The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-05-04
Commission Begins Gen.
 eral Investigation. MANY OFFICIALS HERE ateCOmmiSSiOnerS Want More Time on Fertilizers. President Conner Draws Georgia Freight Tariffs to Show Diserimi-
 nation Against AIabama-Will
 Meet Again Today.

DciHS htlu III tic hdii oi thC AiONSO OA Representatives and there is a larger and more prominent attendance of rail- road traffic experts than at the April meeting when testimony was taken on the question of readjusting the fertil- izer rates.
 All members of the Commission were present, including President B. B. Co., mer and Associate Commissioners w. T. Sanders and w. c. Tunstan. Pres ident Conner, at the opening of the morning session yesterday, made known his indisposition which lasted from the time of the last meeting when he was the leading figure in the stren- uous examination of officials summoned before the Commission. He was unre- mitting however, all of yesterday in his interrogation of the tariff experts.
 The Commission held two sessions yesterday one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Chairman Co., mer IS keeping moderate hours in the searching examination is being con- dueted.
 Protests From North Alabama.
 A feature of the meeting yesterday was an array of protests raised by cit izens of North Alabama against fer tilizer, live stock and coal rates now prevailing between certain points. These protests were made in person and in unmlstakable language by s. C.. Oliver. G. T. McElderry and G. A. Joiner of Talladega, and c. H. Unger- man of Birmingham. The latter asked for relief in the form of reductions in live stock rates into Birmingham. mak- ing numerous comparisons between the tariff of Mississippi and that of Ala bama. The other gentlemen represent ed the cotton mill. the fertilizer and other industries of Talladega, praying for relief from discriminations.
 Early in the morning session Pres ident Conner indicated his willingness to reach A decision at once on the fer tilizer rate adjustment and made a mo- tion for specific reductions on all roads. The motion failed of a second from either of his associates on the Commission. Commissioners Tunstall and Sanders were of the opinion that the question is deserving of maturer consideration.
 Chairman Corners proposition was to establish in Alabama the Mississippi rates on fertilizers for all distances between twenty-five and 1855 miles, in- elusive, and the Mobile and Ohio Rail- road tariff for distances less than twen- ty-five miles. For distances over 135 miles, the Chairman said he was will ling to take up the adjustment with the railroad officials of each road indi- vidually.
 Aside from hearing the complaints of the citizens referred to, the Com- mission was busted all day in an exam ination of l.. Green, Freight Traffic Manager of the Southern Railway When the meeting was adjourned yes terday afternoon at 5 o'clock until this morning at 9:30 o'clock, MT. Green was still occupying the stand.
 If the examination of all the roads is going to be as thorough as Is that of the Southern Railway, 1t would be difficult to predict when the investi- gation will end. However, the exami- nation is proving more methodic than the April inquiry and there have been so far much fewer diversions and per sonaIities indulged by the railroad off cials and the President of the Com mission.
 Insists on Georgia Rates.
 The trend of the testimony given by MT Green of the Southern Railway and independent assertions made by President Conner make the general sit uation at least apparent. The chair man insists on making comparisons between the Georgia and the Alabama rates on every commodity and article He would ask firmly for the adoption of these rates to apply in Alabama.
 MT. Green, and it is belived the off, cials of other roads will do the same in turn, declares that these compari- sons are not pertinent to the issue before the Commission. Repeatedly Chairman Conner asked the reason for the impertinence and the invaria ole reply was that the Georgia rates and classification are abnormally low. and were placed on the roads under vigor-
 When Chairman Conner again hears the argument of the railroad men that their roads are not making money on their investments in this State but, on the contrary. are losing, he smiles and claims that excessive interest charges growing out of watered stock are as- sessed against Alabama's traffic and the roads need never expect any net earnings. He made the charge also that the roads in this State are making efforts every year to convert intrastate traffic into interstate traffic and to thus decrease the volume of the former as compared with the laIter. In this way. the chairman contended that Ala bama is not'given full credit for ton mage originating within her borders. These charges are all denied by the witnesses
 Among Those Present.
 Among those present at the meeting are President Milton H. Smith. of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad; President Charles A. Wickersham. Of Vice President J. M. Culp, of the Southern Railway.
 The various railroads operating Tn the State are represented by the fol-
 Southern Railway President J |. Manager; c. B. Northrop. Special Traf- dc Counsel. and Hon Alfred NJ. Tun- stall, Division Counsel
 Louisville and Nashville Railroad President Smith; c. B. Compton. Gen. eral Traffic Manager; F.. J. Dulaney, Assistant General Freight Agent. and George w. Jones, of the Alabama Law
 Atlantic Coast Liner. NJ. Emerson. third Vice President; H. M. Emerson. Freight Traffic Manager. and James Menzies: Assistant Freight Traffic
 Alabama Great Southern Railroad A. l.. Sevier. General Freight Agent and Murray R Hubbard, of Cincinnati of the accounting department.
 Mobile and Ohio Railroad-C. P. Iackson of Birmingham, General Agent; Haiden Miller, Freight Traffic Manager. and R. H. Jones, Conner cial Agent. of Montgomery.
 Central of Georgia Railway-W. A Winburn, Vice President. and J >.J4. Graham. Assistant General Freight
 Seaboard Air Line Railroad-Augus tus Pope. Assistant General Freight Agent. and R. F. Steiner, of Mont qomery. Division Counsel.
 Nashville. Chattanooga and St. Loui: Railway--George R Knox, Genera
 RiTmingham and Atlantic Railroad James Fleetwood, General Manager.
 Frisco System-W. R. Rowe. oi Memphis, General Freight Agent.