Milford chronicle., 1923-10-05
RAIL RATE VICTORY
Commerce Commission Suspends
"Pennsy's" Proposed Tariff
Increases In State.

A ruling handed down September
25th, last, by the Interstate Commerce
Commission, in which the PennsyIVa-
mia Railroad Company was the re-
| spOndent and the Salisbury-W Wicomico
Chamber Of Commerce was the pro-
testant, is looked upon as the most
important decision involving freight
rates to all railroad points on the
Maryland, Delaware and Virginia pen
insula awarded in recent years.
Covers Proposed Rates
The ruling covers supplements to
class-rate tariffs filed by the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad to become effective on
January 1, 1928, which proposed to in
crease the rates to and fro the Della
ware Division branch station, /. e.,
Easton, Oxford, Cambridge, Hurlock,
ChestertOwn, Centreville, Berlin, Snow
Hill, Nd, and Franklin City, Va, and
intermediate points, and the Pitts
burgh-BuffalO territory and adjacent
points taking the same rate. Also to
increase class rates from Baltimore to
the same points.
The traffic department of the cham
ber noted the increase asked and Sc
cured of the commission a suspension
of the tariff supplement until a hear
ing was granted. The protest was sus-
tanned and exhibits were prepared and |
presented with arguments against the |
proposed increase. The order states |
that the carrier shall withdraw the |
supplement before October %.
Increase To Cents
Increase in the class rates proposed
by the Pennsylvania company ranged
from six cents for first-class commod-
tiles to one cent for shipments taking
the sixth class. AS these six classes
cover all commodities, including fruit
and produce, with the exception of
iron and steel articles and canned
goods shipped to and from peninsula
points and the Pittsburgh Buffalo ter
ritory, the victory for the peninsula
Is almost beyond estimation.
The adjustments, which will cause
The issuance of new tariffs, means that
Del, will be used as a
basis for determining freight charges
% peninsula points instead Of Norfolk,
Is used in the original tariff. The
'ates to all points on the main line
he Delaware and Norfolk divisions
rom Wilmington to Cape Charles,
"a, and all branch lines south of Will
ningtOn, will be that established for
plus the additional pro- d.
Ortionate charge to the point of des-
lnation or origination on the penin-
ula.
1t was charged that the Pennsylva-
ia railroad had put into effect rate
barge based from Columbus, Ohio,
Wo hundred miles west of Pittsburgh
} Norfolk, Virginia. This penalized
eninsula points with the extra mile
ge and placed all points south of Will
lingtOn on a par with rates charged
rom Columbus to Norfolk, over the
hesapeake and Ohio and the Norfolk
nd Western railroads, more cir
litous route.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
on contend that ''it is always GUS
mary in making rates to have the
ng haul meet the short line COM
stition and not require the short
ne to hold it's rates up to the long
lul over a circuitous route" The
Railroad was repre-
nted before the commission by at
rney James e. Gowen.
Another case pending before the
presented by the cham
r, is based on the same principals
d asked for a revised tariff on iron
d steel articles from the same ter
ory to the Peninsula points. In view
the present decision, it is believed
It the second request will be grant
by the commission on relative
,unds