Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-11-22
PROPOSE SCHEME FOR
NEW FREIGHT RATES
Railroad Administration Has Plan
To Eliminate Glass Rate Walls
Between States.
WILL BE AN IMPROVEMENT
Ease OF Calculation Provided for In
Ionlng Sy-tcm-IcntatIyc
Idea Established.

WASHTNGTON Nuy 81 -As ~
important step towards wipinE on
local freight rate Determinations an,
nuCFlr. down "a .i''S ',fWcCf
many states, tue railroad atTIrrs,
''h'iun prgpos % tentatively 10 ~
t1h!ish new scI'"- 81 rI'-s Tltcf j.
five zones thronssGu n" wet an.
south, sciruun l.'y wpyI.f OFT ans
based largely on rus' %. rrIusl rria
ton and density NJ traffic.
The proposed scales which viii
hc subject to long consideration De.
fore the iutorslat" commerce com
mission, state commissioning and rnil
road traffic committees before adop-
ton, wnuld cause slight advances IN
som" rates ana reduction In others
without any general rluciuHtIpn In
either direction.
Advantages Of the syr'cm as sct
forth by the raiIrugl ndmiu.sira.
tion ar" that II would civ" an ship
pcrs prICticIilN the same rates Tor
given distances regardless 81 who'h.
er their places Of hIsicuvg are at
uatrd At points served by Scv4rll
roads competing FOR traffic with rh"
lur" Of special rates. that II wuuld
promote hauling by the thprl,s.
route since charges In general would
h' based a. mileage. that II WCIld
permit free operation ~ CONNER
cial competition. now often restrict
cd by state rate barriers particular
" In the southern states. and that
I, would simplify the calculation OF
charges.
Expect Objections.
Objections are expected from
many state commissions, whose rate
making powers would be limited by
the action, from shippers who find
the rcadiuslm"nts would raise their
rates; from producers who might
discover that relations Of their rates
10 those Of competitors would be
changed to their d!sa dvHntago and
possibly from some railroads who
fear the promotion OF short hauling
would reduce their traffic whom they
are restored to private MANAGEMENT
Advocates Of the new plan propose.
however. to retain existing rate rcla-
tionshiDs between rival cOnmunlties
or producers aE much "A posSble and
10 make the changes gradually in or
der not to disrupt shipping condi-
tlons.
A similar scheme Of rates In now
being worked out for the territory
east of the Mississippi and north OF
VIZ 'llO anu 'Nplllh' llNFISs dlN
will be announced shortly. Outlines
OF the scales hoye been sent 10 the
Interstate commerce commission. to
state commissions and commercial
examinations for study and criticism.
"Director General, MCA Zoo Is not
welded to any theory or any sChed-
ule." said railroad administration
His purpose Ia to
bring on a full and Intelligent dis
cusslon OF the subject TO the end
that what Ia right and In the public
interest may prevail"
The new scales apply only to class
rates. as distinguished from commod-
ity rates Under class rates move
most articles OF high value. or OF
m miscellaneous amounts TO variety
OF destinations, or at irregular per-
iods. Bulk materials OF compara-
lively low value, such as coal, brick
lumber. grain and livestock, moving
regularly In big quantities usually |
lre hauled under commodity. or
specific. rates. Rates vary on classes |
INTO which are grouped articles In |
accoroance with their value. diff |
,ulty of handling, and other consld-
,ratioLs
The five zones arc arranged |
according to cost of trans |
,ortation and density of trofflc In
zach. One includes the soutreast,