Las Vegas Optic

SHIPPERS LOSE PRIVILEGE

Pittsburgh, Nov. 30.—Beginning tomorrow all existing arrangements for the stopping of cars in transit to complete loading, or to partially unload, any kind of freight traffic in Central Freight association territory, regardless of point of origin or destination, will be cancelled. Taking the interstate commerce commission at its word the railroads either are abridging or abrogating entirely many services to shippers that have been rendered free of charge so long that they have come to be regarded as rights. This latest ruling will affect many shippers and will probably cause many objections to be registered. The only exception the railroads are to make are on live stock or live poultry to complete loading, and mixed carloads of fresh meats and packing house products to partially unload. Therefore, the local rates will be applied to all shipments to and from the stop-offs, except in the cases defined. In other words the practice of using freight cars as retail distributing agencies is withdrawn today. In certain cases stop-over charges have always been made, but they were not uniform and were never enough to cover the cost of service rendered, the railroads claim. Additional curtailments of privileges are expected in this section, as well as throughout the country. From railroad authorities it is learned that the roads are getting together to withdraw systematically the privileges not paid for by shippers.