The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-07-02

tween communities. the geographical nosition of each community must De carefullv considered by that commls- sion Each of the striving communl- ties will be entitled to equal consider ation, and the natural dritt ol tne commissions decisions would De to- wards mileage rates. and the estao- ushment of limited zones of distrlou- tion from each manufacturing or 1oo- hing center The activity of the rail way interested in the development or a particular center as against some other not reached by its rails would pc gradually eliminated as factor In the enlargement of that center horizon or distribution Compare the effect of this condition on the growing commit nities of the south with that upon the wealthy, the populous and the long established centers of the North ern States, and ask your selves patriots ana as shippers whether it is to the interest of yourself or your friends or of your States or cities that q commission at Washington shall have power to decide upon the number of miles from your place of business within which you shall be allowed to distribute your pro- ducts.
 The tremendous cotton mill develop ment in the South was possible in com
  the North only by reason of the adjust ment and reduction of railway rates that enabled the Southern mills to sell their products in Northern and foreign markets.
 A case is now pending before the In terstate Commerce Commission In re- spect to relative adjustment of rates on cotton mill products In which It Is urged that the existing rates from cer- tain Southern mills shall be raised be- cause those mills are enabled to com pete with other mills that claim the right of territorial monopoly against the Southern manufacturer.
 The development of the iron indus; tics of Alabama and Tennessee was made possible only by the making ol low freight rates from these regions to the portions of the country where Iron and its products are consumed Ill largest quantities. These markets had been supplied by the highly developed and prosperous iron industries Of Penn syivania and Ohio which lie mucf nearer to the regions of largest con sumption than do the iron fields of the South.
 Rates upon the raw materials neces- sarv for the operations of the Alabama furnaces were made unprecedentedly low. in order that those furnaces might be built, might continue to run at low cost, compete III uIStdul IhtAl NStH hhN build up a trade against powerful com petitors already strongly entrenched In wealth and resources. and situated rearer the established markets. when those furnaces were established there was no nearby market for their pro- ducts.
 Much stress has been laid in recent discussions of this absorbing subject of governmental rate making upon the necessity for the prompt adjudication of questions at Issue between the shinpcrs and the carriers. In support of the argument that decision as 10 the reasonableness or unreasonableness of a given rate should be made effective by the Commission prior to review by Court the long delays between the bringing of the complaint and the reaching of final conclusions have been cited. An examination of the record shows that the unnecessary delays have occurred chiefly In the proceedings or the Commission itself. To meet this very objection of long delay, was pass cd inc EIkins law of 1903, which pro vides that the Commission can sum marily appeal 10 Court, that the Court ehau have power to enjoin any unreas- onatle or any unjust or discriminatory rate or practice that the trial of the cause shall have precedence in the Cir orit C.ourt over all other than criminal Cases and that In case of appeal. the anneal shall be direct from the Circuit Court to the Supreme Court of the limited states. This process is as sum" | mary as it is possioIe to devise under any system of orderly and equitable