Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-08
a PERTINENT QUESTION
Addressed to the Railroad COMMISSIONS

ROUNTREE, GA, Feb. 6.-Edftor Morn
ing Ne1rs: Your paper has been instrumen-
tai in doing much good for the turpentine
men OF Georgia, and under the amended scale
Of wages now paid for labor, the future of
that industry presents an encouraging out
look.
IL is true that at the beginning of the pres
ent bOX-cuttng season rebelliOus spirit
seemed to control many of the negroes, who
refused to work for less than the Old prices
but the pinching demands of want, and the
sudden advent OF remOrselessly severe win
ter worked change lover the spirit of their
dream and the majority of them at once
buckled down to work very earnestly. Here
and there few men who were lOud-mOuthed
IN their advocacy of a reduction of wages
have violated their contract with the Naval
Exchange by giving IA cents, or a cent and
ratiOns a box; but the really practical and
successful turpentine men of Georgia. men
who make money, and from whom factors
sustain no losses, are carrying out in good
faith the understanding entered into in Sa-
Vanuah November last.
But there is one disadvantage under which
turpentne men vet labor in this State. which
ought Of right to be remedied. l have refer
ence TO the unjust determinations made
against them IN the matter of freight charges.
/ They pay larger percentage upon what
/ they produce than any other industrial or
manufacturing class in Georgia. This Is say
ing q great deal. but / believe the facts will
| bear me out in the assertion.
! load Of lumber from Midwife (919 to Sa-
/ vannah Is $40; on rOsin, S22; an excess against
1 the latter of $l2. If this unjust and unequal
! discrimination Is made from Midwife to Sa-
| vannah, 1t Is reasonable to infer
I that il is adhered to over the entire
| line of road. Alb unO disco Omnes. And
/ vet, against this abuse of power there stands
! clear cut from the general legislation of Geor-
! gia, IAN act to provide for the regulation of
railroad freight and passenger tariffs. and to
prevent unjust discrimination and eXtOrtiOn
in the rates charged for TRANSPORTATION of pas
sengers and freight etc. Pursuant to this
act commission was created to carry out the
intention OF our legislators in this respect.
Section gives said commission power to
make reasonable and just rates of freight
and passenger tariffs, to be observed by rail-
road companies IN this state, on the railroads
thereof"
Is the above Illustration an example of the
commissions conception of what is ''reasOna-
bic and justy'
But the language of the section quoted from
Is mandatory. 1t says the commissioners
''shall make reasonable and just rates and
regulations, to be observed by all railroad
| companies doing business in this State. as to
/ charges at any and ali points for the necessary
handling and delivering of freights; shall
make such just and reasonable rates and
regulations as may be necessary for prevent
ing unjust Determinations in the transporta-
/ tlOn of freight and passengers on the railroads
in this State etc.
This is a part of that commendable piece of
legislation by the assembled wisdom of GeOF-
gla. which aimed a blow at the eXtortiOns
practced against individuals and communi-
ties by railroad corporations. But has 1t
been carried out? Have the reasonable and
just rates contemplated therein been estab-
lisheds Have unjust determinations been
prevented? Let the difference between the
! charges on a car load of lumber and one of
rOsIn answer.
1 therefore repeat, that the turpentine men
in Georgia are straining under burden which
ought of right to be remedied.
What has become of the committee appoint
ed at the convention of last November to
confer with the railroad commission?
1t Is time to hear from you, gentlemen.
NAVAL STORES.