HARDWOOD RECORD 



35 



delivered ordered shipments -n-ithout the bills of lading! Eead- 

 justment of rates on hemlock from stations on the Ashevillc branch 

 of the Southern Railroad were secured; also publication of througli 

 rates on the R. F. & P. to points on the Maryland & Pennsylvania 

 Railroad; a water competitive rate of fifteen cents from Norfolk 

 to Neponset, Mass., was obtained and erroneous rates in various 

 other tariffs were corrected. These matters also involved repara- 

 tions through the Interstate Commerce Commission for amounts 

 aggregating $.500. 



The report stated that the Interstate Commerce Commission has 

 ruled that interest shall be paid by carriers on overcharges from 

 the time the money to be refunded has been improperly collected. 



In speaking of lighterage conditions in New York, the report 

 said that many complaints were received of damage to lumber 

 from improperly equipped or leaking boats. A thorough investi- 

 gation was made, and the assurance of better lighterage service 

 and better boats was secured. 



After referring to the proposed increase in rates to Canadian 

 points, the report took up the question of the weighing investiga- 

 tion. The various hearings on this question were reviewed. The 

 last meeting was held in Chicago, February 26 and 27. This meet- 

 ing is reviewed in another part of this issue. 



The discussion of the wooden box ease referred particularly to 

 the so-called Pridham case in California. The Pridham company 

 manufactures fiber boxes and demanded the same classification on 

 eastbound shipments as on shipments westbound to California. This 

 classification provides that freight shipments in fiber or pulp 

 board packages will take the same rate as goods shipped in wooden 

 packages. 



Reference was made to the milling-in-transit question, which 

 was reviewed and the various controversies noted. This question 

 was more fully covered in a previous issue of H.^rdwood Record. 



The report referred to an order recently made public by the 

 Interstate Commerce Commission of investigations in which it 

 gives notice of its intention of going into the question as to just 

 what should be set forth in a freight bill or receipt. This inquiry 

 is based on the fact that carriers have not in force reasonable 

 regulations and practices affecting receipts or bills for freight 

 charges. It has been contended at different times by wholesalers 

 that some shippers ascertain from railroad agents the name of ulti- 

 mate consignees, and also that some consignees in the same man- 

 ner are put in touch with the name of shippers, thereby defeating 

 the business of the legitimate wholesaler. 



Referring to the question of undercharge bills submitted b3' the 

 railroads, the report stated that the commission in a recent report 

 to Congress recommended that the Interstate Commerce Commis- 

 sion act be amended providing that it be compulsory for carriers 

 to collect undercharge bills within a reasonable period, perhaps 

 ninety days, and if not collected until after that time they should 

 be deemed guilty of giving a rebate. No action has been taken, 

 however, and the report suggests that attention along the line of 

 the commissioners' recommendation be given. 



B. F. Betts, chairman of the committee on transjiortation and 

 railroads, then repoi'ted. This report reviewed the work of the 

 committee the past year and referred particularly to railroad 

 weighing matters and milling-in-transit. Reference to the hearing 

 before the Interstate Commerce Commission was brought out, 

 which showed that a large proportion of freight cars are unsten- 

 ciled as to actual tare weight, and that scale manufacturers 

 acknowledge that it is impossible to correctly weigh cars coupleil 

 and in transit over scales. 



Referring to the milling-in-transit question, the report said that 

 the association was requested by the exporters' association to join 

 them in a petition asking for a longer period than forty-eight 

 hours for loading or unloading shipments of lumber of over 50,000 

 feet, and that half holidays should not be counted in the time 

 period. 



The report referred to the agitation for lower rates on inferior 

 lumber. In referring the subject to the board of trustees, it was 

 deemed inadvisable to make any change in the present lumber 



rates on the ground that if lower rates were made on boxes, higher 

 rates would soon be established on the better grades. 



The report referred to the securing by the transportation bureau 

 of a ruling from the Interstate Commerce Commission which said 

 that it is unlawful for a carrier to disclose to a shipper the name 

 of the ultimate consignee of a shipment re-consigned in transit by 

 the original consignee. 



The report of the legislation committee was then read by J. T. 

 Christe, chairman. He said that nothing of importance had been 

 accomplished as nothing had been referred to the committee for 

 its consideration. The chairman said that he had written to the 

 members of the committee recently asking for any suggestions that 

 might be embodied in a report, and the invariable reply was that 

 owing to satisfactory conditions and excellent outlook, they had no 

 suggestions to make for any new legislation. 



The special committee on car stakes delivered its report through 

 chairman George F. Craig. The report stated that the position 

 of the lumber shippers on the car stake question was just, and 

 that the majority of roads will admit its justice. Delay in obtain- 

 ing an equitable settlement is costing the lumbermen many times 

 over the expense incurred in the former efforts, as well as the 

 additional cost of further action. The report concluded with the 

 statement that profiting by past experience there is fair grounds 

 for further prosecuting the contention with reasonable encourage- 

 ment to expect a renewal of the former decision of the case. 



George H. Holt, chairman of the committee on fire insurance, 

 then reported for that body. The report said that more than six 

 hundred bills had been presented during the past year through 

 various legislators in different states, for the purpose of regulat- 

 ing or controlling fire insurance business. Public sentiment has 

 undoubtedly been aroused and is determined to make itself felt 

 in this question. The report reviewed the various insurance bills 

 which have been adopted in different states, and then turned to a 

 discussion of the so-called arson trust, which is commanding so 

 much attention throughout the country. 



The report told of the work being done by the consolidated 

 power of insurance companies to discredit lumber and the use of 

 wood for any purpose. This effort has been along the lines of 

 promulgating building codes and restrictions which are being 

 pressed upon cities for adoption. It stated that the movement has 

 succeeded to such an extent in cities that property owners and 

 architects have discovered that the new enterprises and popula- 

 tion are settling in the smaller towns where such restrictions are 

 not in force. Efforts are being made by the same element to have 

 the restrictions made nationwide ultimately. 



The report suggested that the power of the various industries 

 allied in the manufacture of various products of the forests is tre- 

 mendous, and that by consolidating its influence the insurance evil 

 and the campaign against wood products can be successfully made. 



The report then proposed a remedy regarding the buying of in- 

 surance, giving a committee of buyers of insurance, not sellers, 

 authority to supervise and place insurance for the group, thus 

 lowering the cost of getting the business to the companies and 

 resulting in better distribution of the risks, and decreasing the 

 fire loss by eliminating the moral hazard. The same committee, 

 according to the suggestion, might be empowered to represent all 

 members in the matter of fire loss adjustment. 



FRIDAY'S SESSION 



The session of Fri<lay morning was opened by a report of the 

 coastwise insurance committee. 



Following the report of this committee, F. R. Babcock, counselor 

 to the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, reported. The 

 report reviewed the efforts leading up to and eventually resulting 

 in the present National Chamber of Commerce, and reviewed the 

 vast scope of power promised through such an organization, which 

 scope has been realized since the effort culminated in the forma- 

 tion of that association. This organization was organized at the 

 Hotel Willard, Washington, D. C, on April 22, 1912. There were 

 approximately 900 delegates present, representing nearly every 



