The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-24
TRAFFIC MEN WORRIED
HAVE HEARD OF SECRET SER
 VICE INVESTIGATIONS.
Believe It Not Unlikely That Gov ernment Will Annoy" Them About Cotton Rates-Much
 Reticence Shown.

Montgomery railroad traff1c men are deeply concerned over report that United States Secret Service officer has been here sevehal days quietly investiga- ing the method of handling cotton and alleged pooling cotton rates by local rail- roads. More than one railroad official unofficially expressed the opinion yester- day that there is a likelihood of Mont gomery railroad men being annoyed" by the government.
 The indictment of railroad officials in Atlanta for alleged violations of the interstate commerce laws relating to the pooling of cotton freight rates, has caused much talk in railroad circles. where 1t is generally believed that this is the first step toward investigations in various sec tions of the country.
 On Saturday the Federal Grand Jury sitting in Atlanta returned three indfct- ments. one against five of the railroads entering Atlanta. and one against indi- vduals representing the railroads charg- ing them with violating the law to regu- late commerce joint indictment was l returned against both the railroads and individuals for violating the sherman antitrust law
 Much Gossip Caused. The grand jury of the United States Court for the Middle District of Alabama will not meet again until the November term, but the report that d secret service officer has been quietly at work securing information touching alleged violation of the law by Montgomery railreads, has | caused considerable gossip in railroad circles.
 Cotton freight rates out of Montgom- cry are largely regulated by what Is call ed Joint Cotton Committee, composed | of railroad agents, but the raildoad men | claim the companies have not violated the 1 law here in the handling of cotton. Some | of the officials admit that there has been an agreement, but they adhere to the 1 opinion that the agreement has been | within the law. Furthermore they con- | tend that Montgomery cotton men are | entirely satisfied with the manner In | which the railroads have handled the | cotton.
 Frank c. Shepard, General Freight | Agent of the Louisville and Nashville | Railroad Company said he had read | newspaper statements about the indict- ment of officials in Atlanta.
 But have absolutely nothing to say about it," said MT. Shepard
 Has your company entered into an | agreement relative to cotton freight rates out of Montgomery" MT. Shepard was I asked.
 No sirree" declared MT. Shephard with emphasis. We have not made an agree ment and we have not violated the law"
 Further than this MT. Shepard would not discuss the question. l MT. Lutz Absent. R. E. Lutz, Traffic Manager of the Western Railroad of Alabama, whose | president was jointly indicted in Allan | ta, was not in the city yesterday Clerks | in his office would not discuss the matter of cotton rates or the handling of cotton | out of Montgomery.
 | MT. Lutz is in Atlanta today" said l one of his clerks. He may be back to- | morrow. We know nothing about it.
 In other railroad offices the same re- | luctance to discuss the subject was mani-
 fested.
 "I do not represent an initial line" said
 George Robertson, soliciting freight agent
 of the Southern Railway and conse-
 auently | am not prepared to discuss the
 handling of cotton out of Montgomery.
 My information is, however. that the | shippers are entirely satisfied with the
 handling and the rates"
 Fred B. White, Commercial Agent of
 the Central Railroad of Georgia, shook
 his head.
 ''You'u have to get your information
 elsewhere" said MT. White. T cannot
 be interviewed on that subject"
 Are the railroads in pool to make |
 q must decline to give you any in' formation" replied MT. White, pleasant | ly.
 Charles P. Jackson, General Agent oi
 the Mobile and Ohio Railroad Company said with frankness that in his opinion
 information touching upon the making
 of rates and methods of handling freight
 by the railroads should come from higher | officials.
 our General Freight Agent or the Sec
 ond Vice President might give you some
 information" said MT. Jackson. 'l prefer not to discuss the business of the com
 pany with the newspapers.
 While Montgomery railroad men profess | to have little information it is known that
 railroad men from other Alabama cities have been in Montgomery within the past few days in conference with local rali-
 road men, and that tho matter Of pooling l cotton rates is giving them some concern
 The secret service officer who spent
 last week in Montgomery has gone to l birmingham. The railroad men believe he has completed his investigation ir | Montgomery.
 Quenches Thirst rYo.sford,e Acid PhosDhate