The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-10-29
TO WIN OUT
LUMBERMEN WHO ARE FIGHTING
RAILROADS IN ATLANTA.
THEIR CASE A STRONG ONE
Is OPINION OF WM. u. STILLWELL,
WHO HAS BEEN At HEARING.

Testimony for Railroads TO BE TAX
en- by Interstate Commerce Com
mission To-day, and Testimony of
LunberInen in RebuttaI, tO-mOr-
rOw-Case VIII Probably BE End
ed Saturday-Dispute Brought
About by Recent Advance of Rail-
roads on Lumber shipped North of
Ohio River and West of MISSISSIPPI
Pi interchangeable Was Once
Talked About hut Would Suit
Neither Side Now.
Mr. William r. Stfllwell. who has
been in Atlanta for several days at
tending the hearing of the lumbermen
and the railroads in their dispute over
rates on Western shipments, which is
now being heard by the Interstate Com
lnerce Commission, returned to Savan-
nah yesterday morning, but will leave
again tonight to remain until the case
has been completed.
The case is attended by railroad men
from all of the lines represented,
among them being W. A. Winburn,
wee president and general manager Of
the Ceutral Mr.. James Menzies, gem
eral freight agent of the Atlantic
Coast Line. and Mr.. L. Z. Chaloher. as
sistant general freight agent of the
Seaboard Air Line. all of Sa-
vannah, together with interest
cd lumbermen from all parts
OF the state. Mr.. Stillwell is the only
representative from Savannah
Cause of the Trouble.
The trouble was brought about, as
has been stated before in the Morning
News, by an increased rate charged by
all. the railroads in this territory Of 2
cents a hundred on all shipments of
lumber west OF the Mississippi and
north of the Ohio rivers. The lumber
IEen claim that the rate is prohibitory,
that it is unjust, and a violation of in
terstate commerce and after trying in
various ways to reach some agreement
with the roads finally brought it be-
fore the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion.
MIR Stillwell said yesterday that the
lumbermen feel they have made out a
strong case, and that even since he has
returned to Savannah he has received
a telegram from headquarters stating
that the case from the lumbermen's
viewpoint is even better than it was
when he was on the scene. Mr.. Still
well was forced to come to Savannah
to look after some business matters.
MIR. StilIweII's Position.
In report of the proceedings be-
fore the commission Mr.. Stillwell was
quoted as comparing a lumberman' s
possession of timber lands to a man
possessing mine from which both
gold and silver could be taken and
the attorneys for the railroads side
were quick to comment on this state
ment. Mr.. Stilwell admits he was cor
rectly quoted in the comparison, but
says there will be sequel to the story
before the hearing is over. 1t Is an
tieipated that hearing the railroads
side of the case will consume all of
to-day and that evidence in rebuttal
will take up the next day so that the
case will hardly be finished before Sat-
urday.
There was some talk of compro-
mise being effected between the roads
and the lumbermen on the basis of the
cents advance TO certain territory and
smaller advance to certain other
parts of the country, but, in the opin-
ion of a railroad man, now that the
fight has gone as far as II has, the
railroads will probably let il go to the
end. while, on the other hand. the
lumbermen are so satisfied with the
, outlook that il is doubtful if they
would consent to a compromise either.
A GUARANTEED CURE FOR PILES.