The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1916-07-20
Mrs. Christopher eeu
Herald Special Service

VSEasO SPSSsas SVSVsSV
CHICAGO. July 1s.-Sensational in
the extreme is the aggressive fight
west Coast lumber interests are max.
ing against the proposed re-classifica-
ticn Of lumber freight tariffs suggested
by the Interstate Commerce comm:s.
sion. The presentation Of the West
Coast case which has taken day and
night sessions since Wednesday vas
concluded at noon Saturday.
The Interstate Commerce Commits.
sion. in urging new rate making basis
for lumber products, holds that rough
lumber and finished products should
not be given the same classification
The West Coast Lumbermen's Associa.
tion. in opposing the commissions at
titude. apparently has proven that such
Redistribution would wipe the i'm.
mense mixed car movement Of forest
products which now amounts to 80 per
cent of transcontinental lumber trafnc
originating in Washington, Oregon.
California and the Inland Empire.
Chairman B. H. Meyers of the Inter.
state Commerce Commission. who has
taken personal charge Of this import.
ant case. in an interview, said:
when this hearing Is over there
will be basis for the first nationwide
schedule of rates for any industry, and
in attempting this work, the commits.
sion has started with the second larg.
est manufacturing industry in the
United States instead Of one Of the
smaller industries"
Here in Chicago this interview Is
taken to mean that other industries
are vitaily concerned, or should be vi.
tally concerned, in the outcome of the
lumber case
F. G. Donaldson, traffic manager of
the West Coast Lumbermen's Associa.
ton. submitted an immense amount of
statistical record supporting the West
Coast associations position. He testi.
fed that mixed carload traflc on a
rough lumber rate was essential to a
wide distribution Of lumber products
at the lowest consistent price: that It
gave the consumer the benefit Of the
most economical manufacture and dis
tibution; gave the railroads a salts.
factory revenue for service performed.
and. in view Of these facts. 1t was be-
lieved that further classification would
cause an undue and unnecessary bur.
den on the lumber industry and on the
consuming public. In part, Mr.. Don.
aldson told the commission:
while a uniform classification on
Lumber and its products throughout the
country might be theoretically posi-
BILE. the West Coast Lumbermen's As.
sociation does not believe that, under
the varying conditions by which lum.
ber is moved to market, 1t Is either de.
sirable or practical from the viewpoint
oe the producer. dealer. or consumer
that there may be changes from the |
classification other than such
changes az would give a wider distri. |
button and freer movement of lumber |
Or the present rate basis"
In answering to a direct question, |
Mr.. Donaldson said: I'VE maintain !
that lumber classification can and |
should be uniform from all lumber pro.
idcing sections to all consuming mar.
Aets. The position Of the association
which ! represent is that the lumber
list should be Just as liberal a. may be
consistent with sound economic prin.
'iples OF transportation and a. nearly
universal as conditions will permit. '