The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-09
Commissioners Refuse to Recognize
it on Interstate Business.
VITAL TIA. IN IT'S IMPORTANCE
Decided Action Taken to Bring
About Restoration of
Classification
No. 25.


the sole subject of this publication.
This convention, which assembled on
August 18th at Lookout Mountain, Tenn,
is destined to exert upon railroad methods
in the Southern States a marked influence.
It was composed of the Railroad Commits
sioners of the following States: Arkansas,
Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mis-
Slssippl- In addition to the seven Southern
states represented by Railroad Commls-
sloners, representatives of commercial Or
ganization from the cities of New York,
Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Rich
mond, Birmingham and Jackson. Miss.
who were present by invitation, as was
also the chairman of the Southern Classl-
tlcation Committee, which framed CLASH
dcatlon No. q, and the assistant general
superintendent and several traffic officials
Of the Southern Railroad
They met for the purpose Of considering
the best steps to take to relieve the
States which they represented from the
unfavorable and repressive conditions un-
der which they have been and still con-
tinue to be laboring with regard to rail-
road transportation.
THE DISADVANTAGES.
These disadvantages are briefly
First-Inequaltties Between rates Of
freight from competing and producing
points to consuming points.
Second-Want of uniformity and reason
ableness in classification.
Th:rd-A high scale Of rates on business
generally interchanged= between neishbor-
ing States compared with rates from large
distributing centers to these States.
Fourth-The absence of a system Of
Joint tariffs for such interchange as will
remove the disadvantages.
In addition to these matters, announced
by Mr.. J.. d. McInnis, chairman of the
Mississippi Railroad Commission, who in
itiated this movement; the Hon. j. H.
Reagan, of Texas, SO we'll known for his
advocacy of the interstate commerce law,
and as the chairman Of the Texas Rail
road Commission, to serve which he re-
signed his seat in the United States Sen
ate, proposed that the Railroad Commits
sioners should memorable Congress for
certain legislation to strengthen the In
terstate Commerce Commission: to pro-
tect the State commissions against the
indiscrimina;te use of injunct:ons nullify-E
ing their acts, and to provide for. in
GLIDING with the earnings on intrastate
business, the earnings of interstate bust
ness Of railroads when the reasonableness
+ of rates fixed by the Railroad Commits
s!oners of any State on intrastate bust
ness are brought into question in the
courts
Judge Reagan, as Chairman of com
mittee appointed for that purpose, offered
resolutions in line With his suggestions
which were adopted The convention then
organized itself into an Association and
the Commissioners Of the States not repre-
serted at this convention have been in
vlted to, and will most probably become
members Of this Association, which is
destined m a ctr ip IL
determination of legislation for the pur-
pose of effecting such reforms in railroad
methods as will be mutually beneficial to
the carriers and the communities which
they serve.
PARAMOUNT ISSUE.
While all of the measures discussed and
determined upon by this convention are
of profound Importance, it was en-
phatically stated and in fact reiterated
that the present condition CT freight class
ifications in the South might be termed
the paramount issue, and SO great has
been the injury done by the violent
changes made in the Southern classifica
ton that the railroad, commissioners
present deemed the matter of such ex-
Eceedlng Importance as to frame resolu-
ton which on account Of its emphatic and
clearly expressed terms is here quoted:
Your committee respectfully reports
that until permanent organization is
AOl ulSu, IL WILL Nc 1upOsSS1Ule W tItIV6 siL
as'correcta basis for settling the matter Of
uniform classification, and we therefore,
recommend that the commissioners of the
several States in this territory advise and
request the commissioners of their respec-
tive States to join in the adoption OF
Southeastern classification No. %, in eff
feet October LIST, 1899, as the official classi-
ffcation of their States or commissions. to
be used as such. until such time as the
committee on classification OF the perman-
est organization can, or does recommend
a classification acceptable to the associa-.
tion. We recommend that the commits
sioners joining in this organization, so far
as 1T lies within their power. emphatically.
express their refusal to adopt, or in any
way recognize. the use Of classified ton
known as Southern Freight Classifica-
ton, No. 81 and that they will use all
proper means to have the State commits
.sions Of which they are members, adopt
this course. We recommend that in the
permanent organization committee Of
five, to be known as the Classification
Committee be provided for, and that they
be given supervision over all matters re-
lating to classification
The report, after discussion, was
adopted.
It is confidently believed that when the
recommendations with this report are
carried into effect the carriers will con-
thereafter become parties to such a CLASH
fcation assswill be acceptable to the Rail-
road Commissioners Association.
Discomfort ONLY.
But it Should not be overlooked. that
while the railroad commissioners of the
several States will exert a powerful in
fluence in their States and possibly out
side of them on the carriers for the franz
ing of such a reasonable classification to
be applied among the Southern States,
both on interstate and Interstate bust
ness. they should receive the most Wig
orous support from the various trade
and commercial centres, doing both an
interstate and intrastate business, and
commercial associations of all sorts should
unite in presenting to the carriers the
strongest arguments and inducements for
the adoption of a classification free from
the inequalities and injurious features of
the present classification No. 2t This
classification should never have been is
sued: 1t has produced nothing but dlscon-s
tent since its issue and there should be
no discontinuance Of public agitation and
the application of such reasonable and
justifable measures assmay be calculated
to bring about this result which would.
as any one can perceive, benefit the shtp-
frOT