The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-08-29
COMPRESS MEN MEET.
Important Business Transacted and
Officers Elected

Atlanta, Ca, Aug. 2s.-Compressmen
representing the principal cotton COM
presses of most of the southern states
east of the Mississippi river met here
this afternoon to receive the report of the
committee recently appointed to go be
fore the Southern Railway and Steam
ship Association TO urge a restoration of
the old rate for COMPRISING In view of
the strained relations between the com
press men and the railroads due to the
action of the latter IL was expected that
the meeting TODAY would develop some
thing interesting, ard that expectation
was fully realized in both the views, ex-
pressed by the compressmeG and by their
ultimate action.
The trouble between the compressmeu
and the railroads was brought about by
the Southern Railway aud Steamship As
ISOLATION at its meeting in New \ Ork
several weeks ago. At that meeting the
association acting upon the claim that the
congresses were getting the lions share
of the profits in handling cotton, reduced
the rate paid for COMPRISING from 10
cents a hundred pounds TO cents This
reduction, without giving the. compress
men a chance to be heard, excited them.
and at a largely attended meeting held in
Atlanta shortly after the action
of the railroads in New
York, a committee was appointed
to appear before the Southern hallway
ana Steamship Association at an ad-
journed meeting, 10 be held at Manhattan
Beach. This committee went there and
made an argument to induce the associa-
ton TO restore the 10 cent rate. but failed
TO make any impression on the railroad
managers To-day the compressnen
heard their committees report. 1t, was
received with considerable warmth, the
action Of the railroads being character
lied as arbitrary and unjust in the ex-
IRENE. 1t appeared to be a case where
the compressmen had to grin
ard bear it, until it was sug-
gested that the railroad commission be
appealed to. The suggestion was &C
cepted and a committee appointed to wait
upon the railroad commission, which was
in session at the capitol, and ascertain
whether that body had jurisdiction in
such a case. The railroad commissioners,
after hearing the committee decided to
take up the case and set the hearing for
next tuesday at 10 o'clocb a. m. Circu-
lars have already been sent out to the
railroads, citing them to appear before
the commission on that date, and the in
dications are that there will be some i'm
portant developments. There is differ
enCe of opinion among the compressmen
as to the railroad commissions jurisdic-
ton. The railroads will, in, all
probability contend that the commission
has no right to interfere.
Before adjournment the compressmen
effected a permanent organization with
the following officers: j. D. Turner, At
lanta, president; w. H. Fisk Mont
gomery, first vice president; T. F. Howell,
Rome, second vice president; c. T. Camp
bell, Atlanta, secretary and treasurer.
Annual u ceilings are to be held on the
second Tuesday in May. The purpose of
the organization is to secure Uniform in
surapCe rates, meet railroads on more
equal ooting in such cases as the present
one, secure proper LEGISLATION and to ad-
vance u e mutual interests O. the con-
press of the souJn.