Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-05
RE TAIL MERCHANTS WILL
OPPOSE EXPRESS INCREASE
Conducting Exhaustive Investigation
of Rates and Service
Now In Effect.
MBER DEFERs ACTION
Wants Further Data as to Compare
tive Ratcs-N1crchantS Say Rates
Are Already High and Service
Poor.

! Exhaustive Investigations into the
express rate situation Is being con-
Quoted by the commercial organizations
| OF Richmond. and IT is probable that
committees will be sent to Washing
| ton in the next few days TO appear
before the Interstate Commerce Com
mission in opposition TO the petitions OF
! the leading express companies or the
country for n 10 per cent increase in
rates. No definite action has been
| taken as yet pending the report OF va
rious committees conducting the invcs-
tigat!on.
| The question Of increased rates was
| discussed Monday night by members
! Of the Retail Merchants Association.
| and the matter referred to a committee
| OF prominent business men. This COM
mittee is now engaged in collecting
and compiling all available data. and is
| expected to make IT'S report in the next
| few days. No action will be taken until
| this body makes it's report, but in event
| that the increase is not believed to be
! JUSTIFIED. committee will probably
! be sent to Washington TO oppose the
petitions.
PRODUCE ASSOCIATION
| ALSO INyESTIG ATING
Similar action has also been taken by
| the Richmond Produce Association. the
| matter being referred to committee
for thorough inquiry. Should this
| association also vote TO oppose the in
| crease. q committee will probably ac-
| company that expected to b, sent by
the Retail Merchants Association.
! No action has been taken yet by
the Chamber OF Commerce. The mat
ter was considered by that organiza-
| tion's committee, but because Of the
| lack Of definite information no deci-
sion was reached. John n. Taylor.
] chairman Of this committee, left Rich
| mond yesterday for several days. 1t is
expected. however. that the express
rate situation will again be discussed
when he returns
The hearing o; the express COM
| panies began Monday before the Inter-
! eral days will be required for the pre-
| sertatior OF their agreement for in
| creased rates. The movement is gen
! oral. applications for the 10 per cent
advance having been fles by .he South
! ern. ADAMS, American and Wells F>a, go
companies. After the corporations
have completed their statements. OPP
ponerts 10 the increase will be Etveo
an opportunity TO present SUCK data
. as they have compiled.
RATES ARE pICHER and
SERVICE RENDERED POOR
| Retail merchants in Richmond de-
clare that the rates affecting this city
are slteady nigh. and tho service poor
, In fact business men assert that ex-
press service Is little quicker than
| freight transportation, but are forced
10 the former because Of the conCested
condition OF all railroads. Lnca! daal-
er3 are forced to use express for tie
! shipment of the bulk OF th.:i goods
from New York and other markets.
In view az :he existing conditions, it
was gener-:ly believed in tho retail
trade yesterday tiat the Merchants
Association would oppose the increage,
| althouGh officers of the organization
declared they were merely inveetig,t-
Ing the situation and nothing definitely
wollG be known until the committee
| had made It's report.
Southern commercial organizations
and the chambers of commerce in many
cities of the South will warmly con-
ties; any increase in rates, End have
already engaged counsel % appear be-
fore the Interstate Commerce Commits
, sion. Bushes: men assert that rites
IN Southern territory are already dis
crtmiratnry, Ia addition 10 slow ser
vice. Tine statement was also made
several Gays ago that the companies
were 1o' operating at loss. as set
! forth In their petitions.