The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-02-05
THE FIGHT FOR FREIGHT RATES.

Blocker urged upon the business men present the i'm
portance of paying Pensacolas proportion of the ex
penses OF the work which has been inaugurated b!
| the Mississippi Valley Association to secure an'
| maintain parity Of freight rates for the South-At
Iantic and Gulf coast.
There is absolutely movement before the people
today of greater Importance than this. Through
political chicanery and favoritsm in Washington
twenty states find their prosperity Imperfect
through arbitrary system of rate-making and arr
informed that the small amount Of relief they have
been able to obtain they may not be allowed to re-
tain. At recent conference held in Washington
representatives of the Mississippi Valley Association
speaking for tho people of twenty-five states ane
parts Of four Others not counting the South Atlantic
States, comprising than half the population OF
the union and 53 per cent Of its voting strength, IS
sued their ultmatum to the effect that they are going
to ship goods to foreign countries through the ports
that them best. Of this the Manufacturers
Record says:
There was no bluff in this ultimatum. 1t was
not an hysteric outburst It was simply the state
ment of calm. deliberate decision. reached afte-
months and years Of consideration II. there
fore the Interstate Commerce Commission now mas
the authority is likely to reestablish the artlfi-
ciaI dfferentaI enjoyed by New York Congress WILL
as Congress ought provide against the possibility OF
such result by the inclusion in the impending rail-
road bill of a proper inhibtory provision to be eff
fective not in the southern ports only. but
also of any ports similarly threatened by the ntri-
cacies of rate-making'
On the floor of the House, Senator Randall recent
y said: THE idea of freight being compelled to pay
the from Pensacola. Mobile or New Orleans to
Havana is unfair that the spirit of American fair
play will never. consent to it, when it is once
called to the attention of the American people,"
Says the Record: From New York to Havana the
distance is 1856 miles. From Charleston, 646 miles 45
per cent less; from Mobile to Havana 553 miles; 81
per cent less. 53.4 per cent less But exactly the
same rates prevail between New York and
Havana as between either Charleston Mobile and
Havana.
From New York to Vera Cruz the distance is
2070 miles, from Charleston TO Vera Cruz the distance
is 1855 miles, 297 per cent nearer From New Or
leans to Vera Cruz is 7S9 miles. almost 81 per cent
nearer than New York But the rates are the
same. That is why New York ha sbecome longest
ed funnel
Continuing its argument, The Record says: Doubt
less Mr.. Willard and the trunk lines for which he
speaks not responsible in any way for this alb
surd making which has enabled them to haul for
shipment at New York great quantities of goods for
Cuba and elsewhere that could have been sent by
Southern ports at savings of hundreds Of miles of
carriage but is it not remarkable that these trunk
lines, the recipients indirectly of ndefensble a
rate-making scheme. should have the hardhood to
come into court and complain against export rates
via Southern ports which are not discriminatory in
any way, but merely eliminate discrimination against
them which formerly existed?
Nor is it true that there is inequality of over
land haul which argues against the given the
Southern ports. From Chicago to New York by the
Pennsylvania lines is SIS miles, to New Orleans it is
929 miles by the Illinois Central while the slight diff
ference is more than made up by the greater ease of
handling in New Orleans. One route from Chicago to
Savannah is 1904 miles. But from Chicago to Boston
1137 miles Yet Boston takes the same import and
export rates New York Is it discrimination in ia
vor Of Savannah to give it a rate equal to that of
Boston for the shorter haul?
The truth is that the ALLEGATION of ships to South
ern ports and the granting of fair rates. combined
with the earnest desire of the Midwest to use the
most economical and natural routes Of shipment
threatens to bring about the very thing which the
nation ought most enphatcally to desire-a distri-
button of its foreign trade through a number of
ports This does not threaten the financial integrity
of the Eastern trunk lines. which will continue to
have more business through New York than they can
properly handle.
Mr. Willard behalf of the trunk lines serving
the North Atlantic ports has notice that the
Interstate Commerce Commission upon the return of
the railroads to their owners will be asked to can
eel the recent export rates granted the Gulf and
South Atlantic ports; which to establish the
discriminatory rates which heretofore have COM
PEELED the outgoing traffic of the country to move
through q funnel, of which New York is the small
end
The technique Of rate making is a study by ITSELF
Certain determinations long practised and and ten
aciousy adhered to. have been acquiesced in for so
many years that the attempt to restore equity and
fairness very naturally breeds sincere antagonism
nthose who have been the recipients of the special
favor Opposition to equality opportunity for the
Southern ports is not therefore, unexpected and it
may be pardoned: but the one thing that could not
be pardoned condoned would be the re-ensIaye-
ment of the Southern ports and of the great Midwest
traffic territory by the re-esablishment of the in