The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-05
COTTON CARRYING CHARGES.
THE LOWER FREIGHT RATE CASE
HEARD AT ATLANTA.

tOrneys-Capt. Purse and MIR. Brew
er Present the Claims of the Ship
Ders-The Roads Deny Their AbiIi-
ty to Stand the Proposed Reduce
ton.
Atlanta, Ga, Aug. 4-The hearing be-
fore the railroad commission on the prop
osition to reduce cotton rates % per cent.
on al; roads in this state began this MORN
ing in the Senate chamber.
All the commissioners were present and
the roads were represented by high traffic
officials, executive officers, and attorneys.
The proposition was elaborated on both
sides and the statistical information intro
duced by the railroads and the movants
was probably the most copious and COM
prehensive ever presented to the Georgia
commission.
The reduction asked for involves some
100000 to the roads and consequently they
came prepared to put up a strong protest.
On the other side the petitioners, led by
Capt. D. C. Purse of the Savannah freight
bureau, were fortified with arguments, in
dorsements and traffic data, well calculat-
ed to make it a serious situation for the
roads
W. H. Brewer of Griffin, who filed the
original application, opened for the NOV
ants and began by introducing as a wit
ness Vice President w. w. finley of the
Southern railway. AS the questions re-
lated TO the cost of rolling stock. Mr.. Fin
ley referred Mr.. Brewer to F. S. Cannon
the third vice president of the Southern,
who went into details in that department,
going to show that it cost as much to haul
cotton now as it did ten years ago, which
is against the position taken by the ap-
plication.
Then the investigation came down to a
comparison of rates charged for the evil
dent purpose of showing discrimination.
J. NJ Cup, traffic freight manager of the
Southern railway testified in this connec-
ton that the rate from Griffin to SaVan-
nan was Al cents last year. The rate to
Norfolk was AZ cents. Mr. Brewer asked
II lower rate was not given on through
cotton to New Hampshire, and Mr.. Culp
said no"
In reply to Commissioner Forts ques-
ton, Mr.. Culp said the difference of 6
cents higher to Norfolk over the Savan-
nah rate applied to all Georgia points.
The distance, he said was 300 miles great
er to Norfolk than to Savannah
tal would not tend to move cotton to Nor
land.
Mr. Culp thought not. There was some
increase last year, but that increase was
not regular.
Judge Fort asked if the low rate was
not small for the purpose of dverting cot
TO to Norfolk
MI Culp said the differential was agreed
upon by board of arbitration as a lower
,onolnauon to Europe is by the South
Alanuc ports. The maximum difference
ogl"een rates from Norfolk to Liverpool
a'L from Savannah to Liverpool
Is Is ~ cents per 100 pounds. The cents a
nuhured differential would in nearly all
GO protect the combination via the
south Atlantic ports.
Mr, Brewer asked if cotton was not ship
w NJ. rom l, Macon to Norfolk for % cents.
VI Oulp thought not, but could not
a'ale positively. He stated that the road
Was not hunting cotton to take it from
'gsup 70 Norfolk at q cents.
nI' Esan, vice president of the Cen
49, 'i was put on the stand and asked
AMI, Cul rates from Macon, but denied
ny knowledge of it. whereupon Mr.
H'e"er naively remarked that IL was the
saw 0'U hien ne ever
Ut glr. hrewer asked questions about the
'tsdhHa ton Of the Central but got
EQ9n.
"- MS questions was in effect a state
~ lHdl Messrs. Thomas and RYAN got
49, oVuth Carolina roads as comnensa.
c., 'heir services in reorganizing the
hl'er hearing these witnesses the rail
i' submitted their arguments I'm writ
o-t" t" Wd!Ved the reading of them The
d,.-NHIlSslon Will take the documents ana
az m az leisure. They are elabor-
't4ustlcal arguments. showing de-
s,0 earnings and intended to demon
ro. c NIa' the railroad companies can
r 3"'lu such a reduction as that pro-
'Isea without being bankrupted
e,i' W. answer Of the Southern Railway
Ia. req ny Vice President w w Fin
~, 'oihparison Is made between cotton
d. N'n ana grain rates in the west
ro,1s 'ne position that the western
er5 pay on $4,000 pounds of Grain
Donna r'in roads can only pack 10000
MS ' cotton In a car In addition 10
r,, nows the greater weight Of tho
saa.,,,.,,. "neat crops per acre and n con-
M r.,E -ieater traffic per mile OF line
duct.,, ,iNes the position that the re-
fmi II y. 'he rate on cotton would re-
nd f. Iously TO the farmers In the
fs-. r ll OF benehtting them ne in
a... .'' lt would arouse antagonisr,
b. tHo ro.l3an oo,,on ana a fan in prices would
v4#' p g. Purse took up his argrr,or,
represented
Nar, l'",I9 of Georgia as well as tbo g.
dua. l..-nt Bureau, and would pro-
Prominent OF attorney from
ao,r. planters I'm n number
u ab.,,. lie offered the Signatures
pora E..,. Il. .g leadine farmers. headed by
iat.ur.I u president OF the State Az
li,. f,. society. and one OF me candi-
, - M. governor; ana l.. A. Jordan said
'Hrs. r... 't0ai planter In Goorria cont
lr.vr.,.,ll au elaborate brief Of SEVENTY
0a io .rti pages, disclaimlng anv intcn.
a, t,r5i.,, 'no railroads ana dociarinp
-o'..fIor won was as necessary for tbetr
sum,a, o. ior that OF the public lie
H..... 1pled several hours. Whom 4,
10. aIg. .ll' Soe commission took tho case q
aa .' r.y Dee some time before tho
POD I. reached n "a redpct'o, ,le
a.r.. ','d. win carry tho caso toio o
ss %. th,y are emphatic 'e in mo no
I.. .''t tho condition of tbc In.
r....'. ..no snoh i heavy lnrosI i' nao, i'',,
aaIo.'. .Aors has boan no iit,i, u,3h ..iii
o.. .a..,''.loe 'le ca.o. some of tbe r,o,SA 5,,A
.H HsnlHnHutft, a. ''i-"