The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1897-04-30
NJ. Ayers asss-s % to gaiissz
Goa missign Ell.

NJ. Ayers asgs-4 % tss gaiiss.
Commission Ell.
Mr.. Aver II Marion, chairmaa Of
JOINT Committee, made the following
report:
HOUSE, OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Tallahassee, Fla, April II, 1897
Hon. u II. Mays, SPEAKER of the IIous
of REPRESENTATIVE
Sir-Your Joint Committee bzfare
the Interstate Commerce Commission
at Jacksonville, Florida bag 10 suhm
this, as part Of their rerorf, and int
they be not discharged uuth ceftain
other data is secured and submitted.
We met in jacksonville. merchants.
fruit and vegetable growers from all
parts of the State. with their pockets
full of just complaint but entirely un
organized, who expressed much graiili-
cation that the Legislature considered
their complaints and grievances of suf-
ficient importance, to send special
committee in there behalf, before The
Inter STATE Commerce Commission.
Col. Abrams and Mr. Brady agreed
to represent the vegetable growers,
and to accept whatever amount Ties
could raise by subscription fof their
fee, and your committee could not bul
contrast their kindness and liberality
with that of an exc 9ngre5sman, and
Senatorial aspiranr, who demand a
$500 fee, paid in advance While these
gentle men your committee went TO
work TO Systemic the evidence.
Senator Darby's intimate knowledge
of the workings and aud .nanipnlAtions
of railroads made his statement have
great weight, and his clear cut evi
dence greatly Strengthened our side,
and your committee man has cause to
believe that his evidence did some
good.
While do not propose to so into de
tails. some facts that were brought out
IN the evidence may interest your hon
orable body.
First. That merchants at Hamilton,
Fla, saved money by having car lots of
merchandise from the West shipped
right through their town to Palatka,
and paying local freight from Pal4tka
back to Hampton 35 miles, ami that
such discrimination has almost bank |
rupted the merchants aud ruined their
town, and that many o,her towns IN
Florida are laboring under the same
disadvantage.
Second. That for the four years, the |
railroads have made three dollars cut
of the cabbage crop of Florida whore
the producer has made only 81 l-4cents |
and that on some vegetables the roads |
in Florida demand and get 5000 for
hauling one car twenty-one miles.
Third That the freight on a barrel |
of cabbage from New York to Jackson
vile is ~ cents, and the freight on |
the same barrel of cabbage, shipped |
from Jacksonville back to New York. |
by the very same route is 80 cents.
Fourth. That rates are fixed on |
not according to service |
rendered, but entirely as to their value, |
thus taking all OF the assured profits !
and leaving only a gambling chance |
for the producer.
Your committee begs leave to say |
that they were greatly impressed with |
the kindness, hberality and Justice |
shown to all parties by the commits
sioners, as was demonstrated by the |
questions put TO timid witnesses TO |
bring out the facts, and tina sharp in |
cisiye questions put to railroad officials |
who were trying to cover up and hide |
the facts.
Your committee would also respect |
fully call your attention to the fact |
that the Inter State Commerce Com |
missioners have repea eddy recon-
mended and urged congress to amend !
the laws so AS TO make the mn ssiOn |
more effective, and that either from |
culpable negligence or wiIful intention |
our representatives have failed 20 give |
them the support that their vital bear
ings on tie prosperity our site de-
mand.
All of which j. respectfully submitted. |
Altered AYER,
Chm House Cumuite.