Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 168, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 July 1919 — SHIPPERS MEET THE COMMISSION [ARTICLE]

SHIPPERS MEET THE COMMISSION

EXAMPLES OF RATE DISCRIMINATION TO BE PROVIDED. Manufacturers and shippers from many cities in Indiana Thursday gathered at the state house in Indianapolis to present to the public service commission specific examples of the discrimination under which they operate in competition with Illinois shippers and manufacturers because of the lower freight rates in Illinois. Information obtained by the commission will be submitted to the interstate commerce commission at Chicago Monday, when Hoosier shippers, supported by the Indiana commission, the state chamber of commerce, Indianapolis chamber of Commerce, Ft. Wayne chamber of commerce and many other Indiana organizations, will appear to make a case against the Illinois rates. Present Illinois rates and classifications are below the Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and interstate rates, and therefore Illinois shippers have an advantage over most shippers in other states east of 1 Illinois when it comes to supplying Illinois trade. Hoosier shippers wish to have the federal railroad administration raise the Illinois rates to conform to the interstate rate and classificatio nschedule prevailing in the Central Freight association territory. It is expected that E. I. Lewis, chairman of the Indiana commission, and John W. McCardle, commissioner, will accompany 0. P. Gothlin, the commission’s freight rate expert, to Chicago for the opening of the case. Mr. Gothlin likely will make the opening address for the Hoosier commission. Some Indiana men interested in the case believe that it may continue for ten days.