cents
to maintain the proper and rightfui
difference between the rates from Bal
timore and from Virginia cities. About
two years ago or less the scale from
Virginia cities was increased to 81
cents. but the Baltimore scale was not
increased from os cents SO that, in
stead of difference of 20 cents under
Baltimore, our difference was reduced
to IA cents. In the tariffs which the
carriers propose TO put into effect on
January /. 1915. If permitted BY the
Interstate Commerce Commission. the
Baltimore scale OF $l.e7 is restored,
thus restoring the old relation. but in
stead OF allowing this to remain, the
carriers are attempting to impose upon
the Virginia cities rate scale begin
ming with 800 per 100 pounds. first
class. to Atlanta, thus reducing our
difference under Atlanta from 20 cents
to cents. The Commonwealth of
Virginia claims and the Virginia cities
claim that there was absolutely no
justification for this under the order
of the commission in the fourth sec
ton case. and we are confident that
we have proved this to the satisfaction
/ of the suspense board Of the commits
sion
( Some Illustrations.
! At the foot of this statement Is a
table showing the present rates from
the Virginia cities and the proposed
Increased rates, the present rates from
Baltimore ard the proposed increased
rates to a few but strongly represen-
tative. typical. competitive points II
the Interstate Commerce Commission
permits the rates to become effective
the injury will not be confined to the
commerce OF the Virginia cities, but
will extend TO every shipping point in
1.-The State OF Virginia, and in some
cases to a more aggravated extent.
ANY shipper shipping u@der class rates
can understand the table but specially
to call the attention Of shippers 10
what is attempted by the carriers. the
following concrete example,. are Of
fered:
IN the Mrst place. Il viii he seen
that the increase. proposed to be
Imposed the yirstnia cities
ON certain elasaes. Any shipper
~an calculate them. 1t viii be
seen, using Atlanta ~ an iilustra-
tion. that while our hrrt-class rate
was once ~ c<nts and the rate
from BALTIMORE e1.O7. difference
Of ~ cents. u IL proposed 10 make
eur rate A1.o0. ar = difference ef
cents, which II nm Increase Of
10 cents per 100 pounds, whereas,
Raltimere's rate IL not really In
ereased. hut ssnAr,y restored to
WHIST tt wss prior to 1895. IT will
be seem that eur Increase IL nearly
loo Per cent higher than the In
crease FROM Baltimore. Using
nArMangham - an illustration, Il
will he seen that II 10 proposed to
Increase the baltimore nrst-class
rate cents per 100 pounds. and
the Virginia cities r4te - c~nta
per 10 p~unas. ~ NO per cent
higher than the increase from Bal
timore. a.a that II IL proposed to
iacreass the third. fourth and NTH
class rates from Baltimore to
Rtrminghan rents per 100 pounds
sGaiIst IL eeats. IS cents and II
eents per 100 pounds from Virginia
cities to BirminGham. or from 100
70 TOO per cent higher than the
increase from Baltimore.
what virxtnians stand Fer.
The Traffic Bureau of the Richmond
Chamber OF Commerce is now in the
twenty second year OF its existence.
II was among the very first traffic
bureaus established in this country.
which IL now full OF them. II has
never, during that time, in single
instance. sought TO undue advantage
In its rates OF freight, but II has
always insisted upon being placed upon
a relative basis Of equaftty with other
competing cities and localities. provid-
IL ha~ .h b.,
tive basis OF equality was just and
reasonable. The Constitutional Con-
vention created the present State Cor
poratton Commission. and IL ID NOT
A4ceelaFy TO stats hArs. hecanse Il il
|kaSwl ~ ~ ~ "A q ss m stature