Hon. ARTHUR YOUNGER, TREESWEET PRODUCTS Co., Santa Ana, Calif., July 25, 1962. U.S. Representative, House Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIR: This letter refers to H.R. 11583 on which we urge your firm support. It is our view that subject bill is designed to carry out important recommendations contained in the President's transportation message of April 5, 1962, and would extend to all carriers an exemption from regulatory control of the level of minimum rates on the transportation of agricultural and bulk commodities. We firmly agree that extending to all carriers the exemption from the approval of prescribed minimum rates would permit the forces of competition to replace cumbersome regulations, all carriers would be free to exercise normal managerial initiatives in their operations and that as a result of reduced costs, shippers should be in a position to enjoy a wider choice of improved service and lower rates for transportation. We further request that our views, as stated herein, be made a part of the official record. Yours very truly, R. L. TEMPLETON. CHATTANOOGA BOILER & TANK Co., Chattanooga, Tenn., July 13, 1962. Congressman OREN HARRIS, Chairman, Committee on Transportation, DEAR CONGRESSMAN HARRIS: Your committee has House bill 11583 before it, which is supposed to give the railroads some freedom in ratemaking on certain commodities. It is our opinion that the railroads have long deserved this consideration and we feel that this bill should be passed. If you would be kind enough to make this letter a matter of record before your committee, I would greatly appreciate it. Yours truly, N. E. HEROD, Traffic Manager. Hon. OREN HARRIS, R. E. WILSON MINING Co., Chairman of the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIR: Our attention has been called to some very important proposed transportation legislation in the form of S. 3243 and H.R. 11583, commonly referred to as the "minimum rate" bills. We understand that these bills propose to give all forms of transportation equal opportunity to lower the price for their services on agricultural and bulk commodities. At the same time, the regulatory agency (ICC) will retain control over maximum rates of regulated transportation and provisions of the antitrust laws will prevent monopoly in the transportation industry. It is important that competition between the various modes of transportation, both regulated and unregulated, fix the lowest level of freight rates to the public rather than regulation prescribing the lowest charge for a regulated carrier while their unregulated counterpart can charge any rates they choose and extend them only to those in the shipping industry of their choice. We respectfully urge that full support be given this vital transportation legislation in order that the public may receive full benefit of free enterprise competition. Also, it is requested that this communication be made a part of the record of your committee proceedings in connection therewith. Yours very truly, Mrs. R. E. Wilson. ANNE C. WILSON GREEN BAY, Wis., July 11, 1962. Hon. OREN HARRIS, Chairman, House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, DEAR CONGRESSMAN HARRIS: May I respectfully call your attention to H.R. 11583 now before the Congress. In my opinion this bill will bring tremendous benefits to agriculture, commerce, industry, and the consumer by lowering the cost of unnecessarily high freight charges. It will also begin an end to the chaotic patchwork of inconsistent and often obsolete legislation and place greater reliance on the forces of competition and less reliance on the restraints of regulation. Passage of this legislation will be fully in the public interest and I respectfully urge your support of it. I request that this letter be made part of the official record. Respectfully yours, H. J. BRUGENHEMKE. APPLETON MANUFACTURING CO., Hon. OREN HARRIS, Chairman, Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, SIR: May I respectfully call your attention to bill H.R. 11583 now before the House. In my opinion this bill will bring tremendous benefits to agriculture, commerce, industry, and the consumer by lowering the cost of unnecessarily high freight charges. It will also begin an end to the choatic patchwork of inconsistent and often obsolete legislation and place greater reliance on the forces of competition, and less reliance on the restraints of regulation. Passage of this legislation will be fully in the public interest, and I respectfully urge your support of it. I request that this letter be made part of the official records. Very truly yours, CHARLES DE YOUNG, Vice President. MAXWELL BROS., INC., Hon. OREN HARRIS, Chairman, House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN HARRIS: I would like to ask for your support to the passage of House bill H.R. 11583, which will tend to eliminate certain regulations from railroads in the establishment of rates on bulk and agricultural products. Also, I would like to request that this letter be made a part of the record of the proceedings regarding this bill. Yours truly, H. W. SCRUGGS, Manager. CALIFORNIA MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION, Hon. OREN HARRIS, Chairman, House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, DEAR MR. HARRIS: As part of its policy to promote a sound, efficient, equally regulated national transportation system, California Manufacturers Association supports the basic objective of H.R. 11583 to equalize competitive opportunities between different types of carriers by extending to railroads the exemptions from minimum rate regulation with respect to bulk commodities, ordinary livestock, fish and agricultural commodities that are now applicable to competing modes of transportation under provisions of the Interstate Commerce Act. We are, however, opposed to the provision on pages 4 and 5 of the bill which would deny to carriers freed from minimum rate regulation on the designated commodities the present section 5a exemption from antitrust laws, as we are of the firm belief that it is in the public interest that the carriers be allowed to continue the present conference method of determining rates, and that denial of that privilege is neither necessary nor desirable. Therefore, we respectfully urge that the bill be favorably reported with an amendment striking lines 22 to 25, inclusive, on page 3 and lines 1 to 3, inclusive, on page 4 from the bill, and shall appreciate your making our position known to the members of the committee. Respectfully yours, Mr. OREN HARRIS, LUTHER A. NICHOLS, Executive Vice President. GREEN BAY FOOD CO., Green Bay, Wis., July 12, 1962. Chairman, House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House Office Building, Washington, D.C. GENTLEMEN: May I call to your attention, bill H.R. 11583 now before the Congress. It is my opinion that this bill will bring great benefits to agriculture, commerce, industry, and the consumer by lowering the presently unnecessarily high freight rates. It will also begin an end to the chaotic patchwork of inconsistent, and often out-dated legislation, and place a far greater reliance on the forces of competition, and a less reliance on the restraints of regulation presently in effect. The passage of these bills, we believe, is fully in the public interest, and I respectfully urge your support of same. We, therefore, request that this letter be part of the official record. Yours very truly, JIM WHITE, Traffic Manager. GREEN BAY, WIS., July 11, 1962. Hon. OREN HARRIS, House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, DEAR CONGRESSMAN HARRIS: May I respectfully call to your attention House bill 11583, a bill to put into effect the more urgent of President Kennedy's recommendations for reforms in our transportation policy. This bill will bring tremendous benefits to agriculture, commerce, industry, and the consumer, and will go far toward strengthening the national transportation policy. Passage of this legislation will be fully in the public interest. I earnestly urge your support of this bill, and that you will also urge your fellow Representatives to do likewise. I request that this letter be made part of the official record. Hon. OREN HARRIS, R. J. MACCARTHY. GREEN BAY, WIS., July 12, 1962. Chairman, House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN HARRIS: At last a serious attempt is being made to establish a more practical policy for the transportation facilities of our Nation. I sincerely hope you will find it consistant to support minimum rate bill H.R. 11583 now before you and your committee for consideration. This bill will correct some of the inequalities now existing between the various forms of transportation. Please make this a part of the official record. Respectfully yours, D. L. MCCAUGHAN. COHEN BROTHERS FRUIT Co., Hon. OREN HARRIS, DEAR MR. HARRIS: We are in the fruit and vegetable distributing business and using the rails; therefore, may I respectfully call your attention to H.R. 11583, now before the Congress. In my opinion this bill will bring tremendous benefits to agriculture, commerce, industry, and the consumer by lowering the cost of unnecessarily high freight charges. It will also begin an end to the chaotic patchwork of inconsistent and often obsolete legislation and place greater reliance on the forces of competition and less reliance on the restraints of regulation. Passage of this legislation will be fully in the public interest, and I respectfully urge your support of it. I request that this letter be made part of the official record. Your very truly, FRANK COHEN. GREEN BAY, Wis., July 18, 1962. Hon. OREN HARRIS, Chairman, House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, DEAR CONGRESSMAN HARRIS: House bill 11583, now before you and your committee, embodies President Kennedy's recommendations for reforms in our Nation's transportation policy. In the interest of our general economy, I urge you to support this legislation, for this country has needed a program like this for many years, and it is certainly a big step toward putting aside special interests and concerns, and putting the public interest in faster, better, and cheaper transportation first. Please make this a part of the official record. Respectfully yours, C. D. AMES. GREEN BAY, Wis., July 12, 1962. Hon. OREN HARRIS, Chairman, House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, DEAR CONGRESSMAN HARRIS: House bill 11583, now before the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, embodies President Kennedy's recommendations for changes in our Nation's transportation policy. This legislation is in the interest of the public. It will be of benefit to agriculture, commerce, industry, and the consumer, and I therefore strongly urge you to support this bill and to prevail upon your constituents to also give it their support. Please make this letter a part of the official record. Respectfully yours, (Mrs.) W. M. POMMIER. GREEN BAY, WIB., July 13, 1962. Hon. OREN HARRIS, Chairman, House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, DEAR CONGRESSMAN HARRIS: Please be referred to H.R. 11583 which is presently before Congress. I respectfully urge you to support this bill as it is my opinion that agriculture, industry, and even we as individuals will benefit greatly by the passage of this legislation. I request that this letter be made a part of the official record. Respectfully yours, D. A. UNDERWOOD. GREEN BAY, WI8., July 12, 1962. Hon. OREN HARRIS, DEAR CONGRESSMAN HARRIS: Passage of H.R. 11583, now before the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, will make great strides toward strengthening our national transportation policy. The enactment of this minimum rate bill will bring tremendous benefits to the public and to our country as a whole-agriculture, commerce, industry, and consumer will all profit. This legislation is in the interest of the public, and I respectfully request your support of this bill. Please make this letter a part of the official record. T. B. RINGSRED. Hon. OREN HARRIS, GREEN BAY, W18., July 13, 1962. Chairman, House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN HARRIS: H.R. 11583 now before the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce is a tremendous step toward the solution of a serious national problem. If enacted it will benefit the entire American economy. There is a great need for reshaping of our Nation's transportation policies. This bill is fully in the public interest, and with this thought in mind I earnestly urge you to give this legislation your support. Please make this letter a part of the official record. Respectfully yours, Hon. OREN HARRIS, E. S. ALLEN. GREEN BAY, Wis., July 13, 1962. Chairman, House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN HARRIS: House bill 11583 is now before the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. Passage of this legislation would be fully in the public interest, for our entire American economy would benefit by its enactment. At long last a real attempt is being made to solve an urgent national problem, and I strongly urge you to give this legislation your support. Please make this a part of the official record. Respectfully yours, (Miss) E. E. HNILICKA. In re House bill H.R. 11583. Congressman OREN HARRIS, EUFAULA HARDWARE Co., Chairman, House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, DEAR CONGRESSMAN HARRIS: The above is commonly referred to as the "minimum rate" bill which we feel is a good bill and should be passed. We understand that it proposes to give all forms of transportation an equal opportunity to lower freight rates on agricultural products and bulk commodities without changing the existing controls on maximum rates. We feel that the antitrust laws are adequate to prevent monoply and that competition should be allowed to fix the lowest rates charged by carriers— regulated as well as unregulated. We believe that the unregulated carriers can now charge any rate they choose under the maximum rate and extend |