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Freight Rates
By FRANK BATES
Traffic Manager, Sherman, Clay &. Co.
Pacific Coast Representative, Traffic Bureau, National Association of Music Merchants
In the following article Frank Bates, traffic man-
ager for Sherman, Clay & Co., gives for The Review
a summary of his activities in the transportation
world affecting the music interests. He also de-
scribes the duties, facilities and functions of the
traffic department of a mercantile establishment.
Very few music houses are in a large enough way
of business to maintain a traffic department, but
the whole music trade in California has benefited
by the activities of the Sherman, Clay & Co.'s traf-
fic department. According to Mr. Bates, eternal
vigilance is the price of low ft eight rates.
Through the medium of the traffic department
of Sherman, Clay & Co., Mr. Bates has continually
striven to effect not only greater savings in trans-
portation costs, but also to bring about closer co-
operation between curriers and receivers on claim
policies, and he has always supported all propa-
ganda which had for its ultimate result the short-
ening of time in transit between shipper and re-
ceiver of all consignments, whether express, rail or
steamer freight.
Although the individual dealer may not be
in a position to maintain a traffic manager or
a traffic department because the volume of his
business docs not warrant it, he should never-
theless be interested in the traffic problem and
its importance and lend his assistance to such
activities as the various trade associations carry
on with a view to protecting his interests in
the matter of classifications and rates on vari-
ous sorts of merchandise. A classification
change, or rate increase, which may mean little
on one piano, phonograph or radio, amounts to
a tremendous sum when multiplied with the
number of units shipped each year, and every
such proposed change should be watched care-
fully by a competent traffic man.
T
O go back to the year 1923. As a mem-
ber of the standing Rate Committee of
the Central California Traffic Association,
I represented the music trades from a rate
standpoint, and a tentative schedule was pre-
sented to the Panama Canal Lines following
the very disastrous rate war of 1922. Many
of the rates of the steamship tariffs to-day are
the result of the findings of this Committee.
In March, 1925, I was personally responsible
for an investigation which ultimately resulted
in a reduction of the westbound rates in less
than carload shipments of brass, wood-wind,
string instruments and music instrument cases.
Reductions in almost every instance amounted
to 33 T A%. The Transcontinental Freight Bu-
reau under their Docket 5746, which was the
legal form of procedure to handle such peti-
tions, presented the following basis of rates:
In effect at time of application: A 11.10; B
10.80; C 10.50; D 10.20, and E 9.80.
Requested by the undersigned: A 8.35; B
8.10; C 7.90; D 7.65, and E 7.50.
Rates published: A 9.00; B 8.25; C 7.87; D
7.50, and E 7.50.
In the same month, as a member of the Rate
Committee of the Pacific Radio Trades Asso-
ciation, and due entirely to the activities of
this Committee, the California Railroad Com-
mission in their case C R C-2097— I C C I & S-
2336, rendered a decision to the effect that
radio receiving sets, or radio receiving sets and
talking machines in the State of California,
should only be subject to a rate of single first-
class on these commodities. California is the
only State that enjoys this distinction.
In January, 1928, in conjunction with the
Western Traffic Conference, and Music Trades
Association of Northern and Southern Cali-
fornia, the writer succeeded in having the
steamer rate via the Panama Canal on pianos in
carload shipments reduced from $1.25 to $1.10
per hundred pounds, under contract. This con-
tract has been extended to December 31 of the
current year.
As a member of the Rate Committee of the
Western Traffic Conference, I supported a peti-
tion to the United States Intercoastal Confer-
ence, which resulted in a reduction of the car-
load rate by steamer of sheet music and music
books from $1.25 to $1.00 per hundred pounds,
as well as a reduction in the carload minimum
from twenty-four to twelve thousand pounds—
which reduction became effective in July, 1928.
In conclusion, I wish to emphasize the fact
that during years of experience, have found
common carriers, both rail and water, willing
to co-operate with all shippers and receivers
of freight, be they music merchants or in other
(Continued on page 25)