The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-08
ITS FATE IN kBEYANCE.
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE sAVAN-
NAH FREIGHT BUREAU.

scriberS to Solicit the tohtth u"Ate
of Their SubScriptions-Comm mis-
sIoncr ID. 6. Purses Annual Re
mort Discusses the History and
work of the Freight Bureau-The
Relations Now Existing Between
the bureau and the Railroads Ex-
ceedinEIy Amicabie.
The question Of the further continuance
of the Savannah Freight Bureau is stu
in allegiance. At the annual meeting yes
terday it was decided to address a letter
to the subscribers requesting renewal
of their subscriptions. II a sufficient num-
Der Of the subscribers indicate their VII
lingness TO continue their support addi-
tional subscriptions win be sought among
business men who are now non-subscrib-
ers. As some of the leading business men
of the city. who are subscribers to the
bureau. have expressed themselves as de
cidedly in favor of its continuance there Is
a strong probability that the move in this
direction may be successful.
The board of directors held its annual
meeting at noon yesterday and received
the report of the commissioner, Capt. u.
G. Purse. The report was ordered submit
ted to the stockholders meeting as the re-
port of the board. Vice President W. w.
Williamson presided at the meeting of the
board
The stockholders meeting was held i'm
med,ately afterwards. Among those pres
ent were Capt W. w. Williamson, MIR. l.
b. Tiedeman, Capt. d. G. Purse, Mr.. John
G. Rowland Mr.. Joseph Rose nheim, Mr..
w d. krenson, Mr.. A. b. Palmer ana
Mr.. Henry McAlpin. Mr.. 1. b. Tiedeman
was called to The chair, and Capt. Purse
Vvaff Too VF.
ported that of the subscriptions 2,505 shares
were represented by proxy and 1856 shares
in person, making a total of $3.50 repre-
scented out of a total subscription of 49,
&C.
The report of the directors was read by
the commissioner. IL was received as in
formation and ordered spread upon the
minutes The election of directors was
postponed until after the canvass for sub
scrip,ions for the support of the bureau
for the coming year shah have been COM
pleted. Upon motion 1t was decided TO adj
dress a communica ion 10 each Of the sub
scriEers 10 the bureau, stating the amount
required TO continue the bureau during
the ensuing year, and asking a contin-
uance Of his subscr ption. The meeting
adjourned subject to the cali of the chair.
1t wiz be called together again when the
canvass of the subscribers has been COM
pleted for the purpose Of taking such fur
by The responses of the subscribers.
The annual report of Commissioner Purse
reviewed the work of the bureau for the
year and discussed the Freight Bureau
question as illustrated by the history Of
the bureau. When the bureau was organ
lied the country was afflicted by a finan-
cial crisis, and the commercial life of the
country was believed to be afflicted by
q host of evils, not the least of which
was considered to be the unjust and ar
bitrary rates enforced by the railroads and
their unwarranted Determinations In favor
of some points and against others Capt
Purse reviewed the history of the Freight
Bureau, showing how conditions had
changed since its organization, and how,
from state of active hostility between
the bureau and the railroads state of
affairs had at last been brought about
which have placed the bureau and the
railroads upon the most amicable terms
In the beginning the railroads regarded
the bureau with disfavor and were In
clined TO treat it with discour-
tesy. and to resist its demands
In every way The hard and usually sue
cessIul nights made by the Bureau
before The commission won their resnect
The bureau has been recognized as a de-
slrabte go-between between the business
men and the railroads, and as such has
proved its value in hundreds of instances
The work of the freight bureau has suc-
ceeded in proving that il is not the DELHI
crate policy of railroads to iniure cittes
and business interests. but that thA IN
man and failible judgment of the heads of
these corporations sometimes effects these
undesirable results. With the an1icable
relations existing between the bureau and
the railroads, it has been found easy to
remove such differences. In the clerical
departments of the railroads where II ia
necessary that business be transacted with
swiftness and dispatch, many errors occur
winch are both costly and ANNOYING TO the
patrons of the roads The bureau has in
numerous instances succeeded in rectify-
ing such errors, in some of which the sums
returned 10 the subscribers far exceeded
their annual subscriptions to the bureau.
AS marked instance of the very AMIGA
Ole relations existing between the bureau
and the railroads the commissioner drew
attention to the promptness with which
the railroads and the complainants acced-
ed to the suggestion of the bureau that
the complaint before the Railroad Commits
sion of the state with regard to the rates
on syrup should be Withdrawn and the
matter left entirely for adjustment to the
parties interested. This course at first
opposed by the commission, was acceded
TO- by request OF all the parties concerned
with the result that a very satisfactory re-
adjustment of rates on syrup and the es-
adjustment of rates on cane in the stalk
was effected at a meeting of the traffic
officials of the railroads in this section
held in this city this week
The good work accomplished by the bu-
reau in the beginning of its fiscal year
in the successful effort to have Savanna b
designated as a supply depot during the
Spanish American war and made a port O.
embarkation and debarkation of troops
going to and from the West Indies with
unusual profits and benefits TO the city
was alluded to. In conclusion the sue.
CpgEfnl efforts IF the a.
cooperation with the Board Of Trade n
restore to Southern Georgia the cultivation
of cane and the production Of sugar with
all the almost inestimable benefits which
may be expected 10 result from this indus.
try were alluded to-