Evening star., 1923-10-17
-ARMERS THINK AID.
IS STILL FAR OFF.
Presidents Plan for Freight
Rate Cut Must Also Have
|. c. c. Approval.
Hf j. c. ROYLE.
laI nisnatch to The star.

Dispatch to The Star.
n NEW YORK, October 1I.-Satis-
Faction over the suggestion by Pres
sident Coolidge that the railroads or
Hire country institute movement
booking to the reduction OF freight
Bates on grain designed for export
has tempered today among the agri-
Hvlturists of the country by reall-
BATON that considerable time must
Alapse before such a plan could be
but into effect. Such delays. farm
hrs feel, would prevent them from
obtaining the immediate relief which
Shey are demanding.
7. 4. c. Approval Necessary.
\ The situation, according to gram
Ind railroad men, was further conf
H,licatcd by the announcement by
4 he Interstate Commerce Commission
#hat it would proceed at once with
Nm investigation to determine Wheth-
u present railroad rates on gram
II nd grain products are reasonable
II Even should President Coolidge
Suggestion be favorably received by
4hc railroad executives when pre-
3ented to them by President Rea OF
&h Pennsylvania system, no road
& #,ould put into effect reduction OF
Freight rates on export grain until
nate schedule had been prepared
Submitted to the Interstate Com
snerce Commission and approved by
hat body.
4 This fact was conclusively shown
gby the action OF the committee in
emporarily denying the demand or
Ahe western grain growing states tor
reduction OF freight rates on gram
west of tho Mississippi river on the
ground that evidence presented was
insufficient to justify such action
fThe commission, however, held open
\ he case. which has been before it
tor Somc months. for presentation OF
kurthcr evidence.
Farmers See Long Delay.
II is felt in farming communities.
Ssccording TO dispatches received by
he writer today, that the commission
Scarcely would take action on freight
chedules involving reduced rates on
i ,Xport grain until after it had COM
sDletfd it's own investigation and
Reached conclusion: AS the COM
\ sfnission's inquiry will be country
i,yde, immediate action does not ap-
bear probable.
In the meantime Canadian grain
s moving from the head of the lakes.
fvhcre the products of the larger
Arrain-g growing provinces are gath
9cred. to Montreal for shipment to
Europe at a rate cheaper than Ameri-
lean grain from the northwest can
Do transported to American Atlantic
ports, either by all rail or rail and
w water routes.
Foreign Shipments Retarded.
Portland. Ore. continues the high
lost primary market for wheat in the
i iS
practically no foreign business avail
Iahie there.
The only activity at present con-
Isists of filling in orders placed with
Imillers and exporters. Cables from
london show that two cargoeS of
Pave been sold there. One consisting
Iaf No. western white wheat was
|Sold at A shillingS, netting about
|S1.06Ia a bushel, freight on board.
FThe other of mixed grade brought 43
.shillings pence, netting Sl.O412,
:. 0. b.
sweeping Cuts in Gasoline.
Similar objections were raised by
coal consumers to the suggestion that
rates on coal for domestic and for
|eign delivery be equaliZed, but the
sweeping cuts. in gasoline throughout
tw en- ty-SeVen states, from Texas TO
Maine, by the Gulf Refining Company
ducers already have followed this cut,
which is effective today in some sec
tions and are expected TO make their
prices conform In ALL
The reduction was not entirely un-
Expected in view of the recent adjust
ments in crude oil prices in the mid
Continent territory and the piling up
of huge stocks of gasoline in Cali
fornia. Another factor has been the
sales by small jobbers and distribu-
tFR fEy y-Y>l n
and further reductions are deemed
probable if the small dealers continue
10 cut below the levels maintained
by the large distributors. Offerings
OF California gasoline are said to
have been made here recently at 10
cents gallon. bulk.
The reduction of ) cents a gallon
in Massachusetts brings the price
there to 1872 cents wholesale, the
lowest price since 1875. and 1875
cents under the high price OF three
years ago.
(CnnYri0hr. 1923