The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-08-20
IT'S Fun FOR The PORTS.
Watching the Fight Between the CON-
presses and Railroads.

" uANAAAS III 4 ANhh BNANNNA NAS NNAA
presses and Railroads.
Commissioner Stahlman's Reduction
of Three Cents Per Hundred for
COMPRISING Cotton Raises Howl.
Compress Men TO Go Before the
Meeting of the Associatio1-Senato
Buffers Resolution of Inquiry on
Rates Of the Southern Railway and
Steamship Association.
The cotton compress men of the in
terror have a grievance against the South
ern Railway and Steamship Association
in the shape of a reduction Of cents on
the 100 pounds for COMPRISING cotton
for shipment made by Commissioner f.
B. Stahlman. II is difference which
they are just now trying to have ad-
! justed, and it is very much to their inter
est to do 50.
The claim made by the railroads is that
the compress men have been receiving
/ from As TO so cents per bale for compress
| ing cotton, whereas IL coststhem to do the
work about one-third of that amount.
| This, as will be seen, gives them an enor-
nous profit. II is asserted that even
with this reduction they will still be able
to make large profit. The compress
men, however, claim that their present
profit is only about 20 cents bale, includ-
/ ing wear and tear on their plants,
and that with the reduction in effect they
/ can make only about cents bale, which
will not pay them fair rate of interest
| on their investment They state further
| that If they are frozen out by this reduc-
! ton Of 3 cents per hundred, and should
want TO sell their plants the railroads
| would be the only purchasers that could
/ be found.
WHO SHALL GET THE PROFIT.
The producer, it seems, cuts no figure
| in the fight. 1t is only a question whether
| the railroads or the compress men shall
| get the extra cents. There was a meet
! ing of the compress men in Atlanta a
short time ago, and a committee called On
! Commissioner Stdhlman of the associa-
tion with regard to the matter in order TO
see if anything could be done
TO have the old rates restored
The compress men have declared
that they intend to put up a very
| lively fight. They want TO obtain re-
consideration OF the action of the asso-
citation, and for that purpose have APP
| pointed committee to appear before the
meeting of the Southern Railway and
Steamship Association at Manhattan
Beach, N Y, Aug. %, to see what can
be done about the matter. The commit
tee is composed of Messrs. Fisk of
Montgomery, Ala, chairman; H. G. In
man of Atlanta; T. +. Howell of Rome;
James l.. Lapsley of Admission. and
| Judge Sandy Lumpkin of Atlanta. These
gentlemen will go in body to attend the
adjourned meeting of the Southern Rail-
way and Steamship Association at Man
haitian Beach on Aug. %.
WATCHING IT WITH INTEREST.
In the meantime the South Atlantic
ports especially and all ports in general,
will watch the result of the contest with
quiet but deep interest. The railroad
which has the cotton compressed in order
to increase the capacity of their cars al
ways makes up the additional cost some
where in the freight charges. But this
does not relieve the necessity for recon-
pressing a large part of the cotton at the
ports in order to properly steyedore a
| vessel. This is done at an extra cost Of
40 to 80 cents which is a disad-
vantage TO the ports, in the fact that often
! Two charges Tor COMPRISING have to be
paid. AS much of the cotton has to be
recompressed for proper loading, it might
as well be compressed here in the first
instance and great deal of the extra
cost saved, perhaps, in the end to the pro-
ducer, and it would at least be of advant-
age to the ports and to the shippers.
therefore, the ports will watch the pro-
gress of the fight with much interest.
RATES TAKEN UP IN THE SENATE.
Savannah is not resting in it's fight for
just and equitable freight rates, and the
commercial bodies are not going to allow
the matter to drop until something per-
manent and substantial has been accom-
plished. Facts and figures are being
compiled on many classes of articles
which are in frequent use and on which
the freight bills are large, and the argu-
ments to be presented to the association
will be strong ones. If not effective, the
matter may in the end go before other
tribunals.
News has just been received here that
Senator Butler, who, on account of
Charleston, is very much interested in
the freight rate matter, has introduced a
resolution in the Senate for the purpose
of inquiring into the freight and passen-
ger charges, rates and diTferentials as
fixed by the Southern Railway and
Steamship Association. This resolution
is thought to be ia Vorable to the South
Atlantic ports, which are now warning
on the discriminating diferentials, 1t has
been referred TO the interstate commerce
commission, and Senator Butler has been
sent copies of the argument prepared by
the commercial bodies of Charleston
setting forth the facts and figures, and
showing wherein the discriminat lions ex-
lst, for his information. He will no
doubt be urged by Charleston, and the
Georgia senators will probably be urged
by Savannah business men, to push the
resolution before the committee for all it
is worth. Thus it seems official cogni-
zance has been taken of these diScrimina-
tions.