The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-01
FIGHT FOR EQUITABLE RATES.
THE FREIGHT BUREAUS WORK
FOR SAVANNAH's COMMERCE..

Capt. Purse Says He Has Further Ev-
fdence of n Conspiracy Against
Savannah by the Railroads.&c.
veIOping Determinations in the
Cotton Rates-He Thinks the Pros
pect Is For n General Reduction
I'm Rates by the COmmission-The
Railroads on the Qui Vive on Ac-
count of the Coming Session of the
Interstate Commerce Commission
in Atlanta.
The complaint of the Savannah Freight
Bureau to the state railroad commission
of discrimination in cotton rates by the
railroads, is proving a big subject. The
Southern railway has been brought into
it now, and the probabilities are that
other railroads will be brought into the
case before the hearing is concluded.
Some of the railroads are badly wor-
ried because Capt. D. G. Purse seems to
have unearthed a system of rate cutting
and discrimination against Savannah
which has been going on for years, and
they do not see how they are to avoid
facing the music The case was not
heard by the railroad commission Friday
because the railroads wanted more time
in which to prepare themselves on the
Athens case, and Capt Purse wanted to
have both the Athens and Albany com
plants heard at the same time. The hear
ing was deferred until Nov. II.
AS already stated, Mr.. w. C. Glenn of
Atlanta has been engaged by Capt. Purse
to represent the freight bureau in the
hearing of this case. Ordinarily, Capt
Purse feels fully competent to present his
own cases to the commission, but this is
matter of such Importance that he con-
sidered it advisable to have a legal asso-
ciate.
Capt. Purse returned from Atlanta yes
terday morning. He is very we'll pleased
with the status of his complaint because
he says, he is developing new evidence
every day in support of his charges. The
facts of the Athens complaint have al
ready been given in the Morning News.
They are, in the main, that Athens ship
pers are given an advantage of IA cents
hundred pounds in shipping cotton by
any other port than Savannah, at the ad-
vertised rates. Capt Purse believes that
still further, and that shippers from
Athens are allowed a lower rate still in
shipping to Norfolk and Charleston.
AS an instance of the discrimination,
which is being openly practiced
against Savannah, Capt. Purse
quoted to Morning News re-
porter the rates now in existence
from Augusta to Norfolk and Savannah.
The puD4-~44eu rates from Augusta to Sa-
vannah and Norfolk are "a cents to Nor
folk and Is cents to Savannah, including
cents for delivery at shipside at each
port. The rates actually in existence at
present are 1872 cents to each port with
cents additional for shipside. This puts
Norfolk, AT miles from Augusta by the
shortest route, on the same footing with
Savannah, only 11S miles distant by the
shortest route, on Augusta shipments
AS Norfolk is able to make a lower
ocean rate than Savannah it will be seen
that it is out of the question for Savan-
nah merchants to get any Augusta cotton
This is a case where distance cuts no fig
ure and rates are made which will insure
big cotton receipts for one port. Capt !
Purse is of the opinion that the Southern
railway has an object In view in making
the cotton receipts at Norfolk as large
as possible this season in order that a
favorable showing may be made in the
annual report This, he thinks, might
help the company to float some of the
last issue of bonds which are still in its
treasury.
The members of the Savannah Cotton
Exchange are thoroughly aroused by the
showing made by Capt. Purse. They real
ize that Savannahs position as a cotton
port is threatened by this action on the
part Of the railroads and that unless it is
broken up the port will suffer severely.
This conspiracy has been going on for
years." said Capt. Purse. "It was COW
cred up by the assertion that the differ |
ences in rates was due to rebates given
by the brokers at other ports, which the |
Savannah brokers would not give. There |
was probably something in this but 1
have shown now that the discrimination |
in rates is greater than the brokers could |
possibly afford to give, and which could !
only be made by the railroads themselves. |
This conspiracy has become more far
reaching every year, until this year we |
have felt its effects more severely than |
ever before"
There is probability that there will be |
a general reduction In cotton and other |
freight rates before long.
''As soon as the commission can get |
some of the pressing business off its |
hands," said Capt. Purse at will under |
take a general revision and reduction OF |
all freight rates to conform to the de- |
creased values of all raw products"
The fact that the interstate commerce |
commission will hold a session in Atlanta |
next month is said to be worrying the /
railroad men in Georgia no little. Os- |
tensiby, the commission comes to Geor. |
gia to dispose of some old business, but |
there is no telling what it may take up |
after 1t gets here. 1t is only recently that |
the interstate commerce commission Wis |
tied the west and gave the railroads there |
such a shaking up as they had never be- |
fore received in their history.
Capt. Purse is in hopes That the com. |
mission will appoint a date for hearing |
the complaints which he has made to IL |
in Savannah. The annual meeting of the |
freight bureau will be held Tuesday. The |
principal business before the meeting win |
be the election Of a board of directors. |
and the reading of the commissioners an. |
nual report