The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-12-11
ATLANTA OFFERED
CONCESSIONS, BUT,
WHAT ABOUT OTHER CITIES
IF THE REDUCED RATES ARE FOR
ATLANTA ALONE

from other PIaces-The Atlanta
ASreemenI noes NUJ ~ any SieaiIs
settle the Rate Question I'm GeOr-
ria-The Railroad Commfss to
Hear From the Roads ms to N
Re-adjustment of Interstate Rates.
Atlanta. Dec. 1O.-The subject upper
most in the public mind this week has
been that of freight rates. Atlanta's
committee of seven held a two days
conference with the railroad officials,
received their offer of concessions on
the subject of interstate rates, made
its report to Council and saw 1t adopt
ed by that body within the space of
four days.
All of which means that Atlanta is
willing to accept the concessions made,
though not half of what the city ask
ed, to end the fight and trust to the
future for still better results.
But what of the consumer? While
the Atlanta spirit generally has Gre
ated the desire to see the city sue
cessful in its contention with the rail-
roads, the general public not engaged
in trade, has not appeared to care
about the matter one way or anoth-
er.
"What Do 1 Gets"
What do l get out of it?" was the
question put by a professional man
to-day. And when 1 say 1, it is not
meant in a selfish spirit. but 1 refer
rather to the great class of consumers
who, in the end, always have to pay
the freight no matter what it is.
'They have reduced ffrst-class freight
9 cents per 100 pounds. That would
be a very small fraction of a cent per
yard on a piece of calico or a piece of
silk, perhaps two or three one-hun-
dredths of cent. That may mean a
great deal to the dealer who handles
hundreds of thousands of yards, but
90 you suppose my wife would get it
any cheaper? Certainly not.
They have reduced crackers 16 cents
per 100 pounds. How is the dealer go
ing to knock off one-sixth or one-sev-
enth of a cent, when 1 buy a pound of
crackers?
mo matter what article 1t is you
may count on it the price is going to
be the same to the consumer. 1t is
the jobber VINO will benefit and the
large retail dealer, but the small deal
er and the consumer will continue to
pay the freight as if the rate had new
er been changed.
However. it is all right with me. If
thew he
railroads, 1 am glad to see them do
it,"
Is 1t for Atlanta AIoneF
There is one question which has not
been settled and about which both
sides have hesitated to talk. Will the
reduced rates granted Atlanta, necessi-
tate reductions to all other competitive
points in the state, or will the reduc-
tions be made for Atlanta alone? If
the latter, it may be counted on that
other cities in the state will be heard
from. They do not intend to be left
out, if there is anything good going
TO rounds.
If the reductions are to apply more
generally through the state, the belief
is this will ultimately necessitate re-
auctions to Nashville Birmingham.
Chattanooga and other points nearby,
thus bringing the relative rates right
back to where they now stand, and
Atlanta viii have secured no relief
whatever so far as alleged unjust dis
ordinations are concerned.
The first-class rate from Atlanta to
savannah is 81 cents; from Savannah to
Atlanta, So cents. These rates are
based on the through rate from New
York, which on first-class is $114
This is to be reduced to $1.05. Will
this necessitate a reduction in the pres
ent rates between Savannah and At
lanta? The general opinion seems to
De that 1t will, though to what extent
cannot be told.
Not Settled by Atlanta Agreement.
The agreement between Atlanta and
the railroads, however, by no means
settles the rate question in Georgia.
The State Railroad Commission has
been led to expect a readjustment of
rates which will be satisfactory TO
the commission" to quote the words
used by Judge Ed Baxter counsel for
the railroads, when he said he would
make every effort to have such a re-
adjustment brought about.
readjustment of rates. to he sat
isfactory to the Railroad Commission.
must be readjustment of Interstate
rates, for that is the question over
which the railroads and the commits
sion were fighting when, upon Judge
Baxters promise, circulars 3O1 and 300
were withdrawn and the injunction
suits dismissed
The commission is, therefore. stiu
waiting to hear from the railroads on
this point, and unless 1t is also ac-
corded satisfaction, to some extent at
least, there will probably be a re-
newal of the litigation.
The members of the commission saw
they are glad to see Atlanta get al
least part of what she has asked. hut
that this has nothing to do with their
case.
]. M. Culp, one of the soutbern,s
vice presidents, has been quoted as
saying that the reductions in rates Of
fered by the railroads already will
mean an annual loss to his system
alone of $6SQ,0O0. 1t is generally be-
heved. however, that Mr.. Culp was
misunderstood by those who quoted
MIN. The Southern Railway is not