The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-05
TO HEAR COMPLAINTS TO-DAY.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMITS
SION TO BEGIN IT'S SESSION.


Dortance to Savannah-Judge Bax-
ter of Nashville to Represent the
Railroads and Any Change in
Rates 10 he strongly OppOsed-The
Complaint Against the Louisville
and Nashville Likely to BE Heard
First-Cnpt. Purse Confident of Vic
tory.
The Interstate commerce commission will
meet in the United states court room a t
10 o clock this morning for the purpose Of
hearing the complaints pre- fcrred before it
some time ago by the Savannah freight bu-
reau.
This is the first time in the ten years Of
its existence that the commission has Wis
tied Savannah. The session is an impor-
tant one, both to the railroads and the
city The point involved in the complaint
of the fertilizer men Of discrimination
against Savannah In the making of rates
by the railroad systems in this section is
of vital importance to the railroads, as it
involves the whole question Of the making
of rates to competing points and over two
or mere allied lines. It is the
old question Of the long
and the short haul in a new guise, to-
gether with that of the right of the rail-
roads to conduct their own business in
their own manner without regard to the
effect upon the business of others.
There will probably be nothing new to
the members Of the commission in the
arguments submitted. The session is ap-
as an important one, judging from the
fact that all five will attend, which is
not usually the case at these hearings
-Four members of the commission arrived
yesterday by the Florida Central and Pc
ninsular train and are at the De Soto.
They are Hon. William r. Morrison of
Illinois, chairman; Hon. Judson c. Glenn
ents of Georgia, Hon. Hartin A. Knapp of
New York and Hon J. d. Yeomans of
Iowa. Hon. c. A. Prouty Of Vermont is
expected this morning
The commissioners are accompanied by
Mr.. Edward A. Mosely secretary, and
Mr.. John j. McAuliffe, both of Washing
ton. Mr.. Mosely is known to the older
business men here, having been a large
buyer of lumber for New York, and Bos-
ton previous to accepting the position Of
secretary of the commission, which posi-
ton he has held for ten years. Mr.. Nose
ly and the chairman of the commission,
Mr.. Morrison, are the only two now con-
nected with the commission who were
connected with II at its organization ten
years ago. The others have all died or
resigned
The position of a commissioner IS an
arduous one. and overwork has had
great deal to do with the many changes
which have occurred in the body in the
last decade
The commissioners hope to transact
their business here in three days, but
have arranged to spend four days here
if necessary. After leaving Savannah the
commission will spend one day in Jack
sonville and one in New Orleans.
The first case to come up to-day win
probably be the complaint against the
Louisville and Nashville railroad on ac-
count of the highly arbitrary and discrim-
mating rates in force on it's Pensacola
and Atlantic division. The character of
these rates and their effect have been
fully stated by the Morning News. Pro-
ducers and merchants on the line of the
Pensacola and Atlantic are barred from
business relations with merchants of Sa-
vannah and compelled to market their
products at Pensacola and New Orleans.
The naval stores men, both pro-
ducers and factors, are the
chief sufferers by these arbitrary rates,
the producers being barred from the chief
naval stores market, Savannah, and the
factors of Savannah on the other hand
deprived of profitable business.
Fourteen of the leading merchants and
naval stores producers along the line Of
the Pensacola and Atlantic railroad ar
rived in the city yesterday to give evil
dence before the commission in the hear
ing of this complaint. Their statements
of the situation bear out fully the state
ments made by Capt. Purse in his COM
plant to the commission
The Louisville and Nashville people, who
have persistently declined to alter their
rates, though urgently requested to do so
on more than one occasion, will
strongly oppose any change in
their rates. Mr.. S. r. Knott,
vice president of the Louisville and
Nashville, and Mr.. F. c. Shepard, general
freight agent for the southern lines of the
system, are here with their counsel, Judge
Il. d. Baxter OF Nashville Judge Baxter
is recognized as one of the leading railroad
counsel in the United States and has fire.
quently appeared before the commission.
He will also represent the railroads, in
the hearing Of the complaint of the fertil-
iZer men.
and their attorneys at the Office of Erwin,
duBignon & Chisholm Saturday after
noon. is said to have been for the purpose
of securing some compromise looking to
the withdrawal Of the complaints before
the commission.
Col. w. w. Gordon. president, and sew
eral of the directors of the freight bu-
reau, were called into consultation. They
were informed. it is said, that If the pres
ent policy Of the freight bureau should be
continued 1t would be ruinous to the rail-
roads and destructive to the business in
terests of Savannah. The railroad men
II is said, had no concessions of impor-
lance to offer and after discussing the
matter the representatives Of the freight
bureau declined to interfere with the
progress of the cases before the commits
sion.
Messrs. j. L. Coleman, p. d. Daughtry
c. w. Gwaitney Of Bombay; p. NJ. For.
roster N. A. Baker of Cypress; o. L.
williams of Pitts; J. r. McColsky ]. w
williams, V. y. Coleman. J. N. Daniel and
Obion and Carter of Chipley; J. II. God
win of Caryville and ]. r. Shumake OF
Cottondale, Fla, merchants and naval
stores producers from along the line OF
the Pensacola and Atlantic railroad. who
are interested in the hearing by the inter.