The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-12

Hon. Joel D. Murphree, Troy Ala.
 Dea- Sir-I note your open letter to me in The Montgomery Advertiser of Sep tember the 5th. and take great pleasure in replying in the same manner. IL was my purpose to follow the first ietter with A second, but I have been so busy Tn ex- amining and comparing the .ariil sneets of the different railroads and in nearing ani deciding certain complaints before ,ia that have not had the time. Tn the renort to the Governor. upon wnicn have bestowed much labor, ana wnlcn hope to have ready oy tne ioom lnts "a vyh,ch viii be of interest to the pubic. After carefully reading and considering your letter, | find that there Is only one Item in If over which this Commission can pos sibly have any jurisdiction. viz: Flour shipped from Montgomery to Troy. All the other items complained or ana useo as an iilustration n are sh,ppei to ppoints in Ala bama and Georgia. The L.sislatsu.e ol Alabama has not the power to conIer ex- tra territorial Jurisdiction upon tnis com ls mission. We can not regulate matters oI interstate commei ce. This question IS so plain and simple and has so o1ten been passed upon, that 1t Is not even open to ssns. in tayor of TrSK SKontsomery opeiSa Eufaula, Columbus, Ga, ana other poihts in matters of Interstate commerce, doubt not that upon proper sMo ~lnH; lIi iis;
 
 gladly order that such discrimination cease. = not question. that Troy pays 70 cSn.s ,.s Prl hundred pounds on sugar from New VT, leans. and that Columbus, Eutauia ana S OpeIika only pay 9 cents per hundreo; then Troy is certainly discrlmlnaieo against in the item Of sugar so Tar as m, terstate commerce is concerned, and needs relief which the Interstate Com merce Commission has the power e eo grant. It does not follow neceSsa sd far 2 ione t than a short haul, that the rate nxeo TOT the short haul Is extortonate, pecauss s many questions arise in these ma'a5s aiso be remembered that the initial and final service in loading and unloading. s"lecn- ing and coupling up the cars IS tne same and just as expenisrVed d,ffnrence eS being in the matter of transportauon' anu t.hs q, ,s 2 certainly the least expensive part ot tle haul; for after the cars are ioaoe1; sS tte gotten ready for transportation, 1t Is veTy little more expensive to haul tnem ivo miles than 1t Is to haul them oo miles. while the sate which iGn ma3 be looked to in fixing a local rate, 1t IS not py any means conclusive. l am indormed tnas a.. after Sept 1zth. rate or n,s S ce,s nar bpnl pnl dred in legs than car loads. VIII pc put into effect on sugar from New orleans to Troy. ... ,to,+. gomery Is as follows:
 To Troy, 26 cents per hundred,
 To Eufaula, 24 cents per hundred.
 TO Opeiika, 25 cents per hundred
 It viii be seen by this comparison that the rate Is practically the same. How ever, if you are of a different opinion. or deem this rate too high, we will be giaa to hear the matter at any time whlcn may suit your convenience;
 As to the item of freight charges on say that flour Is shipped in Class F ana the maximum rates from Montgomery on flour in barrels Is as follows:
 To Troy. 52 miles; rate. S6 cents per
 To ozark, 9e miles; rate, A cents per
 To Eufaula, 80 miles. e. of Ga.), 42
 To Union Springs, fl miles; rate, s4 cents per barrel.
 These rates compare favorably with the local rates on other roads to towns slm' ilarly situated. and no complaint mas heretofore been made as to these maxi to correct any discrimination or extortion- ate rate charged by the railroads for To- cal freight, and will do so when IL IS made to appear that such exists ana to that end we gladly invite all persons who know or have heard of any such discrimination or extortion, to point it out. We have only one limitation to our powers as to local tariffs and that Is that such revision must allow fair and just return on the value of the railroad, It's appurtenances and equipment" I know as a matter of fact, however that the local tariffs in Alabama are as low. and in most instances lower, than in the ad- joining States. except Georgia ana l of the rates of the Southern Railway in Alabama up to 100 miles, with the rates