The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-29
HAS ACCOMPLISHED NOTHING.
WHAT A FERTILIZER MAN SAYS OF
THE REDUCTION IN RATES.

Points Which Were Before Compel
ing With Savannah, Have Also
Had Their Rates Reduced, and the
Situation Is On the Same Old Foot
fng-The Farmer May Get His Fer
tiIizers n Little Cheaper-The Pro-
test of the Security Holders.
Where 1t Hurts the Railroad EN-
pIOyes and What One of Them Says
About 1t.
According to the manufacturers and
shippers of fertilizers, as well as the rail-
road men interested the state railroad
commission has accomplished literally
nothing by its reduction of twenty per
cent on intra-state handling of fertilizers
by transportation companies, and as
means Of putting the Georgia fertilizer
men or Georgia farmers on the same basis
with those Of other states, the plan they
say has been failure.
so far as beneftting our business is
concerned said a prominent dealer in
fertilizers yesterday, 1.-THE reduction has
accomplished nothing. While the rate out
of Savannah is lower by 20 per cent, a
corresponding reduction has been made
from all of the points at which we had
competition, and we are thus put right
back where we were before.
The railroads before the reduction han
died fertilizers from Charleston, for IN
stance to some point in Georgia as Albany,
at the same rate that was charged from
Savannah, though Savannah is lis miles
seemed unfair, and it was this feature for
which we desired a remedy. A reduction
of the rate from Savannah, however, did
not bring it about, for the railroads out
of Charleston have made a proportionate
reduction, so that the same rates on the
product from Charleston and Savannah to
interior points in Georgia still prevail.
THE only thing that has been accom-
plished so far as l can see is that the far
mer will get his supply of fertilizers at a
reduced cost, and for that reason the con-
sumption may be larger. But so far as
Savannah is concerned and the manufac-
turers of fertilizers here no benefit ac-
crues to them by reason of the reduction.
There are many other things that have
been said upon the subject, and it is one
that is going to be productive of hard
fight before a final settlement of the
question. The state railroad commission
of course, has no control of interstate
business, and they cannot take any &C
ton with regard to the rates from
Charleston, Port Royal Mobile, Mont
gomery and other points engaged in the
extensive manufacture of fertilizers. The
rates from all of these points to common
points in Savannah's proper territory were
reduced at once to meet the reduction
made by the railroad commission, which
makes it Gear to the fertilizer men that
nothing whatever has been accomplished
so far as their business is concerned,
AS the Morning News stated yesterday
the security holders of many of the lines
in the state have begun to get uneasy,
and there is little doubt that they will
take some action in the matter. An APP
plication for relief directed to the United
States court has been talked of, and it
may be that this course will be pursued.
The action of the commission in reducing
the rates has been characterized by rail-
road people, and owners of railroad secu-
rites as unwarranted and outrageous,
and If there is any way around 1t they
say they are not going to submit to it,
Every reduction in rates of this kind
takes away just so much from the earning
power of the property, and thereby re-
duces its ability to pay its fixed charges
and obligations, and keep the property in
good condition. This is what is worrying
the security holders, and they are antici-
pating losing their interest if the commits
sion keeps on putting down rates. The
presentation of the matter to the courts
will undoubtedly bring about an interest
ing situation.
The trouble with the railroad employees
in Georgia, those of other roads as well
as the Central, is that they fear the
losses will all be taken out on them. A
railroad clerk, in writing of the matter
from their standpoint, says:
1T is the same old story Capital will
not suffer; it is the wage-worlker that
pays for all reductions in rates and con
sequent decrease in freight revenue A
wholesale reduction, of say 10 per cent. in
salaries on the Central will fully off
set the loss in earnings by the fertilizer
rates being so materially reduced. And
really what has the reduction in the
rates on this commodity accomplished?
Literally nothing. Fertilizers are being
moved from coast points to the interior,
both interstate and intrastate, at the
same rates. Charleston, Port Royal, Mont
gomery, New Orleans and Mobile are
meeting the reduced rates and shipping
as heavily as in previous seasons. Appa--
emily the Georgia railroad commission
has accomplished comparatively nothing,
in so far as protecting home enterprises;
except to add additional capital to itch
fertilizer manufacturers and mauipula.
tors in Georgia, and make them richer
out of the scanty earnings of the poorly
paid and Woodworking railroad employees
1T is TO be hoped that the commission
will view the matter in its proper light
and prevent distress, privations and pos
sibly suffering to a class of men who,
morally, deserve far more protection than
heavily capitalized and money-makins
fertilizer manufacturers and dealers"
-S-Ge-s
The Hot Springs of Arkansas.
Owned by the United States government