Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-18

hour.
DEFINITIONS of terms are frequent and i'm
- portant in the work of the commission, and
one Of the most unusual is the labelling
Of potatoes as fruit for shipping purposes.
question arose concerning the free trans
portation Of supervisors or caretakers of po-
tatoes'-to heat cars in the Winter shipping.
1t developed according to the statute that only
"caretakers' could get passes and the COM
mission ruled that Supervisors weren't "care-
takers" even if potatoes were fruit
A recent controversy concerned itself with
the similarity Of tobacco, checkers. dominoeS
and air rifes-solely for transportation classii-
cation. And now peanut shippers come forth
with the startling announcement to a waiting
world that peanuts really aren't anything like
cottonseed hullS."
In its capacity as regulator of wireless, the
Interstate Commerce Commission has received
a complaint asking $4,000 from the Postal
Telegraph Co-and, at the same time, Western
Union is also the defendant in case before
the commission, though only to the tune of $16.
The startlingly named company, Bad Girl.
incorporated, brought suit against Postal charg-
ing that that company refused to carry ticket
orders for its show over the wires as cheaEly
it carried them for other New York pro-
auctions.
The telegraph company had a prompt and
adequate reply. The fight has not been
refereed yet.
DAD GIRL. INC, Is the producer Of that
- frank and famous novel.
Luhther Burbank's widow is the complain
ant against Western Union. 1t seems she sent
an Identical telegram asking aid for Burbank's
successors to 16 Senators, all in the Senate
ONCE Building in Washington, but Western
Union charged the full rate from California
for each of the 16 messages delivered in the
same building instead Of getting cooperative
about it.
Prohibition has greatly increased the sale Of
ginger ale. That the CioYerdale Springs Co. Is
ready to prove with facts, figures and freight
1oadings but whether the increased shipments
are taken straight or mixed with-well, some
thing else-doesn't seem to be issue in .
case before the commission. The company
asserts that ginger ale should be given COM
modify rates such as accorded bulk ship
ments rather than the higher class rates.
Passenger rates are seldom in issue before
the commission, but Wisconsin is being charged
higher fares than its neighbors and doesn't like
it. A transfer charge at Chicago is added to
Wisconsin passengers fares and not to those Of
Minnesota folks. Take it away or add it to
the neighbors says the Badger State.
Nothing before the commission in months
has been productive Of crank letters and hui
morous objections as well serious pleas, as
has the blanket freight rate increase proposal.
Even the publishers Of the detective, love- movie
and home magazines on display on five and ten
cent store counters, to say nothing of an under
taker in Michigan who fears that increased
rates will restrict his caskets TO local coHsump-
ton, have filed protests.
A Texan protests, stating that he is prob
ably lone voice crying in the wilderness" but
anyhow is "agin it," The lone voices how
ever, are the supporters Of the proposal.
NNE supporter comes forth with a prophecy
- of brushing away the dark clouds of de-
preston and substituting 8 beautiful rains
bow of hope symbolizing the dawn Of new
prosperity" and this, according to its author.
is mot flowery, Just horse sense"
Amid the protests even the prophet Nahum
of 713 B. c. is quoted: 1.-THE chariots shall
rage in the streets, they shall jostle against one
another, they shall seem like torches they shall
run like hghtnings."
But a gentleman from Milwaukee is most
outspoken in his ire Railroad salaries must
be cut, for chose fellows don't earn much,
water must be squeezed from railroad stock"
and bankruptcy court is the proper place for
all roads. He concludes impressively:
"You had better go slow, for the people
will soon be In Washington with ropes"
To which the commission with its great
calm, cool dignity and sense OF humor replied:
'Yours of the 18th received in regard to the
railroad situation"