The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-09-26
Roads TRYING to Tack on NJ ore Rate Increases
Not Satisfied With Big Railroads Now Attempt
Put of by Means
Rlasfymg Cancelng Commodity Rates and Increasing
Carload Minimum Weghs-Commison Is Urged to Halt


have further large increases tack .
ed upon the already painting and
suffering consumer"
L. f. Daspit. traffic manager.
Chamber of Commerce, Shreveport,
La. September 3, requesting the
Southern Wholesale Grocers Associa-
ton TO apply 10 the Interstate Com
merce Commission for the relief Of
shippers says:
Shippers are vitally affected
by the material increases in the
classification ratings. These pro-
posals mean tremendous in
crease; first from the lower class
to the higher class then there
has been the 35 per cent advance
in Ex Parte "a, and the 25 per
cent in General Order 2s, and
now in this territory nearly all
less carload commodity rates are
being cancelled and class rates
apply likewise the basic scale of
class rates has been materially
increased"
The Carload Minimum Weight
Situation
The situation with respect to fur
ther increases in carload minimum
weights on various commodities Is
set forth in the following comrhunica-
ton addressed to H. A. Johnson, traf-
fic manager, Colorado & Southern
Railway by the Morey Mercantile
Company, wholesale grocers, Denver
Colo. This letter, written on Sept
2 reads as follows:
Il understand that the Western
Trunk Line Committee are circu-
lating a proposition TO raise min
imum weights on carloads. includ-
ing q great many food commodi-
ties.
I'VE wish to protest for the fol-
lowing reasons.
First. a great deal of food
stuffs is wasted when packed in
cases. where the cars are loaded
so heavily. The claim depart
ments Of the railroads will tell
you this.
Second at the present high
prices 1t makes II an absolute
hardship on smaller communities
to handle these large minima
cars.
Third. II Is almost impossible
TO get q moderate sized car now.
and then you are penalized be-
cause you do not load 10 capac-
ity, and 1t is absolutely impos-
sibe TO do this when shipping TO
some communities.
Fourth, the railroad admins
tratlon did not demonstrate that
these large mlnima cars were
any more efficient in the distribu-
tion OF freight than had been
some Of the smaller minima cars
in the past,
Fifth. you will remember that
after the close Of the war the
railroads tried 10 make these
large minima permanent. and that
was killed because OF protest
from all over the United States
Now they are trying to slip II
In again.
sixth, on account Of the long
delays on goods in transit. II Is .
financial hardship to have to tie
up so much money In these large
Ttnima cars. when the carload
unit Is so large.
Seventh. Il works u hardship
on .he retailer in the smaller
communities. because OF the fact
that he cannot purchase In car
load quantities. and he has TO
pay the additional freight by ship
ping the goods In less carload
quantities. and that additional
cost Is passed on 10 the con-
! sumer.
In addition to this. take FOR
/ example, the proposition TO raise
the carload minimum weight on
green coffee to $4,000 pounds. A
great many Of our eastern com
petitors have short hauls on their
have practically no freight haul,
getting their coffee direct from
the ship side. and they will en-
Joy a much lower minimum than
10000 pounds on roasted coffee.
SO that 1t Is a disadvantage to us
here In the west
"1n addition to all OF the above:
When you establish large car
load minimum In any territory,
you are establishing precedent
for the universal application Of
that large carload minimum. gen.
orally"
The Interstate Commerce Commii
sion. on page 226 OF Its report CO,
ering the 1920 increases, says:
I'm establishing rates for the
two year period we have no dis
cretion as to the amount Of the
fair return except that We may
add to the 5h per centum pro-
vided by law "A sum not exceed
ing one-half OF 1 per centum Of
such aggregate value to make
provision In whole or In part for
improvements, bettermsnts. o.
equipment which, according 10
the accounting system prescribed