South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-05-17
ABOLISH FREIGHT
RATE MENACE Is
PLEA OF SPEAKER
George H. Mosser Outlines to
Chamber of Commerce
Indiana's letters.

How the Indiana state chamber OF
commerce is attacking discrimina-
tory freight rates which cost Indi-
ana shippers 2 half million dollars
a year more than their competitors
in Illinois and adjacent states 20
the same markets, was told the
members OF the Mishawaka cham
Der OF commerce at today's MONDAY
luncheon at the Mishawaka hotel
by George II. Mosser, the new man
aging director in an address on
Plugging Up Community Leaks"
Mr.. Mosser. former manager Of
chambers Of commerce in Altoona.
Penn. and Trenton, N j.. until re-
Gently was field chief OF the savings
investment department OF the Fed
eral Reserve Bank. OF New York
He told OF the complete reorganiza.
ton OF the Indiana state chamber,
the addition OF research. publicity
and educational departments. a ser
vice for commercial secretaries and
the widening OF the work Of its
traffic department 10 put Indiana
manufacturers on a shipping parity
with manufacturers Of like pro-
ducts IN the central west territory.
Asks Cooperation
Comma nding the work OF the
Mishawaka chamber OF com merce
he pleaded for greater cooperation
between business men that they
may work for better enforcement Of
present legislation, a better system
Of taxation. more public improve
ments, an intensified effort 20 re-
heve the housing shortage and an
enlargement Of vocational training
that our boys and girls may be more
practically equipped to be producers
when they become wage and salary
earners.
Among the most pressing things
that must be done If Indiana is to
retain her place as a manufacturing
and agricultural state" he said "is
that the letters that bind her in
freight rates as they stand today
must be removed. One steel in
dustry in the state is paying 800
more for traffic service 10 markets
than its competitors in Illinois are
paying Indiana manufacturers IN
the central freight association ter
ritory in the past were raised more
than 40 per cent in standard rates
compared with 10i per cent to
states east OF Indiana This not
withstanding the fact in the fat
Indiana country trains are more
economically operated than in the
states 10 the east OF us. While un-
der existing regulations of the in
terstate commerce commission. in
Creases in freight rates of the mid
die west are fully one-third mora
than in territory east Of us, the en-
tire receipts are thrown into one
pocket from which the dividends
guaranteed by the laws Of the Land
are paid.
Illinois Well Organized
During the pre-war period when
freight rates were raised, Illinois
manufacturers and shippers were
well organized. Through their
state chamber of commerce and the
Chicago association OF commerce
they waged vigorous measures IN
their own behalf obtaining great re-
auctions Indiana shippers were
not as we'll organized and did not
pay the attention to this feature OF
their overhead charges that they
should have done, consequently the
Indiana state commerce is now busy
prosecuting these inherited rates
through cases filed before federal
and state commissions.
Twin City case which recently threw
open the great northwest 70 Indiana
shippers on a comparatively equal
basis with their Illinois competitors
A reduction Of about IS percent was
obtained by this decision which the
state chamber is following up to
see that the shippers get the bene-
fits 10 which this decision entities
them.
The second attack is the Missouri
'river case now pending to open up
the west and southwest to Indiana
shippers. To Kansas City. TO Omaha
Sioux city and communities beyond.
The third attack Is in the coal case
fled with the interstate commerce
commission TO reduce rates on coal
from Indiana and eastern lines from
Is TO % cents A ton. The exhibits
and evidence are being prepared by
the chamber and will shortly be
tried al Indianapolis.
Indiana Rates Higher.
The fourth attack is IN the south
eastern case now pending before the
interstate commerce commission to
Tennessee, Georgia. Alabama, Flor
ida ana North and South Carolina.
Evidence being prepared by the
state chamber asks through rates on
a 20 per cent reduction basis. At
present in the Mishawaka- South
Bend district. Indiana rates on gen
eral commodities 70 the northwest
are 95 percent higher than from ILL
nois points. The Twin City case
decision removes this and the new
rates will be effective July /. Mish-
awake manufacturers Of boots and
shoes will gain a reduction Of 23l3
cents per 100 lbs.
Under present rates Michigan
competitors with a longer haul are
obtaining their coal from eastern
mines from 10 10 ~ cents Ton les1
than il costs consumers in the Mish-
awaka-South Bend district. Mr.. Mos
ser said
The state chambers coal case at
tacks the rates applicable from Ohio.
West Virginia and Kentucky. It IS
or vital Importance 10 the Indiana
gas belt territory and OF more or
less inheritance 20 Mishawaka. South
Bend. Lafayette. Logansport, Peru,