The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-15
THEY WANT RATES RESTORED.
SAVANNAH MERCHANTS CAN'T SEND
Statesmen TO FLORIDA.

photographs OF statesmen VIII ne
in Books and Full Amount of Fare
Paid-A Rebate VIII Then Be Civ
en- by ROads-Passenser AssOcia-
ton Discussing Withdrawals OF
Mileage Tickets in Georgia.
The withdrawal of 1,00O-mile rates in
Georgia is said to be before the South
eastern Passenger Association now in ses-
sion in Washington. If such ac-
ton contemplates continuing the
recent withdrawal Of Florida mile
age rates in to Georgia, the matter will
likely entail war between the Merchants
Association of Savannah and merchants
elsewhere and the roads behind the
movement
There is considerable dissatisfaction
among the wholesale merchants on ac-
count of the withdrawal of mileage tick
cts in Florida which went into effect Feb.
l, for the reason they cannot
send drummers into that state at the pres
ent high railroad and hotel charges. The
rates have yet been withdrawn only in
Florida and all mileage tickets issued by
and Peninsular roads, are said to specid-
cally state that the transportation is only
good over these liEes outside Of that state.
The reason for the action was not made
public and no information was obtainable
from the passenger agents of the roads
because of the matter being entirely with
the executive officers, by whom the tick
cts, or books, were ordered withdrawn.
Probably the first intimation of the with
drawal in Savannah was when drummer
representing one of the large wholesale
grocery houses wrote that the books were
withdrawn and asking what action he
should take in regard to continuing his
route and paying the regular fare. About
the same time another Savannah. house
received similar communications from
it's travelling men in Florida. After brief
consultation the merchants decided that
action was necessary because the pay
ment of such rates by drummers rendered
1t absolutely ippracHcable for Georgia
jobbing houses to solicit business In that
state
A meeting of the Wholesale Merchants
Association of Savannah was al once call
ed for the purpose of considering the mat
ter and ascertaining the cause
of withdrawing drummers rate. AS
no one knew anything concerning the
facts and could not therefore discuss the
matter, it was decided to refer the inves-
tigation to special committee of mer-
chants, and Mr. Herman Myers, presi-
dent of the Savannah Grocery Company,
was made chairman of the committee.
Correspondence was at once begun by Mr..
Myers and the first thing learned by him
was that the matter was the action of the
executive officers of the roads and all in
| information must come from them Mr.
Erwin, vice president of the Plant Sys-
TEN, was seen by Mr.. Myers but before
| any positive information was obtained,
| Mr. Erwin was called away on business.
| 1t was stat ted, however, that the reason
| for withdrawing the tickets was that the
| roads Were being imposed on by swindlers,
| who represented themselves as travelling
| men for the purpose of obtaining books
| and selling them. 1t was also stated that
! other methods were being employed to
| defraud the roads through the mileage
| books, and particularly in Florida The
| object in Withdrawing the rates, 1t is
| said was for the roads to adopt some
! way by which they could shut out Height
mate handling of books and establish q
way whereby they would only get into
the hands of legitimate and reliable sales
| men. To the merchants the object was a
| good one, and they say they are ready
! to assist the roads in every
| way. While 1t is said the
| drummers were not aware of there being
such an imposition on the roads the mer-
chants do not seem to consider that fact
They do not regard the reality of such a
state of affairs as one for them TO decide
and feel that if the roads think it exists
they will join them in ferreting out the
| guilty, heartily indorsing any meas
ure calculated to restore legitimate traffic
| in mileage books. The railroads intimated
it would be a good plan to have each
mans photograph in the book issued to
| him and the merchants agree that this
| would probably be a successful way OF
curing the trouble and express themselves
| as willing to cooperate in it's enforce
ment. The railroads would charge the
full rate for the books so issued but
would give the purchaser a rebate In
fact, everything suggested by the rail-
roads in connection with the matter meets
the approval of the merchants and why
the books should be withdrawn and pro
duce inconvenience and confusion, in or
der to accomplish the result, is not an
parent to them.
Il cannot believe the roads will refuse
to rectify the Florida withdrawal" said
| a leading Bay street merchant "Just
why the tickets were called in is a mys.
terry. l cannot see why it was necessary
to withdraw them simply to stop the
alleged imposition. We and our men are
willing to help the roads in that particu.
lar. There must be other reasons. or. .
least, l would not think the roads would
adopt such extraordinary methods to ac.
complish the purpose.
| encouragement to travelling statesmen
Is matter of prime Importance to all
railroads. They profit by shipments. and
If we cannot sell goods, of course VIC
cannot ship them. 1 think the Florida
withdrawal will be settled by re-issuance
Of mileage books containing the photo.
graphs of the men TO whom issued. The
roads will probably then demand full nav.
ment of fare and give the proposed re.
bate. Either this or some similar arrange.
ment will be made to continue our sales.
men in Florida. No doubt there are uer.
chants there who would like TO see II.
kept from the state in this manner hul
l am satisfied the matter will be adjust.
| ed"
The opinion prevails, however. that IN,
roads were actuated from other motives
Recently the Florida Legislature passed ar
act prohibiting railroad companies froT