The sun., 1916-11-13

tiV NV ySfo ~ NV
studied the application by the State Of
New Jersey to the Interstate Commerce
Commission for a differential freight
rate In Its favor against the city Of New
York are thoroughly aware OF the seri-
GUS consequences that would follow the
granting Of the application. not only to
the city Of New York but to the entire
country. The fact that the city Of Bal
timore has already petitioned for leave
to intervene and has obtained such per-
mission indicates that the disturbance Of
the freight rates OF the port Of New York
will result in the disturbance Of tho
freight rates OF the entire Atlantic sea
board and will AFFECT the freight rate
structure OF the entire country.
In the effort to capture advantage for
New Jersey the spokesman for New Jer-
sey say that they do not desire to split
the port Of New York. Obviously they
cannot escape his result II there Is n
different rate made for the Jersey side
Of the port than IL made for the New
York or Brooklyn side.
New York has not always been the
great shipping point that It Is now. 1t
has earned its supremacy not by virtue
Of It's natural situation at the Juncture
of the Hudson River with the Atlantic
Ocean. but by great sacrifice. beginning
with the very history Of the country and
the formation Of the State.
The expenditures for the development
Of the Erie Canal imposed the seyerest
financial burdens upon the early settlers
OF the State OF New York. During the
civil war the debt on the Erie Canal
alone amounted to 500. zoe. 000. and up
10 1882 over a quarter of a billion dol
lars had been expended by the state in
principal and interest in the development
Of the canal.
Before the development OF the Erie
Canal Boston and Philadelphia held SUI
premacy. BY making this great con-
nection between the West and the At
lantlc coast New York attracted the COM
merce OF the world TO this port, which
to-day Is the centre through which
passes the great o, the world.
BY its contigu!ty New Jersey has prof
tied. It has made very little effort TO
participate IN the expenditure, but It
has freely shared in the result.
The zone ~ stem Of freight rate max
ing is peculiar 10 this country and f.
based upon PSYCHOLOGICAL and geograph!-
cal grounds. The American does not
want to separate his hotel hill into ware
Gus elements. so much for room. 50
much for light. SO much for soap and
SO much for towels. He wants "A fiat
! rate. Therefore he does not want "a
pay so much for the line haul or dis
lance carriage. and then another charge
!or NINA or lighterage service. Con-
~sequently the rate for hauling freigh,
includes the terminal service.
! Now, the port OF New York for over
a century has included all sides Of the
harbor, the New Jersey side as well rs
the New York and Brooklyn sides. !,
Is true OF all the ports OF the world
that. geographically. all sides prosper
together. The great trunk lines did no,
come to the New jersey side Of the
river In order to serve Jersey CITY. Ho-
boken and Newark. They came because
they wanted to'get into New York and
TO get the eteat volume OF business there
was In New York. They were obliged
10 compete with the New York Central
and with the Erie Canal. They were
obliged therefore to make the same rate
to any portion Of the port OF New York
that the New York Central made.
The proposal now Is 20 differentia:t
between the rate to Jersey CITY, Hobo.
ken and Newark. OF tho one hand. and
the rate 10 Manhattan or BROOKLYN on
the other. upon the theory tina; the Dis
lance IL shorter. The proposition may
he ltkened to a request made upon a
department store that since II delivers
IN distant Long Island or Westchestci
county now at the same price that il
charges for the same articles over the
counter. those who buy over the colnte,
oush: 70 fave the article At the selling
price less the cos, 81 transporting Il tc
Westches'er or Long Island.
Tive s.? % ham the dealer is willing &c
deliver far out on Long Island or away
up in Westchester county would thcr