The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-02-26
TO FIGHT DISCRIMINATION.

test to the Interstate Commerce Commission
against cancellation present advantageous export
rates for freight from the central west.
At this time when every word to western and
southern shippers should be g. word Of encourage
ment interests OF the eastern trunk lines are COM
bining to have the rate discrimination which so
long existed. once more imposed upon the South
which, in effect. notifies western manufacturers
that they must ship their goods via eastern mar
kets not at all. unless willing to pay exorbitant
rates
In November an order of the Interstate Commerce
Commission went into effect. permitting the railroad
administration land that the railroads them
selves when they shall have been returned to their
private management to grant freight rates from GER
tain points in the middle west to South Atlantic
and Gulf ports. exports, equal to those charged
on the same commodities when shipped by way of
New York
The order marked a victory for those who
have been working earnestly to what
they regarded unjust discrimination against
Southern ports. What amounted to a dfferential
existed in rates goods for export in favor Of
New York. 1t pointed out by the railroad
thorities that the ong-and-short haul clause OF the
railroad law forbade the grant of equal rates in
many cases complained of. and the Interstate Com
merce Commission order was necessary. Senator
Fletcher Of Florida worked diligently with repre-
sentatves of the commercial bodies Of the South
and interested shippers. with the outcome that
their demands granted.
Every railroad manager of ability knows that
the traffic of the country is far greater than its
railroad facilities, and the recent action of Presi-
dent Willard of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad rep
resentng the eastern trunk lines, the effort to
bring about an annullment of these rates on ship
ments from the west to South Atlantic and Gulf
ports is meeting with strong opposition.
The action of the eastern trunk lines has stirred
bitter resentment of millions of people of the west
and the south, and from some quarters already this
is being used as a strong argument against turning
the railroads back to private ownership.
Here is the order, it affects classes and COM
modities shipped to gulf port, and which eastern
interests attempting to render null and void:
Upon consideration Of the matters and things in
volved in application No. tt4O7 OF E. B. BOYD. Agent
for and behalf of carriers participating in the
traffic hereinafter described including both carriers
under federal control and those not under federal
control for relief from the long-and-short haul
provisions Of the fourth section Of the act regu-
late commerce, as amended June 49, 1910, which
application is hereby referred to and made a part
hereof
1t is ordered That pending the action of the COM
mission upon any of the applications relief from
the provisions of the fourth section, filed by the
1911, respecting rates classes and commodities
from Central Freight Association territory to the
Gulf ports for export the petitioners herein be- and
they are hereby authorized to establish joint class
and commodity rates from points in the States of
Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New York Pennsyl-
vana and West Virginia to Gulf ports, applicable
for export to foreign countries other than Mexico
on the following basis, without observing the long
and-short haul provision of the fourth section:
ITO New Orleans, La, and other Gulf ports
grouped Herewith the same rates in effect
from the said points of origin to New York sub
ject to the domestic rates from such points of ORR
gin to Gulf ports as maxima, except that tn crates
on articles of iron and steel as enumerated in ex-
hbit No. Of the said application. from points east
Of the eastern boundary of the State of Ohio are
to be made the same the rates from said points
to New Orleans domestic traffic
ITO Key West, Fla rates applicable on Cuban
traffic. are to be made certain differentias over
the rates to New Orleans as set forth in the said
exhibit No. f."
The commission does not hereby approve any rates
that may be filed under this authority all such rates
being subject to complaint investigation and cor
rection if in conflict with any provision Of the act
1t is further ordered That the commission
passes application for relief from the pro-
visions of the fourth section with respect to the
rates herein referred to- the order issued wiki re-
laton thereto will automatically cancel the author
ity herein granted to the rates covered and af-
fected by such order.
By the commission Division 2
(Seal) GEORGE B. McGINTY, Secretary