The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-07
KICK OF THE FRUIT SHIPPERS.
THE RAILROADS CLAIM THEY CAN'T
HAUL CHEAPER.

The shippers Called on for a state
ment of Their shipments This
Year and the Profits Realized on
the Fruit-The Railroad Men Deny
That the Rates Charged by the
Roads Are Excessive.
Atlanta. Ga. Aug chairman n. r.
Morrison and Commissioner Clements of
the interstate commerce commission be-
gan taking testimony to-day in the case
made by the Georgia railroad commission
against the Central and other Zines for
their refusal 10 grant a reduction IN the
rate on peaches.
The original case was made upon the Pc
tition Of Marshall J. Hatcher Of Macon
and others 10 the state railroad commits
sion. charging the Georgia Central with
having made too heavy charges on snip
ments of peaches. The railroads were all
heard from, and the peach growers Of the
state were represented by Mr.. Hatcher
and John D. Cunningham. President OF
the Georgia Fruit Growers Association.
Il was decided by the state railroad COM
mission 10 call upon the railroads to lower
the rates on peaches. The commission
ordered the roads to cut down the rates 10
$50 per car TO New York, instead OF $40
as now charged by the roads. The roads
refused 10 reduce, on the ground that they
could not. upon equitable grounds do so
without a loss in the shipments Of peaches.
The Georgia commission then brought the
case up before the interstate commerce
commission fors hearing. it being an in
terstate matter, and beyond the authority
Of the Georgia commission.
The commissioners. who arrived early
this morning from Washington. were ac-
companied by a corps Of stenographers
and clerks.
At 10 O'Clock the commissioners institu-
ted their court in the United states dis
trict court room. When the case began
there were in the room Commissioners
Trammen, Fort and Jordan of the Geor-
gia commission, and their attorneys, }. VI.
Ferrell and w. A. Little.
The railroads were represented by H. c.
Cunningham, general attorney for the
Central. and II. NJ. Conner, receiver for
that line; Z. Fitzgerald Of the Southern,
L. 3. Stahlman Of the Southern Railway
and Steamship Association, General Coun-
sci Ryan and Henderson of the Southern,
=
ida and Western and Sol Haas and w. II.
Baldwin. Jr., of the Southern.
After the reading Of the complaints OF
the Georgia commissioners by Commits
sioner Jordan the introduction of testimo-
ny began.
], II. Halle of Hartford, Conn, an ex-
tensive fruit grower, was put on the stand.
He said he got $3.50 for a carload Of peach
es and that his expenses were $500 This
left him a profit above all expenses Of
$50 He thought the rate Of 81 cents per
hundred on peaches to eastern points was
excessive.
c. Gunby Jordan was then put on the
stand. He testified to the fact that he
had been presented to the Georgia COM
missioners and gave his reasons for re-
commenting the reduction of the rate
G. d. Cunningham. of Marietta, an ex-
tensive fruit grower, succeeded Mr.. Jor-
dan on the stand and remained there for
an hour and half His testimony was
10 the effeU that the present rates were
excessive and that the rate made by the
Georgia commissioners should be put in
effect.
A number OF other witnesses were in
troduced by the state including Mr.. Ben
5amin. who testified as to the cost of icing
cars 10 New York; j. B. James of Fort
Valley. A. H. Tiff of Triton. s NJ. Way
man Of Porrona, A. A. Tasted Of Vine
yard and DIT. G. V Camp of Moreland,
all extensive fruit growers, whose testi-
mony went to substantiate the claims for
q reduction made by the state commits
sioners.
The railroads have demanded Of the
fruit growers, Who were examined to-day,
a statement of their shipments this sea-
son. showing what they received fof all
cars and what were their profits or losses
on each car the object being to prove by
their own books that they have made
a good profit and that the railroad rates
are not too high. on the contrary the
railroads claim that they cannot haul the
fruit for less than present rates.