The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-08
E0rIcvT RATES DISCUSSED.
.xy4H's AND CHARLEsrON's
81 ,,spUTE FOR TERRITORY.

Manager smith of the Char
on Freight bureau Thinks II Is
oston and Not Savannah That
o.iuG DIFFERENTIATED Against.
purse GETS in some Interest,"
rvidence-RniIrOad Men Claim
~ competitive Rates Are Justi-
~ Circumstnnces-The Com
TIMERS Entertained at Thun-
derbOlt
Interstate commerce commission
Fl ,,rdsd its work in Savannah yester-
oO"' t,a two remaining complaints of the
gay ,n.b freight bureau being taken up
and the evidence heard.
1so attorneys in the complaints will be
n ,.n,sbed with copies of the evidence,
.+sr which they will prepare their briefs
~ submit them to the commission. The
mission will then consider the evil
. &c and arguments, after which they
In announce their decisions. AS the
omission is considerably behind with its
ror, il will be some time before the decis-
4 TINS will be received.
Tho complaint of the freight bureau,
charging the railroads with discrimina-
,tor AGAINST Savannah in the giving of
t,rtilizar rates which have the effect of
rl,cing Charleston and Wilmington in
large portion of savannah's territory on
,be same basis with Savannah. The com
rlaint which was read, specified number
Al points in this territory, which are a
Greater distance from Charleston than
from Savannah, to which Charleston ship
ners receive the same rates as Savannah
shippers, and many other points in savan-
nsb's territory to which Charleston and
Wilmington shippers receive lower pro-
portionate rates.
The reply of the railroads, made by
Judge Baxter, of Nashville, showed the
conditions of affairs as regard rates to
be somewhat different from that charged
In the complaint.
Mr.. A. L. Stokes, secretary of the freight
bureau, was put on the stand and testified
to several tables of rates as taken from
the published tariffs of the railroads, for
the purpose of showing that after the com
had changed their rates to conform to the
decision of the interstate commerce com
mission in the Social Circle case, basing
their answer to the complaint upon the
new rates, and that, after the answer had
been fled still another set of tariffs had
been issued.
Mr.. Gordon introduced several letters and
statements of shippers in support of the
allegations contained in the complaint. A
somewhat sensational feature of the case
was the Introduction by Mr.. Gordon of
three photograph copies of letters from
Mr.. l. A. Emerson. traffic manager of the
Atlantic Coast Line railroad. to Mr.. ].
s. Crews, general manager of the Albany
and Northern railroad, with reference to
cotton shipments, going to show a combi-
nation on the part of certain railroads
to secure freights to certain points at less
than the published rates.
The first letter was dated Charleston,
5. c, Oct g. 1895, and reads as follows: Il
beg TO acknowledge receipt of yours of the
10Th on my return from the north. have
seen Messrs. Lesesne & Wells and they go
into the Albany market again on the old
haSls' equalizing the rate as against Sa-
Vannah, and ten cents per bale"
Tne second letter from Mr.. Emerson to
Mr, Crews was dated Charleston, Nov. Q,
ana was as follows: II beg to acknowl-
cage receipt of yours of the 9Th, regarding
ao tons of fertilizer. / will take the mat
Ter up a once and see what / can do In
me mean time let me know what arrange
Ments, If any, are still in existence on
cotton from Albany, that l may report
contracts in effect to the Georgia rail-
road, whom you understand has gone into
me association again. Please consider
this as strictly confidential and give me
Inc information that 1 may report the
contracts"
Inc third letter is also in regard to AL
oany shipments, referring to a shipment
which was delivered to our road routed
to the care of the Central railroad. AS
stated to you in communica ton some
time ago. says Mr. Emerson's letter. we
should be pleased to join you in any rate
necessary to secure the shipments, the
routing of which you understand is con-
rolled in Albany. If you will give me
any information that will assist us in Sc
curing the shipments at this end we will
DO our utmost to secure for our Joint in
erest."
The possession by Capt Purse Of these
photograph copies was quite a surprise to
he railroad men.
MT. f. 3. Papy, general freight agent
u the Plant system, was put on the stand
- A'N@NNSis Nlls dpg tbSllUGu gem
rally as to the system in vogue with the
ailroads in making rates, the bases upon
'hieh such rates are calculated, especial
'ttention being given to rates to common
II competitive points. The rates COMPLAIN
d oil by the freight bureau were nothing
unusual he said; nor were they made with
ne intention of favoring other points at
ne expense of Savannah. Practically the
anne rates had been in existence for the
aSe ten years without material change.
MI Papy qualified this last statement.
loWever. Mr.. Papy, somewhat reluctant
y luehuned the signature of Traffic Man
ger l.. A. Emerson of the Coast Line
anIodd on Capt. Purses photograph let
er copies, which enabled Mr.. Gordon to
et lhese photographs in as part of the
yluehce No explanation was given bv
, ,t'I,c Furse as to how he obtained the
autographs
Irafiie Manager ]. NJ. Culp Of the
'outhern railway testified at some length
, 10 the making of rates to competitive
'oihts' the effect OF river and rail compe-
luon at various points, and other mat
crS OF interest in connection with rae
ldklng. zone existed, he said. includ-
w large portion of Georgia and Ala
anna and extending about to the line of
Ne georgia and Alabama railroad. which
'eiuaed number of common points to
.ucn the rates from Savannah and
narleston, were the same. II had grown
De law in railroad rate making. he
diu' that rates to nearly all common