South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-03
PLAN To BREAK
DOWN EXCESSIVE
FREIGHT RATES
Southern Senators to Make
Determined Effort to Get
Reduction.
BY LOUIS LUDLOW.

WASHINGTON. d. c. July "a
determined effort is being made by
southern senators To break down the
high freight rates now in existence
between Ohio. Indiana and Michi-
gan and the southeastern Atlantic
and gulf ports and 20 equalize those
rates with the rates in effect from
the same mid-western territory to
the north Atlantic ports.
The claim is made that these
preferential rates granted on goods
shipped 10 the north Atlantic ports
un3ustly deprive the south Atlantic
and gulf ports OF the proportion Of
export business that is Justly due
them and that the effect Of the dis
elimination is virtually 10 send alp
products raised in the midwest de-
signed for export through the north
Atlantic ports
Senator Makes Statement.
Senator Fletcher Of Florida. who
has taken the matter up both at the
interstate commerce commission
and IN congress. in "A statement on
tho subject says:
For many years the eastern
trunk lines, operating from and to
north Atlantic ports and the states
OF Ohio. Michigan. Indiana and that
territory reached by their rails north
Of the Ohio river, steadfastly re-
fused as a whole to establish rates
Cf freight on export traffic from the
territory in question to south Allan
tic and gulf ports. This policy OF
the eastern trunk lines was obvi-
ously a selfish one. designed 10 force
the great movement Of export traffic
over their long haul 10 the north
Atlantic ports. and in this way to
avoid sharing their earnings with
the carriers operating south OF the
Ohio river.
In these designs the eastern
trunk lines have been very success
full. as is substantiated by the rec
ords Of the various ports. which
show the bulk OF the exports from
the central west has moved through
north Atlantic ports and has thus
detected from its natural channels,
which In a very large measure lie
through gulf and south Atlantic
ports. particularly when the traffic
is destined TO Latin America.
Cites Discrimination.
These Determinations in inland
rates have made II impossible to
establish steamship lines from gulf
and south Atlantic ports to various
countries OF the world, particularly
20 Latin America, and have retard-
&c the upbuilding OF the gulf and
south Atlantic ports facilities. II is
obvious that the failure to establish
rail rates to gulf and south Atlantic
ports from the central western sec
ton Of the country in line with those
rates existing TO north Atlantic
ports has deprived the southern
states Of the steamship trade routes
which would naturally follow the
flow cf heavy volume OF export
freight from the central western
section through these ports if the
transportation charges thereon were
ON a parity with those applying TO
tho north Atlantic ports.
1T is apparent that the United
States railroad administration
should establish rates from the cen
tSal west. including western Penn
sylvania, Ohio. Indiana. Michigan.
Illinois, Iowa. Minnesota, etc. on eN-
port traffic identical with the rates
applying from the same points 10
north Atlantic ports and should re-
quire the lines north of the Ohio
river 10 divide said rates on an
equitable basis with the lines south
Of the Ohio river"