The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-25
corroN DIscHMK NATIONS.


can't. Purse Brings he Matter>to the
,..cption of the CftOn Exchange.
conf D. C. Purse. q missioner of the
-....n-sh Freight ,Bueau, has brought
tier of the allded discrimination
~, fss rlilroads againstSavannah In the
.- # cotton rates, MENTION of which
,s made in yesterday Morning News,
-, the attention of hePotton exchange.
Nh Glowing letter, a{ressed by Capt
Dr. 10 President Divide of the cotton
s,-e,nee. was posted thre:
ssvgnnah Ca, Sept "A, 1S97.-Mr.
gorge W. Dwelle. President Savannah
c,r,or Exchange, Savannah, Ga: Dear
GA nun Der of complaints having been
ode 10 this bureau that cotton is reach
irg charleston and Wilmington from vari-
as .n.. nts in Georgia, notably Washing
,oo and Albany, at lower rates than ship
r,ents could be made to Savannah, beg
bs-.gg,tl 10 enclose you a copy of rule
= ,5.. rules Of the railroad commission Of
cs,rsia. governing the transportation Of
tra.orfo as amctded Dec. 9, 1896 to meet
ss.,,aftor lust such as is presented by
N. n~ssert complaints, that then existed
at Macon
The rule as amended, does not require
that the rates to the Georgia port shall
ba The same as to ports outside Of the
state from points in Georgia, but it per-
mis- the railroads ID shrink intra-state
rates so t. in thatparticular, II places
hn
IN rates as the outsid4 ports. The amend
r,srr shoIld have gone one step further
orl made il mandatBry to make the rates
La same. and not let this vital determin-
s,i5n TO The discretion of the railroads.
The railroad commission of Texas, to
which directed tIh attention of the rail
road commission If Georgia, in my late
argument urging the petition of your nom
orabIe body for areduction of p per cent
in rates on cottoj in Georgia, require of
The railroads of that state reasonable
and proper relation between intra-state
ana interstate raes. In all my presenta-
lions of this question to the railroad COM
mission of Georgia, l have failed to inn
press upon that honorable commission that
il was important for the interests of the
ports of this stae, and therefore, for the
people of Georgia, that they should rule
similarly upon this subject. On the basis
of these complaints, l shall again urge
this view before them at an early date.
In order, thatI may make the presenta-
ton of this view of the subject as strong
as possible. I beg that you request all,
who are affected by these Determinations
10 Immediately call the attendon of their
correspondents at Albany, Washington
and other places to the amendment made
to rule G. and have them request that
shipments to Savannah be placed upon the
same footing as shipments to Charleston
and Wilmington, and that these CORE
spondents be requested to report the re-
suit of this demand at once to them, and
that it be communicated to me, in order
that if this equitable demand for ship
menls TO Savannah be refused, l may
make such refusal the basis of complaint
to the railroad commission of Georgia.
Very truly yours, D. G. Purse,
Commissioner.
Rule as amended by the state railroad
commission last December provides that
when there are between any two points
in this state two or more competing roads
not under the same management or in the
same system, then the longer line or lines
in order TO give said points the benefit of
competition, may reduce the rates between
said two points below the standard tariff
without making a corresponding reduce
ton at all stations along the lines of the
said roads; or when a rate on cotton is
made to seaport out of the state, which
is less than the rate from the same point
10 the Georgia ports, the railroads shall
be authorized to meet said competitive
rate in like manner, as aforesaid: Pro-
vided, that before taking effect the pro-
posed change of rates shall be submitted
TO and approved by the commission.
Capt Purse takes the position that the
railroads should be required by the COM
mission to place their interstate rates on
the same basis with their interstate rates,
especially in a case like that of Savannah
where the port is at a disadvantage by
reason Of being in competition with ports
which are outside the state.