The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-19
THE COMMISSIONS INVOKED.
SAVANNAH WANTS A SQUARE DEAL
BY THE RAILROADS.

The Attention of the Interstate Com
merce Commission Called to the
Passenger Rates of the Charleston
and Savannah RailrOads-The
Rate of Fare Higher Than the Law
AIIOws-Capt. Purse Charges That
Cotton Is Carried Away From sa-
vannah by Means of Rebates Given
by RaiIrOads--Tbe State RaiIrOad
Commission VIII Hear This Com
! plant Thursday.
Capt. D. G. Purse, commissioner Of the
Bureau Of Freight and Transportation, has
filed a complant~with the interstate com
merce commission against the Charleston
and Savannah railroad charging discrim-
nation against Savannah in its passenger
rates between Charleston and Savannah.
On account OF the line complained of
| being located in two states Capt. Purse
was unable to secure the desired remedy
through the railroad commissions of Geor-
gia and South Carolina, and found it nee
essary to carry the matter to the inter-
state commerce commission. In his com
plant, Capt Purse charges discrimina-
ton against interstate travel and in favor
Of intrastate travel and backs his charges
up with interesting figures
As has already been shown in the Morn
ing News, a peculiar system of rates has
prevailed on the Charleston and Savannah
! railroad. In spite of the fact that the limit
| for passenger fare allowed on frst-class
lines by the Georgia railroad commission
is only 3 cents per mile, and that allowed
by the South Carolina commission only
3s4 cents per mile, the company has regu-
larly charged for years past a rate of 4
cents per mile, making the fare for the
distance of 115 miles between Savannah
and Charleston, $3.50 At the same time
the local rates We're based on a less rate
and by buying a ticket from Charleston
to some point on the line, Hardeeville for
instance, and then buying a ticket to Sa-
vannah, considerable saving could be
effected.
The South Carolina rate was formerly
49, cents a mile. Calculating the distance
in South Carolina at 312 cents q mile and
that in Georgia at cents mile, the
proper rate would have been 1898 for a
ticket from Savannah to Charleston, or
vice versa. Several months ago the maxi
mum rate per mile in South Carolina was
reduced to 81 cents, but no change was
made in its rates by the Charleston and
Savannah. After Capt. Purse began his
fight however, a reduction of 20 cents
was announced, making the rate $40 in
stead of $3.50. This is still II cents above
the legal rate, $3.69. 1t is to correct this
alleged irregularity in the rates on this
road that Capt. Purse has appealed to the
interstate commerce commission. Not
only is the through rate between the two
cities in excess of the legal rate, he says,
but the local rates on the line are out
of joint The fares charged from Charles
ton to points on the line of the road, he
says, are proportionately higher than the
rates charged from Savannah to the same
points.
The complaint preferred by Capt. Purse
to the Georgia railroad commission on
the subject of secret rebates by railroads
in this state, by which cotton is taken
out of Savannahs territory and carried
to other ports, mention of which was
made in yesterdays Morning News, is
naturally of considerable interest here.
1t was evident from the manner in
which cotton was being routed from AL
bany and other points in South Georgia,
that something was wrong, but there was
no proof that secret rebates were being
made. Capt. Purse set to work and Saws
he has secured evidence that this was be-
ing done. He presented his evidence to
the transportation committee of the cotton
exchange, and was Immediately request
| ed by that committee to take steps to pre-
| vent such Illegal action on the part of tire
| rail- Dads.
The complaint presented by Capt. Purse
| seems to be a strong document and it is
| SAID that the evidence which will be pre-
serted to back it up, is liable to create
| stI: in railroad circles in this state. Thou
| sands of bales it is said, which should
| ha 5e come to Savannah, have already been
ca1rieo to other ports this season, by
means of this unjust discrimination. The
| commission has set the hearing of the
| complaint for Thursday.
Other causes, however, have been as
| signed for the fact that much of the COT
| ton that should come to Savannah is 60
! ihg to other ports. Many claim It is due
! to the higher ocean freight rates from Sa-
| Yanlah, and there are other causes given.
| The question is one which appears to have
many sides to it, and the hearing before
| the commission will undoubtedly prove
! quite interesting.