The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-20
MAKES IMPORTANT RULINGS.
IN CASES OF CERTAIN FREIGHE
RATES TO SAVANNAH.


Interstate Commerce Commissions
Views with Regard to LouisviIIs
and NashviIIe's CharEes-Fdnds
THAT the Rates on Cotton and Nav-
al stores From Points in Western
Florida to savannah Have Been
Too High.
Washington. Jan. 19-The Interstate
Commerce Commission to-day, In an opin-
ion by Commissioner Clements announced
its decision of the case of the Savannah
Bureau of Freight and Transportation
and others against the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad Company and others.
The carriers rates on sugar and othee
commodities from New York to Chipley
ANA various other stations in Florida and
their rates on bacon and other commodi-
ties from Savannah to such stations in
Florida are not found to be unlawful.
The carriers rate on uncompressed cot-
ton from Chpley and other stations iI
Florida on the Louisville and Nashville
Railroad 60 Savannah was $2.75 per bala
at the time of the hearing. when CONS
plant was filed and for some years prior
this rate was increased 50 cents. making
$3.50 per bale. The rates to Mobile and
New Orleans were and stin are, respec-
lively, $2 and $3.50 per bale.
The commission holds that the rate of
81 rs to Savannah was not unlawful. ana
that any higher rate on such cotton To
Savannah than the former difference oe
25 cents per bale above the rate in forcs
from the same stations to New Orleans,
is in violation OF the statute.
The Rulings Lnid Down.
The commission further rules that car
rler cannot fully establish and maintain
an adjustment of rates which, in prac-
lce. prevents shippers on lis line from
availing themselves of a principal market,
which they have long been using, and
confors substantial monopoly upon
new market. in which, for reasons of its
own, Il has greater interest
Another ruling is that when a carrier
makes rates to two competing markets
which give the one a practical monopoly
over the other because Il can
secure reshipments from the ia
vored locality and none from the
other. it goes beyond serving its
fair interest and disregards the statutory
requirement OF relative equality as be-
descriptions of traffic.
A. to NavnI stores.
After laying down these principles the
| commission finds that the Louisville and
Nashville makes certain local rates on ros-
| in and turpentine from stations on Its
| Pensacola and Atlantic division in Flor
| ida to Pensacola, Fla, and that IL joins
with connecting carriers in making GER
tain through group rates from the same
stations TO Savannah. For its service to
the junction point the louisville and Nash
vile cxacts shares of the. through join1
rates to Savannah which greatly exceed
its purely local rates for like distances tor
Pensacola while the shares accepted by
It's connecting carriers are reasonably low-
The commission decides that the shares
Of the Louisville and Nashville in the
through rates to Savannah are unreasona-
BILE and unjust, and operate to make the
| entire through rates unlawful in compari-
son with the rates to Pensacola.
The decision also provides for an order
requiring the Louisville and Nashville TO
cease from exacting shares of the through
rate to Savannah, which are IN excess OF
its local rates 10 Pensacola for like dis
tances but Il IS provided that on the ship
ment of turpeHtiue from some of the more
easlerly stations the Louisville and Nash
Vile shall have more than its local rats
for the like distances TO Pensacola, and as
to such shipments a differential is found
proper.
The commission say this remedy, which
is based upon the relation of rates to tho
two competing markets, viii enable the
Louisville and Nashville 10 increase tha
rates TO Pensacola, or in conjunction with
It's connections. reduce the rates to Savan-
nah or 10 use both means in con forming
to the adjustment required by the facts
in the case. 4