The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-06-05
WORK ON RATE CHANGES.
TRAFFIC COMMITTEES TO HEAR
MANY COMPLAINTS.
McAdOO Appoints Men to Act In
Southern, Eastern and Western Dis
tricts-PrOtcsts Made.

| Washington, May 31.-To work out
many changes to be made in the new
high rate schedules, Director Gener-
al McAdoo today appointed traffic
committees for the Southern, East.
ern and Western districts and for To-
cal regions. to hear complaints of
shippers and recommend modifica-
| tions.
AT the same time it became known
at the railroad administration that
the director general plans to order a
number OF reductions in rates to
maintain existing rate relationships
between rival companies and to pro-
tect certain industries before June 25,
when the new schedules are to go into
effect
While the railroad administration
today was flooded with new protests
against provisions of the rate order
the system OF threshing out rate
problems was developed.
The following explanation of the
traffic committee arrangement was
made:
The director general invites the
cooperation of the shipping public in
working a satisfactory adjustment OF
freight rates on the higher leve,
necessary. All shippers who desire to
make suggestions as to the mainte.
nance of established differentials OF
the reimbursement of freight rates un-
der general order No. 2S, may present
their views through the freight traf-
hc offices of the railroads serving
them; but IL shippers feel, after pre-
senting such matters to their own
roads that they want their views
given further consideration, the
freight committee for the territory OF
district involved will be glad to hear
and consider any proposal or sug-
gestion the shippers have to offer"
For the Eastern district complaints
or suggestions for freight rate modi-
hcations should be sent to b. Camp
bell. chairman of the Eastern freight
traffic committee, New York.
For the South complaints go to
Randall Clifton. chairman of the
freight traffic committee, At.
lanta.
1t was explained today that the new
rates apply to short lines only so long
as they are under government control
end that as fast as they are relin-
quished by the railroad administration
the increased charges will cease to
apply. except as to joint rates, with
trunk lines.
Hundreds of protests against the
increases, and suggestions for local
modification. have been received and
tabulated by the railroad administra-
ton.
Suggestions that lower mileage
rates be reestablished to apply only
10 commercial travellers from II. y.
Phelps, supreme counsellor of the
United Commercial Travellers, tht
Southern Travellers Association AMI
the Far Western Travellers Associa-
tion. Mr.. Phelps telegraphed that
travelling men will cheerfully pay
whatever increase is deemed neces.
sary but suggested that mileage books
and excess baggage cupons should bo
retained as matters of convenience"
a number of independent oil conf
panies protested that the rate in-
crease would place them at disad.
vantage with the Standard Oil COM
Fany with it's pipe line system OF
transportation.
Commercial organizations in n
score of Oklahoma towns and cities
protested that since rates in Oklaho-
ma recently had been raised about 20
per cent. their industries would be at
an unfair disadvantage by the impo-
sition of % per cent. additional.
Clifford Theme of Chicago. and a
number of shippers organizations
represented by him sent memorials
prepared before the rate increase
was announced urging director Cen
eral McAdoo to grant hearings before
taking definite action.