The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-29
n ENn The sEABOARD FIGHT.
4.INEs' LETTER TO THE
RAILROAD COMMISSION.

Freight and Passenger
p,,es within the state in the
Proportion That the
.,-b Rates Nay Be Reduced.
,-.-,-,.--ioner II. 5. Haines' letter TO
---.--rau Of the railroad commission,
s.-.-,a 10 the SaabOard Air Line cut,
-. .-oDosed action Of the railroad
omission, is Of interest not only 10
-sr-,,f. but to business men 1t Is as
-,,,-bern states Freight Association.
~ tbs Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga,
-. o. 7sss.-CoI. L. y. Trammel' Chair
p,rroad Commission of Georgia, At
-. ca: Dear Sir-I have the honor 10
-,.rovrl4dge the receipt Of your letter Of
DIST inst. enclosing copy Of your let
- the same date to Mr.. E. st. John,
' --.-fdent of the seaboard Air Line.
s-5 avail myself Of the earliest practical
=. ,a1ortunity TO make this reply.
~ ropr letter to Mr.. St. John you refer
-.F,,.tion by the Seaboard Air Line,
- afeetive on July Il, OF about thirty
80 p-r cent. in the through freight rates
- baltimore to Atlanta and to local
-.-.,,rs on that line, as well as TO a CORE
-15iua reduction in its through passen-
~ rates You express the opinion tnat II
80 reductions are continued without
Ike reductions in local rates Withln the
Ito ~ Georgia the effect VIII be ulSas-
--1e ~ the manufacturing enterprises and
c+bar industries IN the state, and that,
therefore. YOU feel compelled to give no
49, that the Georgia railroad commission
- under consideration the question OF
F=fafeF "a
go within the state in the same pro-
portion that the through rates may be re-
duced such reductions to be concurrent in
duration with the through reductions IN
question. -, -. 49,,
ASSOCIATION l desire to express their
thanks for this timely notice of your views
"a 10 the probable effect of the course
recently pursued by the management or
rba Seahoard Air Line upon the pros
ueritv of the interests to which you re-
far ana Of the policy which the railroad
commission, Of which you are chairman,
has under consideration in consequence.
This action of the Seaboard Air Line
was as much a surprise to its friendly
connections as to yourself. Although 1t
had ceased since February last to be
member of the Southern States Freight
Association, it had concurred IN MAIN
tenance OF the established freight rates
on connective traffic, and had express
ed no objection to the manner in which
those rates were being maintained by
its competitors
was. therefore, entirely unprepared
for the information which reached me
on July A. that the Seaboard Air Line
had filed with the Interstate Commerce
Commission a full set of tariff sheets,
effective July II, from Boston, Providence,
New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and
Virginia cities TO a number of compet-
tive points in North Carolina, South Car
DINA, Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee,
on average reductions OF 30 per
cent from the established rates. These
tariff sheets bore d statement that they
We're issued with the concurrence of the
connections of the Seaboard Air Line, but
almost simultaneously with their publ
cation notice was received from those
friendly connections that these reductions
in rates had been made without their
knowledge or consent, and that they would
not participate ins them. AS a conse-
quence, these reduced rates were only
applied between competitive points on the
Seaboard Air Line itself assisted by it's
allied line Of steamships between Balti-
more and Norfolk
The situation thus presented to the
arrangements of the transportation lines
serving the territory above described was
indeed serious. AT time when freight
rates on competitive traffic were so well
maintained that shippers had ceased to
expect any change in them, and were
basing their purchases and sales upon a
continuance of them, it suddenly appear
ed that few competitive points were
10 be especially favored to such an ex-
tent as graVely to disturb a situation
which had been carefully adjusted to
pace the commerce of these states on q
stable basis Of competition.
II was disturbance so grave as to re-
Qulre careful consideration by those upon
Whom the responsibility of meeting it. was
paced, and no step was taken by any one
OF them in advance of the conference
winch was called to meet in this city on
July 2. At that conference YOUR COM
muhication of the 2lst was considered,
ana 1t was determined to make no reduc-
uon IN the duly established rates until
an eHort had been made to induce the
oedooard Air Line to restore the rates
- 1uose hgures. Accordingly, a commit
zee was appointed of representatives Of
~ friendly connections to wait upon
we PRESIDENT st. John and ascertain
SndI grievances, if any, the Seaboard
N ~ Line mad against the transportation
mes IN this territory and if possible
10 orlng about such an adjustment OF
Saen as would result in a restoration of
rates by that line. Mr.. ST. Johns reply
"a9 vas made by letter of July %, as follows:
oo,+7! ogs 70 say to the committee that the
S Sori-l.IoIs surrounding freight and pas
senger rates as they at present exist in
~ ttI. 9oulh however undesirable the situa-
s goH may be to those whom we would de-
s smo 10 De on most friendly terms With.
;-- '4OAAS lOI winch the SeaDOard Air
N ..t, Is IN no way responsible
me southern railway, with seemingly
~ olAer object than that of destrovins
n on o'u me upon the Chesapeake bav. and
NY -I.ESttbshIaIy a great system of railroad
.TEHch furnishes to the south about ali
a.; Tue competition it has, has entered unon
~ 1ash, and the Bay and Seaboard Air
d5-tiles nave concluded, and thew could NOT
~ 99DIteIWlse and retain their self-resnect
~ ~ ueIend to the utmost their interests
boi5 inteIests of their stock and bond
CTS ana that of the people as well.
faeilj it3 oiQ lines upon the bay have ample
nosgitiie5S 70 handle all business that can
tbeI,' b:y De offered for years to come:
save uaVe the sympathy and patronage of
ind s,i.ttessss community in the east. north
9999'uph, with whom they have had most
one 1ly relations for fifty wears in fine
use, and a less number in fine Other
bo15n9 4Iiles, paying their stock and bond-
10 traE5.pou1t very moderately, have offered
me-, u1ladct the business of the Southern
are - ~ ecIsely the same terms which thew
ons Nv W Tansacting it for other Unes. and
Min these lines, the Merchants and
on T. Is the Southern's preferred Iina
ern So sSrliess from Boston, but the South
Il lfn1Srs'- NO. What does it expect to do?
can il, WIS perfectly well that its new line
b, its s.s run at a loss to itself. and thai
otbars iuuIllns 1t can but cause loss to the
tenf3 nm aAq knowing this, what is its in
stocl IHulng that it cannot purchase its
Bsv IN IN order that it may control the
ruin me II has seemingly PROMISED fo