The times., 1901-05-08
SOUTHERN RAILROAD RATES.
The Testimony of z. 3. wcGevera BE-
fore the Industrtns ConmiE<fon

p. ]. McGovern. of Atlanta. Ca. Chair
man of the Southern Transportation Com
mittee. testified before the Industrial
Commission yesterday concerning railroad
rates and conditions In the South Mr.
Mcofovern said that the Organization OF
the Southern Classification Committee
was due to the desire OF the rail and
water carriers to establish a Uniform
freight classification. TO secure the pub
iication of these established rates. and 70
aid in fulfilling laws of the United States
affecting commerce. The committee, he
stated. was composed of forty-two rail
way and steamship lines in the Southern
classification district which IS embraced
in the territory south of the Ohio and Po-
tomac rivers and east of the Mississippi
River.
Before the organization Of the commit
tee conflicting ratings were prevalent in
the Southern territory. and in the list OF
freight rates published by the various
lines incongrufties and Inconsistencies
were common. The revision OF freight
rates for the Southern territory by repre-
sentatives from the forty-two railway and
steamship lines composing the COMMITTEES
resulted in the simpliheatiOn OF the
method of establishing ratings and also
gave the desired uniformity of rating
throughout the territory.
Mr.. Phillips. Chairman OF the Commits
sion. said that complaints had been re-
ceived by the Commission from shippers.
stating that since the organization of the
Classification Committee rates in the
Southern territory had been greatly IN
creased. Mr.. McIovern. in answer TO an
enquiry whether this was true, said that
while theoretically there had been an in
crease. in reality the shippers were but
little affected. Under the old system the
shipper could ask for and get a common
Law receipt for his shipment instead of the
regular bill of lsding. He was thus pro-
tected by the common law at the regular
rate though IL was true. Mr. McGovern
said, that not one shipper In one hundred
avaiIed himself Of the privilege. Since the
revision of rates. to secure the same priv
ileses. he was obliged to pay an Increase
on the regular rate of 20 per cent All ar
ticles were now, Mr. McGovern said. on
a limited liability basis. On the shippers
risk bin of Iading, the carrier assumed Iia-
bihty for injuries received by goods in
transit due to its own negligence. Under
the carriers risk bill Of ladiDg. for which
the shipper paid 20 per cent additional. the
carrier assumed all risk for damage except
those exemptions set forth by the common
law. The option as to risks lay entirely
with the shipper. The % per cent was not
exorbitant In fact. on valuable goods the
rate of 70 cents per Zoe pounds had proved
to be very cheap insurance
Mr. McGovern thought that the States
should not have the power to fix either
freight or passenger rates for lines with
IN their territory. If the rates fixed by
the railroads were not considered fair
and Just the court should be appealed to.
the expenses Of the action TO be borne
III part by the railroad against which suit
was brought He believed that the sOIu-
ton OF the matter could be reached by
the maintenance Of a State railroad COM
mission or by an Interstate commissiOn.-
before which hearings could be had In
case of appeal, Mr.. McCfOvern believed
that there should be court with con-
ellSIve power TO decide only on cases in
VolVing contention between rail and
water carriers and the public.