The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-07-30
ILLINOIS SHIPPERS
OPPOSE DISQUE
FREIGHT SCALE
Favor Equalization Of Rates,
However. in Chicago Hear
ing-Testify to Advantage.

CHICAGO. July 30.-Bitter oppo-
sition to the application Of the disQue
mileage scale of freight rates to sup
plant the existing grouping plan
scale in Illinois was voiced by Illinois
shippers testifying at the hearing OF
the Indiana-I Illinois freight rate con-
troversy Tuesday before Commission
er Meyer of the Interstate Commerce
commission.
Illinois witnesses were particularly
caustic in their arraignment Of the
railroads attempt to obtain the disque,
or Central Freight association scale,
for their freight, charging that Is IS
part of a plan to push the mileage
scale over the group system which
features rates in Illinois and the west
ern states.
Rate differences between Indiana
and Illinois are admitted, and two i'm
portant witnesses during the day advo-
Gated the adjustment Of these. The
tone Of the defendants toward the In
diana shippers is conciliatory and of
fers of conferences to adjust the rate
differences have been made by wit
nesses of Importance in the case. AS
the Indiana part Of the controversy
has been submitted, there is little ref
erence to the Hoosier situation, be-
yond continued admissions Of the rate
difference between the two states.
Opposed Rate Advances.
Witnesses for the Illinois shippers
dealt with the petition Of the Illinois
railroads for general freight rate in
creases through the application of the
disque scale. H. M. Slater, transporta-
ton rate expert Of the Illinois Puplic
Utilities commission, and Murray M.
Billings, assistant traffic manager OF
the Illinois steel company, occupied
the stand during the entire day and
divided their time opposing rate ad-
vances.
The hysteria being indicated by the
Illinois shippers against a western
competition with less rates causes the
Indiana plaintiffs to feel that already
the shoe is pinching the Illinois de-
PENDANTS. Indiana shippers have been
under such handicap for more than
two years, they testified.
In refutation of the testimony OF
George Griffin of Schnull & Co. OF
Indianapolis. wholesale shippers, that
his company has lost several thousand
dollars Of Illinois business by the dis
crtminatory rates, Mr.. Slater attempt
GU " ICdu q lOllCI doSlSAlu6 JODDCl
competition as the cause for slump in
his business.
Insight into Growth.
An insight into how Illinois grew
in few years into the third greatest
manufacturing state in the union by
use Of the grouping or preferential
rate system was outlined at the morn
ing session by Murray M. Billings, as
sistant traffic manager of the Illinois
Steel company.
His description Of the method
amounted to this statement: "The rail
roads said, here is a prairie. We will
give you rates, now go and buil(
cities" He said that under the group
ing system the industrial centers
were formed and expanded. The rail
roads serving this industrial territor!
are mostly the Western trunk linel
and their branches.
An analysis of Mr.. Billings testi
mony on the group plan shows tina
Illinois manufacturers can exploit
their own state markets and then a
an advantage put their products int
other states on the basis Of the sam
competitive mileage at a cheaper fig
ure. The witness regarded the rat
system Of his state as Complex" bull
up after years Of experience.