Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-10-03
THE QUESTION OF RATES
Fully Discussed by the CON-
merciaI Club Directory.
TALKED OUT IN MEETlN'
Did Some of the Members Instances of Gar-
ing Discrimination Against Birming-
ham = In Shape for Action.


cial club met yesterday afternoon at $3.50
O'Clock, President NJ. V. Joseph in the
chair
Present, directors and members, were:
B. Steiner, George f. Wheelock, B. b. CO.
mer, James A. Ray, Major Frank Y An
derson, J. Morgan Smith, A. c. Reckling,
Rufus N. Rhodes, ]. Asa Rountfee and
Sig Steiner.
The minutes of the previous meeting
and also of the special meeting were
read.
Major Anderson asked that his name
be stricken from the minutes as chair
man of the committee on finance to ar
range for the entertainment of the Ala
bama Commercial association TO meet
next Wednesday, stating that the COM
mittee already had a chairman.
With this correction the minutes stood
approved.
Treasurer's Report.
The report of the treasurer was read.
1t showed a small balance in the treas
ury and all current expenses paid, the
entire Indebtedness of the club amount
ing to about 1920
Report of Special Committee.
The special committee appointed to
confer with the Young Mems Hebrew as
ISOLATION relative to leasing the rooms
of the club for the meeting of this asso-
citation, reported that they had made a
contract If acceptable to the club, of $2S
per month, payable monthly, for twelve
months, the club to furnish lights. Re-
port adopted and contract accepted.
Compliment to N. F. Thompson.
Mr.. j. Morgan Smith stated that he un-
derstood that Mr. N +. Thompson of
Jamestown, Pa, formerly secretary of
the club, was in the city and moved that
ne be extended the courtesy of the club
during his stay in the city, and that the
secretary be instructed to so notify him.
Carried.
Names of Members to Be Compiled.
Mr.. B. Steiner moved that the secre-
tary be instructed to compile and classi-
fly the members of the club, giving the
profession, business or avocation of each
member, and that the same be printed in
pamphlet form and copy furnished each
meber. Also, that the number of such
copies to be printed for distribution be
left to the discretion of the secretary.
Lease of Building.
Relative to the lease of the building
for another year there were some objec-
lions to certain features of the lease and
the matter was referred back to the COM
mitee on lease with instructions.
Alabama Commercial Association.
The president suggested that each
member of the club constitute himself a
committee of one to aid the financial
committee in arranging for the enter
tainment of the Alabama Commercial
association to meet here on the 18th. The
president announced that nice spread
would be prepared and the visitors would
be received in 'Birmingham's character
istic way of treating her guests.
The Matter of Freights.
Mr.. B. B. Conner called the attention
of the club to the discrimination being
made against Birmingham as well as
other cities in the state by the railroads
entering the state, and in favor of COM
petitve points, and read the following eX-
tract from a recent issue of the Atlanta
Constitutions
Jobbers Complain.
1.-THE st. Louis merchants are trying to
compete with Texas jobbers in Texas, and
the interstate commerce commission has
been in session in St Louis investigating
the situation. The trouble is that the
rates on less than carload lots are much
higher In proportion than carload rates
are. This is an advantage to the st.
Louis manufacturers, but operates
against the st. Louis merchants.
Mr.. Hagerman, counsel for the Kan
sas, Texas and Pacific, said that the
Texas railroad commission was at the
bottom of the whole trouble, and that
the rates complained of have been
brought about largely by the demand
of such Texas jobbing centers as Dallas,
Fort Worth, San Antonio and Houston,
which demands have been resisted at all
times by the large commercial centers
located outside of the state, particularly
New Orleans Memphis, st. Louis, Kansas
City and Chicago. The present adjust
ment was the result of a compromise be-
tween these conflicting interests.
THE situation is an interesting one to
all large jobbing points, and the state
ment of Mr.. Hagerman throws light on
the subject.
Just to show what difficult customer
the Texas railroad commission is to deal
with, Mr.. Hagerman quoted from it's
fourth annual report recital that since
the commissions existence its constant
effort has been to secure such a differ
ence between interstate rates on carload
and less than carload lots as to enable
Texas jobbers and manufacturers to sue
cessfully compete with those outside the
state. And the Texas commission con-
graduates itself that 1t has succeeded
in impressing its views on the Southwest
ern Traffic association, but the Texas
commission was not satisfied with con-
cessions received from that association.
and to further advance Texas interests
promulgated tariff extending the dis
manufacturers can ship goods in less
manufacturers can ship goods n less
than carload quantities in competition
with outsiders. For instance. the carload
rate from st. Louis to Dallas on wire
and nails is 5S cents; the rate on less than
carloads from st. Louis to a point TWEEN
ty-five miles distant from Dallas Is 90
cents. To give Texas jobbers an inside
advantage, the Texas commission made
the rate from Dallas to the point twenty
five miles out 10 cents, which, added to
the carload rate to Dallas Of IS cents.
made a total of n cents, at which the
Texas merchant could reach his Gus
toner against 90 cents for the st. Louis
merchant"
Mr.. Conner said that 1t is a fact that this
rate of freight on the same class of goods
from Nashville to Sheffield is 10 cents per
hundred, while from Birmingham to Shelf
field 1t is IS cents per hundred, notwith-
standing the distance from Sheffield to
Nashville is nearly twice the distance
from Birmingham to Sheffield We desire
that the Commercial club direct the atten-
tion of the Railroad commission to this
fact
Under such conditions, and I only take
the Sheffield rate as an illustration" said
Mr.. Conner, Birmingham jobbers cannot
compete with Nashville and other points
outside of the state when they have
freight protection. We have a governor
and legislature elected that is without
the pale of railroad influence and / he
lieVe with the proper efforts we nap cot