The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-06-12
MELON RATES
MUCH TOO HIGH.
THE COMPLAINT OF THE MELON
AND FRUIT GROWERS.
The Growers and the Railroads Havo
u Hearing Before the Interstate
Commerce Commission.


Wednesday in t,.xlng testimony in Co.
lnmbia in the United States court
room in tho matter of the complaint of
the Melon and Fruit Growers Associ-
alton, and OF the State Railroad Com
mission against the rates charged by
the railroads for transporting melons
and fruits to the Northern and Eastern
markets. Only one member OF the
Commission, the Hon. J. G.. Clements,
formerly Congressman from the State
of Georgia, came, and the Secretary
was on hand. The stenographic testi-
mony was carried back to Washington
by Commissioner Clements. There
was a notable gathering of railroad
men present. There was Mr.. Hen
dersop, general counsel of tho
Southern Railway system; Messrs.
Culp and Drake. also of the
Southern; Mr.. Emerson, of the South
Carolina and Georgia road; Judge j.
II. Hudson, of the South Carolina
Pacific; Colonel Gadsden and Mr.. p.
II. Gadsden, of the Charleston and
Savannah railway; Mr.. Craig, of the
Port Royal and Western Carolina
road; Colonel Averill, receiver of the
Port Royal and Augusta road; Colonel
Cardweil, of the Southern; Mr.. Barron,
Of the Coast Line; Railroad Commits
sioners Thomas, Evans and Wilborn,
with their secretary, Colonel Duncan;
Major Barker, Col. Mike Brown, of
the Carolina Midland, and others.
Attorney General Barber was on hand,
appearing on behalf of the railroad
commission, and Mr.. Charles Carroll
Simms appeared for the Growers AS
sociution, Others present were Messrs.
Joseph Keitt, L. S. Williams, of Mo-
Meta, and the complainnnts in the case
of the Growers Association.
The complaint ofthe growers alleged
that the rates charged last season were
unjust, unreasable ard excessive, and
in violation of the provisions of the
United States act regulating commerce.
The complaint further alleged that
"neither said rates nor any other rates
than such as are just, reasonable and
lawful under said act, should be put in
force and charged over the Defendants
lines during the coming and subsequent
seasons for the shipment and transt
portation of melons between the points
aforesaid. And petitions over that
without the intervention of your hon
orable commission, and the protection
guaranteed compliments and others
like e-circumstanced, under the afore-
said act to regulate interstate COM
merce, and due and Just enforcement
by your honorable commission, thut
said defendants will not make such
just, reasonable and proper tariff rates
for the ensuing melon season as will
make the watermelon industry mutual
ly advantageous and profitable to all
parties engaged in the growing and
handling thereof"
growers lust year, under the rates
charged, did not realize so per cent.
of the actual cost Of production OF tho
melons shipped; the rate actually alb
sorbing the gross proceeds realized
from the sale of the melons; that the
roads delay the shipments, causing
melons to decay, with total loss to tho
shippers. Freight is often overcharged; !;
that freight has to nc prepaid: that the
melon business comes at the idle sea-
son Of the railroads. Discrimination
in fnvor Of truck farmers is charged.
The requests is made that latter
due hearing ana Investigation, an
order may be made commenting and
requiring Said defendants to cease and
desist from said violation of said act
to regulate commerce rs aforesaid, and
compel them to charge and exact
such rates only for the transportation
of melons i'll carloads between the
points aforesaid, as may upon such in
vestigatiOn be found to he Just. reason
able, lawful and undiscriminnting, and
for such other and further ORDER or
orders and relief rs the conn. Ission
may deem necessary in the premises,
and for the protection of the com
plainants and other producers. buyers
and shippers i'll the said State of South
Carolina, and the fostering and up
building of IN industry Of great value
and profit to the citizens of the State,
as well as to the defendants, how about
to be stiiled as aforesaid by the unjust,
unr eae enable and discriminating
freight exgctions Of defendant atore-
said"
The toofd of railroad commissioners
also filed compliant on behalf OF tho
interests involved, making practically
the same allegations.
Mr.. II. :. Williams, of Monetta,
who had been growing melo rs for eight
years, WAS the first man to take the
stand. The average cost of producing
car load of melons, he said, was $l2.
He gave the details of the expense g..
This did not include accidents and
ravages Of melon diseases. Sometimes
the cost was greater. He shipped to
Baltimore ana Philadelphia lie cited
several instances of heavy losses. The
Growers Association, of which he was
nrnsidcnt did not nttemnt To rennlate q