The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-13
DISCUSSION OF
 R. R. COMMISSION
W. F. vANDIVER SUBMITS SOME REMARKS BEARING ON CON- TEST FOR THE PRESIDENCY OF THE COMMISSION.


 Montgomery Advertiser of recent date; To the Editor of the Advertiser:
 The people of Alabama are eongratulat- ing themselves. that the Conner Smith de- bate is over The end to which this joint debate" ostensibly pointed utterly failed of its purpose. The people had looked forward to it with the expectation of becoming themselves posted on what purported to be the real issues. In this they were disappointed. They obtained no information in regard to the great principle of traffic and local freight rate construction. These gentlemen did not touch the real issues on a single occa- sion; their debates resolved themselves into you did and you didn't" business. and the public is as much in the dark, in so far as the platforms of the respec- tive candidates are concerned, as they were before.
 1 l do not know that the two gentlemen referred to are to be blamed for not having thrown more light on the funda- mental principles of local freight rate | construction because the question is one subject to consideration of locality. dis tance. volume of business, it's relation ship to competitive points, value to the consumer of the article transported the rate that the producer can afford to pay and meet legitimate competition and the amount of revenue that the railroads are to derive. by virtue of their tonnage, and also the great question that the rail- roads themselves must consider that whether by the granting of local freight rates, more or less, will it increase the production and consumption of the article There are very many things to be taken l into consideration in arriving at basis l for local rates, when considered upon the l principle of right and justice, both to the producer and consumer and the trans ] portation lines. If this be true. is it safe to place the great problem in the hands Of any man who assumes the reins of government with prejudeed mind or with opinions already fixed and decisions made before the questions are submit ted for consideration and a thorough in- vestigation made? There is a limit, be- yond which more harm will be done to the people of the state of Alabama, than 1 benefit could be derived These weighty problems should be fairly and impartially considered by a tribunal whose policy should be to deal justly. as between the people and the railroads
 1t has been charged that the local rates l of freight demanded by the railroads of this state have materially retarded the progress and development of its enter prises, and also of it's general commercial interests. I dare say, if you win take a period of only the last decade and inves- | tfgate the comparative increase in the production of cotton and other agricul- tural interests, also the manufacturing | interests of the state, you will find there | is no other state in the union that has made greater strides than has the state | or Alabama. We will take into considera- tion also the commercial interests, and l will use Montgomery as an illustra- tion. Ten years ago there was not a single grocery jobber in the city of Mont 1 gomery, whose gross sales amounted to as much as a million dollars. Today there are several firms who sell more than a million, and some of these firms are sell ing million and half and two million dollars per annum. We will take into cor sideration also the banking interests of the state; and it might be well to add that the results as shown by the banking inter- l ests throughout state Is a very good index to the financial condition of the state as a whole, it's agricultural, com mereial and manufacturing condition. I remember having seen. a short while ago, a comparative statement of the deposits | of all national banks alone in the states for a period of ten years and each year showed a very material increase over the preceding year. No clearer insight into the commercial condition of a state can be had than through its financial insti- tutions. I will ask if these conditions would be possible if we, as a state, were
 aborng under such great disadvan- tages" as some would have us believe. Is 1t not, on the other hand convincing evil dence that we have at least a fair show ing with our competitors, not only in the state of Alabama, but everywhere else.
 Then, if this be true, Is it not unfair and unjust to endeavor to force down all local freight rates. regardless of condi- tions. when the results show, beyond the peradventure of doubt that they are, as a rule. not oppressive, and that we are making great headway as to the vol ume of business that we are doing? think it fair to use the situation as we | see it in Montgomery a basis, as 1t Is about as near the center of the state as any other commercial city within the state, and I take for granted that if this | be true of Montgomery, 1t Is also true of every other jobbing center within the state, and as a citizen and as a mer- chant of the state of Alabama, it seems to me that it would be practically ca-
 amity to have violent hands laid upon the present adjustment of our commer- cial relations with the railroads either for an advance or reduction In the rates, regardless of the territorial conditions, and without a thorough investigation as to right and justice in the readjustment of any rates which may be apparently out of line do not want to be misun- derstood in writing this article that l am taking the position that freight rates are in all instances properly adjusted at this time 1 am not discussing that question at all. as I am not In position to say not having myself studied the ques- l tion of rate construction in its entirety as applicable to all parts of the state' but if there are any changes to be made. l. as a citizen of the state, and having in mind at all times desire to see the interests of the state advanced want to see these matters handled by men who ar in a position to do so, at last without prejudice and with justice to both sides of the question.
 There are matters aside from the ap- parent discrepancies in local freight rate adjustment that need consideration. Some of our great railway systems are finding their present facilities utterly inadequate to meet the demands of the vouminous traffic within the state, originating in other sections of the country, destined to points within the state, or passing through the state. Some of them should ', be double-tracked in a great many in- i stances This question deserves considera- l ton at the hands of the people Of the state for there can be no doubt as to
 the policy of doube-tracking railroads where there is a congestion of traffic. Tor more reasons than one. In the first place. if gives the consignees their freights very much more promptly: and. secondly, IL de- creases the risk to life and property The system of adjusting oyercharge and loss and damage claims should be looked Into.