New Britain herald., 1925-12-04
Warns Against Railroad Rates
 Alarming Mew England Industry

ment of transportation facilities dwelling mainly on problems that now confront the public utilities commission, in this and other states,
 Mr, Torronce's address follows;
 During the latter part Of June, 1922. a disastrous rate war broke out between the various carriers engaged in the intercoastal tralllc, during which period rates were ma terially reduced, steamship piers were congested. and general cha otic condition prevailed not only with tho carriers themselves. but also among shippers and receivers, who were never certain but what their competitors were receiving more favorable rates and shipping conditions lis resulted in consider able pressure being brought 10 bear on the lines by the shipping pub lie direct, as well as through the United states shipping board. and through the good offices of the latter. the carriers, after some ne gotiations, finally formed what is now known as the United States Intercoastal Conference, However the effect of the rate war continued 10 last throughout thc year 1928, and, in fact, many of the rates to- day are unduly depressed as a re- suit of this bitter fight, occasioned in some instances by the transcon- tinental lines having reduced their overland rates predicated on the low ocean rates which were pre- vailing during the struggle among the Panama canal lines.
 "The conference lines have tried out number Of schemes to meet the demands of the public in the way of rate legislation, and while our present arrangement may not be ideal, yet we now have q sys. tenn whereby the shipping public in addition 10 the usual method of filing applications on the con ference traffic analysis forms, Is also given an opportunity 10 pre- sent their case through the stand 1 ing and more or less permanent 1 rate committee in New York, and | through an advisory committee To- cated in San Francisco, and re- quests for hearings before either of these bodies are freely granted Many shippers and consignees arc l taking full advantage Of this new procedure, but as you must realize the conference has been and is to. day confronted with mUltifarious applications, we cannot, of course always meet shippers ideas, but | am sure the new method has had 5 salutary effect, in that it show. . that the conference members arg appreciative Of the interests of th' shipping public and for the con. venience and information of ship
 pers, the conference is furnishing it's tariffs at a nominal charg, which by the way will be below actual cost,
 Unfortunately however, ther'
 are several lines outside of the con
 ference which are maintaining
 some semhlance of regular serv
 ice and who are undertaking tn
 conference lines, quoting, as I un
 derstand it, but slightly less rate
 on the heavy moving commoditie,
 but materially shading the nor
 rcmunerative or higher rated man
 ufactured goods. and while a vas
 number of shippers in the east an
 consignees on the Pacific coast ar
 disposed to ignore these non-con
 ference lines and to stick by thei pledges to the conference lines - realizing, no doubt, that after q the conference lines are the one
 who make the rates for them - , yet some of the very firms and ir