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Show MILLION-DOLLAR CUT IN FARMERS' BILLS Reduction Secured by Farm Bureau Bu-reau and Allied Interests. r A $1,000,000 cut In the fanuersf freight bill has been secured by the tarm bureau and allied Interests In obtaining from the Interstate Commerce Com-merce commission a final ruling on the charges upon mixed carloads of live stock.- The mixed carload case was first submitted to the Interstate Commerce commission about three years a0. Last year the commission rendered a decision. The case was later reopened re-opened upon a petition from the carriers. car-riers. The rule which had previously applied ap-plied provided that charges should be assessed upon a basis of minimum weight which was the highest applicable applic-able upon any kind of stock in the oar and that the rate should be the nighest applicable upon any kind of stock in the car. This made the charges for a mixed carload of hogs and cattle considerably higher than the charges for a straight carload of either. The farm bureau, together with the others interested called attention to the fact that this method of making mak-ing charges seriously discriminated against co-operative organizations, and was not in accordance with the spirit of fair play. It was Insisted that while such a rule might be proper for dead freight which ordinarily loads much In excess of the minimum weight, it was not at all proper upon a commodity like live stock. The Interstate In-terstate Commerce commission apparently ap-parently felt that the farm bureau argument was Justified. The rule now prescribed to be put In effect on or before September 18, 1923, Is as follows : (a) "When cattle, calves, hogs, sheep, lambs, goats, kids, horses, and or) mules are shipped in mixed carloads, car-loads, charges shall be used on the oarload rate and minimum weight for that kind of stock which on a straight carload basis produces the highest charge, subject to the exceptions in b) and (c) below. (b) "In no case, except as provided provid-ed in paragraph (c) shall the charges per car be less than on a straight carload car-load of the highest rated kind at actual ac-tual weight of the mixed shipment. (c) "Charges on mixed carload shipments ship-ments of cattle and calves shall not exceed charges computed on basis of the cattle rate at actual weight of the entire shipment or at the cattle minimum min-imum weight If greater." About 25 per cent of the receipts at the large markets consists of mixed oars. The present ruling will mean a freight saving of from S3 to $5 a " car. |