The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-17
TO FIGHT FOR LOWER RATES
THE FREIGHT BUREAU TAKES UP
THE FISH MEMS CLAIMS.

Capt. Purse to Go Before the Inter-
state Commerce Commission This
Week in Their RehaIf-Thc Com
plants Against the RaiIroads-The
Increase in Freight on Fish Near
Iy 100 Per Cent.
Capt d. G. Purse expects to go to
Washington this week to appear before
the interstate commerce commission on
the subject of freight and express rates on
fish from Florida points to Savannah and
other points further north Incidentally,
Capt Purse will bring a few other mat
tiers in the way of rates to the attention
of the commission al the same time The
fish men are simply aghast at the new
freight tariff which has been announced by
the Plant system, the Florida Central and
Peninsular and the Central railroads, act
ing jointly The increase is almost 100
per cent. The rate from Tampa, Punta
Gorda and Long Dock to Savannah was
until recently 40 cents a hundred in car
load lots. The new rate is 70 cents a hun
dred, quite a difference The fish dealers
have protested against such an increase
in rates, especially after a seasons BUSH
ness had begun, but they have gotten no
comfort from the railroads. Their only
resource in this instance is the Savannah
Freight Bureau, and they have placed the
matter in the hands of Capt Purse, with
the urgent request that he take it up at
once.
The increased rates apply not only to
Savannah, but the increase is general.
Last season the rate from Tampa to Ma
con was increased from SO a car to S136. 50
a car. The fish men kicked, but accepted
the situation. Now the railroads have in
creased the rate to Macon to $3.50. 40 a
car, which the dealers declare, simply
meas ruin to their business. The bulk of
the cost of fish to the consumer, as one
of them explained to a Morning News
reporter, is the freight, and the doubling
of the freight rate simply means that the
consumer win pay nearly double for his
fish, If that were all the fish dealers
would not have much to complain of, but
they know the consumers will not buv
fish at such high prices as will necegsa RI
ly follow the increase in rates and conse-
quentiy the dealers cannot do ANYTHING
like the business they have been doing
Fish is not only an important food com
modify in Savannah, but the wholesale
dealers do a very large business from Flor
ida points, both through Savannah and
Macon, so the question of rates is a very
important one both to the consumer and
the dealer. The dealers charge that the
unexpected increase IS que TO a deal be-
tween the Plant system and the Florida
Central and Peninsular railroad, BY which
the latter road is promised a share in the
express business out Of Tampa, which it
has heretofore been deprived Of and the
object of the heavy increase in freight
rates is said to be to compel the shipment
of the bulk Of the business by express in
stead of freight as heretofore.
Florida has no railroad commission,
the last Legislature having refused to
establish one. and the people of that
state, Capt. Purse says, are absolutely
at the mercy OF the railroads The
greater part of the haul from Tampa be-
ing in Florida the Georgia railroad com
mission is unable to remedy the situation.
This being the case there is no resource
but the interstate commerce commission
and it is before this body that Capt Purse
will appear. He will request the commits
sion TO hold a session at an early date
either in Savannah or Jacksonville for
the purpose Of hearing from all parties
Interested in this question. He has some
very good reasons for believing that his
request will be granted In this case he
viii take occasion 70 bring to the atten-
ten of the commission other alleged glar-
ing Determinations. injurious to the peo-
DIE of Florida and destructive Of their