Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-10
PHILADELPHIA PROTEST
STARTS COUNTRYWIDE
WAR ON MILK FREIGHTS
international Dealers Associa-
ton Names Committee to
Fight Gradual but Ma
terial" Increases in Rates
CRY OF DISCRIMINATION

CHICAGO. oct i0.--The International
MIX Dealers Association, meeting in chit
cag'' has appointed COMMITTEES TO plan
ana conduct Tight against the gradual
but material" increase in rates for the
shipment Of milk and its byproducts The
committee, according 70 tho association's
plans. Will apply to the Interstate Com.
merce Commission and the various state
public utilities commissions for reductions
whenever freight increase is proposed by
the carriers.
The organized opposition OF the associa.
ton has grown out OF complaints flied with
the Pennsylvania Public Service Commission
by the Philadelphia Muk Exchange against
the tariffs adopted January % by the Penn.
sylvania Railroad The Pennsylvania's
tariffs increased rates on all lines east OF
pittsburgh and Erie and are regarded by
the. l'h ladel 'h!a MIX Exchange as dis
or mnst "
The dealers contend that the present
rates Ca many railroads are so made and
groups are so arranged that dealers are
forced to develop distant trade territory.
Nearby farming areas they say, have not
the transportation advantages that their
locations should We them.
IL Is an economic waste the dealers say,
to haul milk for long distances IL II may be
obtained at shorter distances. and no rate
adjustment can be successfully defended
which deprives any shipper OF the natural
advantages his nearness to the consumer
may give him.
when we consider" one dealer ex-
planned. that the railroads transporting
milk to Philadelphia have not paid out any
money to build up this business, surely the
producers nearest to Philadelphia markets
nave been discriminated against
when n tabulation of the rates in yari.
Gus sections OF the country had been made
II was noticed that decided advances had
been made by the railroads within the last
few years, especially on distances beyond
twenty-five to thirty miles. with n further
tendency on the part of the railroads to
advance rates on milk and cream In those
districts from which shipments were not
moving. but from which they might be
moving within few years. The railroads
recognize. dealers say, that the increased
population Of the cities is gradually fore
Ing producers to ship from a greater dis
tance."
Complaint also has been filed with the
Public Service Commission against freight
Increases by the Philadelphia and Reading
Railway Company
Under general investigation hearings
nave been held in Boston, New York, Phlla-
delphia, Chicago and Cincinnati
AT the hearings In Philadelphia dealers
point out IL was shown that: In 1907 on
all milk rates there was a general increase
Of approximately fifteen per cent. In 1911
by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company
rates were further increased fifteen per
cent to cover the cost of icing" In 1912
the Philadelphia and Reading Railway
Company rates were increased twenty per
cent to cover the cost Of icing, while the
Baltimore and Ohio rates we're increased
3S 1>3 per cent for same purpose.
In 1912 there was a further and more
marked increase in most rates on the
Pennsylvania Railroad, over which the
traffic was then moving. In 1915 there
was further Increase in the rates of the
Pennsylvania for all distances beyond sixty
five miles.
The net effect of these increases and
changes In the rates dealers say has been
to Increase very materially the rates on
milk on the Pennsylvania. From Phila-
delphia to Harrisburg there has been on
increase OF seventy-seven per cent within
eight years. while on the p. b. and w.
Division for the first thirty miles there
has been an increase of ffty-four per cent
for the next thirty miles an Increase OF
thrty-two per cent, while the average in
crease amounts to more than fftv per cent
when the volume Of milk moved is taken
into consideration.