The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-10-15
SAvANNAH'S SIDE
OF RATE QUESTION
PRESENTED TO COMMISSION
STRONG ARGUMENTS MADE by sA-
VANNAH'S DELEGATION.

state, SaVannah's Argument-RaiI-
road Commissioners to Visit sa-
Vnnnah.
Atlanta, oct. 14.-After a discussion
lasting more than three hours. during
which the members of the Savannah
committee, headed by Mayor Herman
Myers, presented their contentious as
TO freight rates before the Railroad
Commission. the commission and the
Savannahians found that the only diff
| ference between them was that Savan-
nah claimed that any reductions in
rates should be made to apply over the
whole state at the same time, and not
between any particular points. Mem
bers of the commission stated they
thought there would be no great Difficult
ty in bringing this about at the proper
time, and said they would gladly take
under consideration the facts and fig
ures presented on this line by the Sa-
vannah committee The commission
also accepted an invitation to visit Sa-
vannah at an early date as the guests
of the city in order to arrive at a
better understanding of the situation.
The Savannah committee. seventeen
strong, including Mayor Herman My
ers, the chairman OF the committee.
Col William Garrard. Col. ]. II. EstilI,
Messrs. Jacob S. Collins, A. A. Law
renee ]. Randolph Anderson, j. J.
Cummings, Oscar Kulman, c. II. Dor
sett d. r. Thomas, A. j. Ives, w. ].
Donlan, d. J. Rosenheim, T. II. Nc
Milan Leopold Adler, Eldred Simkins
and 4. j. Dinkins, arrived this morn
ing about an hour late and established
headquarters at the Piedmont Hotel.
At 1O:30 o'clock they appeared before
the commission. and this afternoon, at
the conclusion OF the hearing, they
took a drive over the city, leaving to-
night to return to Savannah.
Mayor Myers Makes Statement.
When the hearing began in the COM
missions audience chamber at the Cap
itol. Mayor Myers first made a brief
statement, In which he said that Sa
vannah felt aggrieved that Atlanta
| should receive advantages through the
rates promulgated in Circulars 301 and
S02 from the BENEFITS of which Sa-
vannah WAS for the time being at least
excluded Savannah believed, he said.
that II rates are to be lowered they
should be equalized over the whole
state, so that no point within the state
should have an undue advantage, even
for short period of time.
Power of Railroad Commission.
Col. william Garrard, in beginning
his argument in behalf of Savannah,
outlined the powers of the Railroad
Commission as prescribed by law, and
then dealt with Circular 301 and the
opinion OF Commissioner Joseph M.
Brown regarding It, His object was
to show that the commission was en-
deavoring to correct determinations in
Interstate rates by making reductions
of rates within the state, whereas the
commissions powers with regard to in
terstate rates we're limited by law upon
the refusal OF the railroads to make
the corrections asked to presenting the
matter to the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
"If there Is TO be a change in any
commodity rate" Col. Garrard said,
"the considerations must be such as
will rebound to the benefit of all the
people of the state, and not particular
ly to Atlanta, or Savannah or any 9TH
er point. II there IL to be a cut in
rates let II apply to every town and
city in the state"
How II Affected Savannah.
Col. Garrard then took up several
commodities, giving figures to show
how Savannah was affected under Cir
cular 301. He showed how. with the
new rates, Atlanta could ship brooms
a distance OF 2S6 miles to Waynesboro
for only 2 cents per 100 more than Sa-
n for lot n No 0f
miles. The new rate on candy per-
mitted Atlanta to ship It III miles to
Augusta, cents per 100 pounds cheap
er than Savannah could ship Il there,
a distance OF $40 miles. Col. Garrard
said manv other such instances of in
equality and injustice could be cited
"If Il Is just and equitable to revise
rates throughout Georgia. why not do
II all at once. so that all towns and
cities may receive the benefits Of it?''
he asked.
Savannah, he said. opposed Circular
301 because It permitted Atlanta to
sell goods right at Savannah's door
cheaper than she could put them there.
Suppose the same principle that of
Circular 301 Is extended to Savannah
and other points In Georgia" asked
Commissioner Warner Hill.
Then" replied Col. Garrard that
will amount TO a simple reduction of
rates all over the state. ana VIII be a
question for the railroads and the COM
mission
Could Not be Made by Bits.
In reply TO Chairman Brown Col.
Garrard said this revision OF rates could
not be made by bits. He declared II
would be illegal.
Secretary Donlan OF the Savannah
Chamber OF Commerce here showed
that II Circular 30i went into effect
even for two or three days before Sa-
vannah was put on the same basis II
would result In Savannah losing
large amount Of trade. because Atlanta
could not only sell cheaper IN Savan-
nah's territory for the time being. but
would 20 into that territory and make
contracts for long periods and would
perhaps cause Savannah firms TO lose
an entire seasons business.
Col. Gnrrard's summing Up.
Col. Garrard then summed up the
four points on which Savannah bases
her case.
First Savannah objects 70 Circular
s0i az an because II Ia not legal.
equitable or just II prascrbea rates
from Atlanta % certain points and "a
a.. 1900 Nfwmrflrn Nt4f rwt A.