Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-18
INCREASE
|NFRE|GHT RATES
M. & M. Association and 9th
er Agencies Hit Proposal Ad-
vancing Charges on Coal.

The Merchants 81 Manufacturers AS
ISOLATION yesterday decided definitely to
Join with other local agencies and the
New River Coal Operators Association
in protesting against the announced in
crease in freight rates on coal from the
Southern fields to the National Capital
The board of governors of the asso-
citation Adopted a resolution urging that
the Interstate Commerce Commission
suspend the announced boost in the
rates from Southern fields to this city,
pending a hearing before the commits
sion. and proposing that rate for the
Southern operators be established that
would be on parity with the rates on
coal from other sections.
The board was opposed to the sched-
uled new rate of S3.13 per gross ton,
which on August 10 Is to superSede the
present rate of 1884. The rates on
coal from other sections, carried by the
Baltimore g. Ohio and the Pennsylvania
Railroads. now is $2.7l per gross ton.
Threat Of Elimination.
Elimination of the New River opera
tors from the local market, which is
said to be threatened under the boost
In rates. would be a serious thing to
Washington inasmuch as 80 per cent of
the soft coal used in this city comes
from the New River fields. the board
of governors was told. Washington
buys about 100000 tons of New River
coal annually, Ii was stated.
The Merchants Association also plans
to urge that Washington should be
given the status of other large cities, so
far as freight rates are concerned. with
a fixed rate for delivery of coal by rail-
roads to any Of the railroad yards
here. 1t was brought out that now an
additional charge Is made when coal
terminal yards TO another.
Gen. Anton Stephan, president OF
the Merchants and Manufacturers As
ISOLATION, appointed a committee to
make a further study OF the coal rates
matter, as follows: j. H. Hanna, chair
man; Charles II. Frame. NJ. d. Rosen-
berg. Joseph A. Burkart and Thomas
ID. Hopper. 8ea
Commerce Chambers Station.
The executive committee of the
Washington Chamber of Commerce also
considered the coal rates question yes
terday. but decided not to take conclu-
sive action. On the Recommendation of
Jerome Fanciulli, chairman of the
transportation and freight rates COM
mittee, the executive group adopted the
following resolution:
We welcome any action that would
lay this whole matter open and bring
out the facts, and If the suspension by
the Interstate Commerce Commission
Of the proposed rate would have that
result, we would be in favor of such
action" The session was conducted by
Charles w. Darr, acting president OF
the chamber
A meeting Of representatives of local
trade bodies interested in the question
has been called for 4;30 tomorrow
afternoon at the Racquet Club by
Robert j. Cottrell of the Board OF
Trade. secretary of the joint committee
of the local organization on this subject.
The executive committee of the
Washington Real Estate Board will
meet at o'clock tomorrow afternoon
to consider report on the coal rates
to be submitted by j. F. NJ. Bowie.
chairman of the property management
division Of the board.