The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-08
FERTILIZER CUT IN FORCE.
RAILROAD COMMISSION REFUSES
TO REVOKE IT'S ORDER.

The Decision Looked Upon as a
Great Victory for the Fertilizer
'Men and Capt. Purse-The saving
to Each Farmer WIN Not Exceed
10 Cents-The Loss to the Georgia
Rond Estimated Mt 100000 and to
the southern and Central at About
$3O,OOO Each.
Atlanta, Ga, Jan. THE result Of the
rehearing of the fertilizer rate case before
the state railroad commission was vic
tory for the fertilizer manufacturers, and
Capt Purse of the Savannah Freight Blu
reau, who represented them against the
combined legal ta.ent of the railroads of
the state. This morning the commission
met and discussed the matter fully, after
which they decided that the order max
ing the 20 per cent. general cut issued some
time ago shall remain In force.
The railroads after the Issuance of the
order succeededf in getting the commission
to rehear the case that they might have
another chance to make a showing that
would prevent the big slash in their reve-
nues. This second hearing, which was
concluded yesterday, was one of the most
formidable fights the railroads have ever
made before the Georgia commission.
They claimed that the 20 per cent reduc-
ton, which had been ordered, and which
would not materially benefit any body in
particular, would cost the roads of the
state $25O0OO, or thereabouts. This heavy
slice of the income would be taken out
within the short space Of few months,
as the fertilizer shipments are all made
during the spring. The Georgia road
showed that it would lose at least $4,000
the Southern $50, 900 and the Central near
~ that much. Other lines made show
ing or similar losses, and argued to show
that the reduction would not amount to
more than Is cents to each farmer In the
state using fertilizers, an amount not
worth considering, while it would
De heavy blow to the railroads. The
manufactures. it was shown, would not
get the benefit of the reduction because
they sell subject to the rate of freight ad-
ded to the price of the goods The rail-
road commission, however, is of the opin-
fore sustained their former ruling.
1t was thought yesterday after the hear
ing that the railroads had succeeded in
making such strong case that the cut
would at least be modified.
1t may be that the railroads will resist
the reduction in the courts. There has
been talk of this kind all along, some of
the fertilizer men claiming that the real
purpose of the rehearing was to secure
testimony with which to make out a case
in the courts on the ground that the re-
duction was unjust and unfair to the rail-
roads, not having been granted upon any
legitimate showing by the complainant
The application for the reduction came up
fIom Savannah through Commissioner d.
G. Purse of the freight bureau, but subse-
quertly all the leading fertilizer manufac-
turers of the state joined the petition. The
fight was brought on by the action of the
South Carolina railroad in getting a
through rate to Georgia points, viii n
made 1t possible for Char.e ston concerns
to uLGersell Georgia manufacturers in
their own territory, the Charleston manu-
farturers having the advantage of the
Georgia manufacturers through the close
proximity of the phosphate supplies usel
in the manufacturer of fertilizer The
fisht of the railroads against the cut was
one of the hardest and most stubborn ever
maoc before the Georgia commission.
To- day there has been no talk among the
railroad men of getting an injunction to
prevent the enforcement of the order, but
nothing has materialized along the line as
yet.
Following is the official order of the
commission. which means a great deal to
fertilizer dealers in Savannah, as 1t en-
ables them to get into territory that other
wise they would be shut out of: I'm the
matter of the application of the Central
of Georgia Railway Company. the South
ern Railway Company, the Georgia and
Alabama Railway Company, the Savan-
nah Florida and Western Railway Com
pany and the Georgia, Southern and Flor
ida Railway Company for a rehearing as
to that portion of circular No. 267 so far
as the same relates to the rates on fertii-
izers, and for a resembling of the same.
This case came up to be heard on the 18th
day of December, 1896, which hearing was
adjourned to the Both of December, when
on account of providential causes, il was
continued to the 9Th day of January, 1897.
at which time the hearing was resumed
After hearing the evidence submitted and
after argument was had thereon, It is
ne judgment of the railroad commission
of Georgia that the rate on fertilizer as
fixed by circular No. 267 is a just and
reasonable rate, and that no good reason
has been shown for the resembling or mod
flying of said circular, so far as the same
relates to the rates on fertilizers 1t is
thereupon ordered that said circular, No.
267, be and remain in force, being effective
from Jan /, 1897, until otherwise ordered
BY order of the board j. D. Massey, sec
rotary; L. n Trammell, chairman"