The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-10-30

70 near INC x6llrO6O men buu Osuofb
Interested in the question of fertilizer
rates. The hearing will be held some
time in November, the date not having
been decided upon.
The Commission held q meeting last
week in Columbia, at which Commits.
sioner Thomas introduced the follow
ing resolution and made remarks
upon it, which are published below:
"I move that the Board of Railroad
Commissioners invite the traffic man.
ayers of the several railroads and the
Fertilizer men from each of the mills
in the State to assist us in fixing a
just and reasonable rate, making such
adjustment as commercial changes re-
quire to preserve our territory to our
factories and mines and give the peo-
pie the benefit of healthy and equita-
bla competition"
Upon this Mr.. Thomas said: Mr..
Chairman: There is an old adage
"That thing is never settled until it
is settled right" I protested against
of this Board last year and / have the
after fair trial of saying to you gentle
men, "[ told you so." The rate against
which I protested was in my opinion
unjust and illegal. In order to show
this beg to review the whole matter.
The demand for a reduction in the
rate came first from large mercan-
tile firm in Anderson who manufacture
and handle fertilizers extensively; they
asked for reduction of 25 per cent.
in the interest of the farmers. Then
comes DR.. Robertson, of the Globe
Phosphate Works in Columbia, and
asks for so per cent. reduction. on
account of his great interest in tho
farmer and because cotton seed en-
joyed low rate. DR.. Robertson ad-
veitised for petitions to be sent into
the Railroad Commissioners Office ask
ing for reduction. His advertisements
filed one-quarter page in ench issue of
the Cotton Plant for nearly, if not
quite, year and not u single petition
ever came into this office except from
one merchant at "Honea PATH" and
resolution from meeting of the State
Alliance asking that the rates between
fertilizers and cotton seed be equalized.
This proves that there was no dissatis-
faction with the old rate, which had
been fixed by agreement between the
Commission of 1891. the traffic mana
gers of the railroads and for fertilizer
manufacturers, after days of discussion
in the effort to put all sections of our
State on parity, tho ono with the
other, and the fertilizer business had
adapted itself to that rate.
so1l
able" as the law required in proof of
this. In making rates we classify all
commodities that are related to each
other in regard to weight, bulk and
value. Compare corn, grits and meal
in bags with fertilizer in bags. These
commodities are practically of the same
weight, bulk and value. The rate on
corn, grits and meal in bags for the
average haul in this State, which is 70
miles, is is $3.50. The rate on fertil-
izer in bags, 20 mile haul, was 80. 10,
reduced to SLIGO. Fertilizer was given
the 81. 10 rate and put in a class by it.
self, because the consignor and con-
signee do the loading aad unloading,
for which the Commission allowed SO
cents ton.
tried to find ont the motive for
reduction aud offered O resolution.
'"That this Board give reasons tor the
extraordinary cut Of rates on fertiliz-
ers, since fertilizers were then below
parity with all analogous commodi-
ties" See page As, November 9Th.
minutes.
The resolution received no second
and the chairman of the Board object
ed to its being spread on the minutes,
saying it was reflection on the Board.
replied that I meant no reflection,
but simply offered one of the wise
rules of the Interstate Commission, q
rule which gives publicity and prevents
the Board doing any arbitrary or unjust
act under cover Of darkness. l found
fault with tho chairman of the Board
for a letter written by himself, on
page 144, in our letter book, to the fer
tilizer firm in Anderson, giving this
firm information that the fertilizer
rate would be reduced before the re-
duction was considered The letter
bears date May 23d, and on September
4th the Board invited the railroad Off
cials, tho fertilizer manufacturers, the
mercantile firm and all others interest
ed to a discussion Of tho rate. Page 33
minutes. The invitation to discuss the
rate after the chairman had committed
majority of tho Board in writing to
reduction appeared to me to be trifling
with great and vital Interests, for the
records showed that nine railroads in
this State were unable, with economi
cal management, to pay their operat.
ing expenses working the $2.1O rate.
On these nine roads the records show
ed deficit of $155, 1870. The law