The diamond drill., 1921-11-12

.
The small operators. and PARTICULAR,
those shipping logs short distances
persistently withheld their supper,
and, cooperation seeming TO feel thai
the large operators. who were also the
long haul shippers. needed readjust.
ment OF rates TO such an extent that
they would eventually go after IL them
selves and that whatever benefits they
accomplished would be shared by the
small operators and the short haul
shippers without any effort on their
part and without any expense to them.
Also, II is true that the log rates on
both the c. NJ & ST. p. and G. and N.
w. lines are about as low for the
shorter distances as they consistently
could be. For hauls not exceeding 40
miles the charge is $1,000 per car and
does not exceed $500 per 1000 feet.
The terminal services performed by
the railroads in connection with the
short hauls are as great In each in
stance as they are In connection with
the hauIs Of 200 miles. and farther.
When the long haul shippers filed
their complaint with the Interstate
Commission some OF the short haul
shippers at once indicated fear that
II the matter went to hearing the
Commission would order a readjust-
ment OF rates which would increase
the charges for the short hauls even
though il might not reduce the charges
OF the long hauls and pressure was
brought 70 bear upon the long haul
shippers to induce them to specifically
attack only the rates applying to hauls
of 100 miles or farther, and the COM
lplaint eventually vled with the Com
mission was specific In that particular
TIT did not attack nor involve rates on
log hauls less than 100 miles.
Consistent with Its usual policy In
such matters the Interstate Commerce
Commission was desirous that the
carriers and the shippers compose
their differences by conference with
the object OF avoiding formal proceed
ings In the matter. That seemed to be
particularly desirable because of the
fact that the long haul shippers were
not shipping. The sawmills were idle;
there was no prospect OF activity in
the woods during the fall and winter
of 1921-1922 and a great many men
were therefore unemployed at sea-
son OF the year and under conditions
making such unemployment very un-
fortunate for all concerned
The carriers, made defendants in
the complaint against the log rates APP
plying 10 ha,fls OF 100 miles or more
asked the complaining shippers to
meet them In conference at Chicago
October 13 with the object of reaching.
II possible, some adjustment OF the
rates that would justify the with
drawal of the complaint and the can
collation. OF the hearing that was as
signed for October Is. The formal
presentation Of such matters involves
"a hearing of several days, the filing OF
briefs, the making OF tentative report
the filing OF exceptions to that report.
and oral argument before the Commits
sion at Washington. That all requires
several months time and several mon
this often elapse after the argument be-
fore decision is reached by the Com
mission. Therefore IL was possible
that unless an adjustment could be
made without hearing several mon
this or a year might elapse before
woods operations. particularly long
haul shipping and sawmill perations.
would be resumed. and there did not
seem to be an alternative employment
for the men who ordinarily would be
on the payrolls In the woods and al
the sawmills.
The operators OF the sawmills at
Marinette. Menominee, Green Bay, Me
nasha, etc, did not have much rea-
son to feel that by conference with the
carriers they could reasonably expect
to gain the reduction in their rat ~ to
which they felt they were entitled. Had
IL not been so humanely desirable 10
get their plants IN operation and their
logging activities started in order TO
avoid serious loss and to provide work |
for several thousand men during the
coming winter in order that those men
and their families would not have 10 !
endure great distress and privation be-
cause OF the high rate policy of the
the saw mill operators and |
log shippers would have preferred to
handle the matter % a conclusion be-
fore the Commissi' n confident that
by so doing they would obtain full
Of justice and reach final
determination Of their rate controver-
sizes.
However, In consideration OF their
own Immediate interests and OF the
necessities OF their usual
employees, they attended the confer
snce called by the defendant carriers
and there endeavored 10 obtain COM
plete readjustment of their rates. The
.. a N. w. representatives positively