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[Telegram]

Representative OREN HARRIS,

NEW ORLEANS, LA., June 615

Chairman, House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee,
House Office Building, Washington, D.C.:

Our union represents seamen employed on coastwise ships as well as tra': who man vessels on the American inland waterways system. We are gre. concerned about H.R. 4700 and S. 1061 which we believe would permit ra to engage in selective discriminatory rate cutting that would wipe est water carriers. This would result in laying up of boats and ships, the a thousands of jobs and irreparable damage to the total American ec DOET We strongly and respectfully urge you to oppose this pending legisia: 3 2 give favorable consideration to our view that all bulk traffic, whether at L by rail or water, should be subject to regulations by the Interstate Commission.

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LINDSEY J. WILLIAMS,
Gulf District Vice President,
Seafarers International Union of North Amer og,
Atlantic Gulf Lake and Inland Waters District, AFL

Representative OREN HARRIS,

[Telegram]

HADDONFIELD, NJ

Chairman, House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee,
House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.:

Subject: H.R. 4700 in the interest of free competition and in fairnes struggling railroad industry we urge action toward passage of this bil.. enter this in the official record.

J. W. BLAVA

SARATOGA, CALIF., May 1, 1-72

Hon. CHARLES GUBSER,

House of Representatives,

House Office Building, Washington, D.C.

DEAR CONGRESSMAN GUBSER: This letter concerns House bill 470 zv to proposed rate deregulation of commodities moving in bulk and all agri commodities.

As an employee of the trucking industry for more than 25 years and bi experienced the effect of nonregulation prior to enactment of part 1 of Interstate Commerce Act, I am sincerely and completely opposed to the pa waza of such legislation.

Several million people depend on a healthy trucking industry for their hood and today it is a healthy, aggressive, and growing industry. What at be as a result of this legislation and ensuing monopoly-type competition is az body's guess.

Competition and free flow of commerce is great. I like it. But euer pee, based on a concentration of huge cash resources, the rails, opposed to a broad ruw of relatively small cash resources, the trucking industry, is another story. focusing of rail power and resources for the purpose of destroying the tre ing competition cannot, in my humble opinion, guarantee healthier raura It can guarantee an unhealthy trucking industry.

Obviously, I am asking you to do all you can to defeat the bill.
Respectfully yours,

HL FG.

ALABAMA CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION,
Montgomery, Ala., May 31, 18%

Hon. OREN HARRIS,

Chairman, House Committee, Interstate Foreign Commerce,
New House Office Building, Washington, D.C.

DEAR CONGRESSMAN HARRIS: The Alabama Cattlemen's Association, the large State cattlemen's association in the Nation, representing some 7,000 cattirin.

would like to go on record as favoring H.R. 4700, now pending before your committee Not only will cattlemen and farmers benefit from lower freight rates on agricultural products but the lowering of freight rates on materials which they must purchase would decrease the delivered cost of these materials.

Also, as a matter of principle, we feel there should be no restrictions on the lowering of rates of any kind, on common carriers or otherwise. How else can the benefits of lower operating costs be passed on to the consumer?

The Alabama Cattlemen's Association urges that your committee give favorable report to the above bill and we respectfully request that this letter be made part of the record of the hearings on this bill.

Very truly yours,

RICHARD H. ARRINGTON,

Immediate Past President, ACA, Chairman of Legislative Committee,

ROYAL CROWN COLA Co,

Columbus, Ga., May 20, 1963.

Hon. OREN Harris,

House Committee on Interstate Commerce,
Washington, D.C.

199 AR MR. HARRIS: This is not a solicited letter of either railroad or the motor carriers, but represents my personal judgment based on more than 30 years' transportation experience.

No law should be enacted that would deny the Interstate Commerce Com mission the authority to prescribe the minimum rate or charge and the maxi mum rate or charge that may be published and assessed by a common carrier This does not mean that I am satisfied with or approve of every rate the Com mission may prescribe as maximum or minimum. I do not.

The Congress could instruct the Interstate Commerce Commission Uschce it is only an administrative arm of Congress) to allow any common carrier to make or fix and publish any rate it chooses, so long as such reduced rate or charge produces sufficient revenue to yield some measure of profit to such carrier, to be decided by the ICC.

I am a member of the National Industrial Traffic League, the Southern Traffic League, and the National Small Shipments Traffic Conference, and if any tests mony should be introduced by officers of those organizations contrary to what I say here, then I am strongly in opposition to any such testimony.

Congress should not be unmindful that if a large carrier trailroad or trucking company) charges rates on a class of freight or to or from a particular area, that fans to yield a reasonable profit, this would mean that such carrier would in crease the rates and charges assessed against another class of trathe or to another area to make up for such low rates and charges Such would produce unfair competition and undue prejudice and unlawful discrimination under other sections of the net.

The history of the regulation of carriers shows that prejudice, preferential treatment, and unlawful discrimination are among the most devastating prae. tices that made it imperative that Congress create the far-reaching regulation of all carriers,

With the overabundance of transportation facilities today, it is doubly important to have enforced regulation.

One thing Congress should do and that is wipe out the authority of the ICC to have a list of agricultural commodities that are exempt from rate regulation And. I say this, notwithstanding the political position this might temporarily In posse upon Congressmen from Florida. No carrier should transport goods for jess than costs and no argument can justify that.

Cordially yours,

C. E. WALKER, Transportation Counsel,

NEW YORK, NY, May 21, 1963

Hon. OREN HARRIS,

(kairman, House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, Washington, D.C.

DEAR MR. HARRIS: May I say a word in behalf of legislation which I under stand is now being considered by your committee designated as HR 4700 and known generally as the minimum rate bill.

20 516 63 pt 2 - 35

I work for a manufacturer of railway equipment and for this reast had a keen interest in removing some of the artificial legislative ba": which have kept the railroad industry from rising to its full potential 1: present day economy during the postwar period. I am in a position to L. that there are many technological developments which the railroad carriers take advantage of if they are permitted to exercise reasonable conje initiative which will result in more economical transportation for the pi.. I am convinced that it is simply impossible for other modes of transporti to duplicate railroad service even at the present depressed state of the in try. Barge and private carriage have been growing out of all propag their basic economic capability due to the artificial and arbitrary ra'e tions which retard the natural growth of railway traffic. Much of this has no sound economic justification whatsoever.

Transportation is in certain respects the largest and most basic of =! industries. It is destined to be larger and even more important in relat the growth of all other industry. For this reason, it seems to me, it is *.* important that we seek to create an atmosphere in which it can grow loco with a minimum of legislative restraint, into the truly competitive indis” which has evolved due to highway expansion and waterway development

May I respectfully suggest that your committee recommend HR. 4700 passage by the House just as expeditiously as possible. May I also ec that the provisions of the Bulwinkle Act (section 5a of the Interstate i merce Act) be continued in effect so that intercarrier ratemaking may evt" to be smoothly handled as required by the shippers and the public. May 1 request that this letter be made a part of the record of the hearings on this Sincerely, F. FINSTRWA

Subject: H.R. 4700.

Congressman OREN HARRIS,

AMERICAN SEED TRADE ASSOCIATION, Inc.
Washington, D.C., May 21, 19.

Chairman, Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee,
New House Office Building, Washington, D.C.

DEAR CONGRESSMAN HARRIS: The American Seed Trade Association is a “ tional organization with members in practically every State in the Union. S of the major seed-producing areas in the Nation are far removed from the a” in which the seed will be planted for the production of agricultural and br cultural crops.

Modes of transportation are extremely important to the seed industry 15 should be maintained on as flexible a basis as possible.

Producers and wholesalers of seed are required to carry extensive invert.com of seed and be prepared to rapidly move it to planting areas as soon as farand growers are ready to take delivery.

The board of directors of the American Seed Trade Association has cons je the agricultural commodity exemption in January 1963, and adopted the ? ing policy:

1. That the agricultural commodity exemption in the Motor Carrier AN maintained.

2. That the agricultural commodity exemption be extended to all mode transportation.

The traffic committee of the ASTA met in Washington, D.C., on May 16 14 for the purpose of considering legislation now pending before Congress 1: keeping with the policy already adopted, the American Seed Trade Asset" will support proposed legislation contained in H.R. 4700, which would exe agricultural and horticultural commodities from minimum rate regulatioɛ 24 at Interstate Commerce Commission.

The American Seed Trade Association subscribes to the general prots st embodied in the minimum rate deregulation proposal under consideration M propriate committees in both Houses of Congress. It is our belief that thefem of competition should be permitted more opportunities in the determinat. transportation rates and regulations.

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The committee holds to the belief that the agricultural commodity exem* i as contained within section 203b(6) of the ICC Act, as amended, is to the am interests of agriculture and horticulture in the marketing of seeds and sTM

herefore, in opposition to any effort directed to narrowing or repeal of the xemption.

As a result of hearings conducted by Congress, should it be found that addikenal safeguards are essential in the protection of the public interest, the ASTA rem mends consideration by the Congress of the following:

1. Retention of the rate agreement procedures provided for under the conference method authorized by section 5a of the Interstate Commerce Act.

2 That Congress make clear by affirmative statutory provisions that the lizzaination of the minimum rate powers of the Interstate Commerce Commission as to "agricultural and horticultural commodities" will not affect shippers' basic rights and remedies under the Interstate Commerce Act.

In order to adequately protect the public and competing modes of transportation from discriminatory or predatory rate practices: (a) Provide specifically in the Interstate Commerce Act that "using unfair methods of competition in commerce and unfair or deceptive acts or practices aza commerce" is unlawful.

(b) Vest the Interstate Commerce Commission with the power to find unlawful any rate or charge proposed for application to the deregulated commodities (including seed for planting purposes) which constitutes an unfair method of corripetition or unfair or deceptive practice.

We believe that the agricultural exemption is far more important to agriculture and horticulture today than when first approved by Congress Many hanges have taken place in the economy of the United States that have emphamazed the need for a stable agricultural economy.

We urge the approval of H.R. 4700, and (with such safeguards as Congress deems necessary) the retention of provisions contained in section 203b(6) of the ICC Act, as amended.

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House Office Building,

Washington, D.C.

DEAR SIR: The Maryland Coal Association, Ine, of Baltimore, Md., is deflnitely concerned with the present unfavorable position in which the railroads have been placed due to the restrictive regulations imposed upon the carriers through the years by the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Such rules and regulations were a definite need many years ago; however, in this present era of close competition, the railroads cannot begin to compete against the motor and water carriers, who are not shackled with these regula tory restraints.

The coal industry is well aware of the importance of maintaining a good ound transportation system and in our opinion this can best be accomplished by less regulation and more competition.

This association is unanimously in favor of the recommendations expressed in the President's transportation message and takes this opportunity to urge you to support HR. 4700 and requests that this letter be made a part of the record in the official hearings on this bill.

Respectfully,

EUGENE G KRAU88, Jr. Provident

BALDWIN LIma Hamilton Corp,
Philadelphia, Pa., June 6, 1963

Hon. OREN HARRIS,

House of Representatives,

Washington, D.C.

DEAR CONGRESSMAN HARRIS: I am writing to you both as the president of Baldwin Lima-Hamilton Corp., Philadelphia, Pa, and for myself individually to urge upon you the desirability of the prompt passage of HR 4700 HR 4700

will implement an important transportation reform by removing an unfair a. burdensome straitjacket on railroads in their competition with other modes transportation. The reform proposed in the bill would eliminate the ma rate regulations of the transportation by railroads of agricultural products a bulk commodities and thus give the railroads a freer hand in competing truckers and bargelines when carrying those commodities.

In my view the proposed legislation is of importance not only to Pennsylvaza and to manufacturing establishments in Pennsylvania that are suppers a users of the railroad industry but also to citizens throughout this Nation, a... whom have a stake in the continuance of satisfactory rail transportation. May I ask that you be kind enough to have this letter made a part official record of the hearings to be held in respect of this important bail. With great respect, I am,

Sincerely yours,

Hon. JOHN BELL WILLIAMS,

W. S. GIN

BRENT TOWING Co, Inc. Greenville, Miss., May 20, 1963

House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee,
House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

DEAR SIR: I am writing you in behalf of the 20 small contract water carren domiciled in Greenville and Vicksburg, Miss. Not only will this letter expr their views but it will express the views of approximately 100 additional tract water carriers that operate on the inland waterways system, many whom I know personally and have discussed our problems at length in regr months. None of us want extension of regulation to the water carriers and i will outline briefly why:

1. We know that extension of regulation would increase our cost, whi not in the public interest.

2. Most of our shippers have a much greater financial wealth than (CN Therefore, we cannot take advantage of them if we tried. We either give tes an efficient economical service cheaper and better than they can perform them selves or they can resort to private carriage. Also, I would like to port that the shippers using the inland waterways are in agreement with us as extending regulations is concerned.

3. Ours is a true free enterprise industry, highly competitive, that shows tremendous growth since World War II. We are the only segment of transportation complex of this great country who can say to the Congress 1° to the public that we have consistently reduced our rates since the end of W=; War II. I defy the railroads or anyone else to dispute this. Further the common carriers by water cannot make this brag about commodities thr move under regulation.

4. We in the water carrier industry are dedicated to a strong growing, ef and economical transportation system on the inland waterways. We are means by which the benefits of the improvements of this vast waterways can be passed on to the general public.

I could name many more reasons why we oppose extension of regulation I have been brief and to the point.

For your information, we all concur with the statements given the comm. by Messrs. F. A. Mechling, Mechling Barge Line, and David A. Wright. Wa ways Bulk Transportation Council, Inc. (Most of us are members of this e nization.)

We urge you to use your influence with Mr. Oren Harris in order that more of our contract carriers may be able to be heard by the committee sure you are aware that a small group of large common carriers by water tried to leave the impression with your committee to Congress and to the pena that the water carriers industry favors extension of regulation. Nothing me. be further from the truth.

Your immediate attention to the above matter will be greatly appreciated

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Very truly yours,

JESSE E. BRENT, Presiden

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