New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-13
COTTON MEN HEARD.
Want Thrty-day Notice Clause of
Rate Lao WaiUed.
IFron n Trihune pnr..n

Washington. Sept. 12.-Deolarinz tho, .ho -.
ditons governing the cotton industry q, the
South viii be upset by enforcement ~ the clav.a
in the Railroad Rate law requiring thirty DAVIS.
notice OF change OF rates by common carriers q
large number OF cotton shippers and representa-
lives OF cotton carrying roads appeared before
the IntSstate Commerce Commission TO-DAY, 70
plead for modification of the statute in the dis
erection OF the commission. Practically all the
shipping ports OF the South were represented bv
members Of cotton exchanges boards Of trada
and railroad and steamship men The dav was
consumed I'm taking testimony and the hearing
will he resumed Tomorrow as the question re-
lating 10 export rates is the first OF the i'm,
portant problems involved in the Rail-
road Rate law 10 come before the commission
No decision is likely 10 be made until the COM
mission has gone extensively into the subject
Another hearing on similar lines will be held at
Chicago on September Is
The entire membership Of the commission was
present to-day for the first time since the rate
law became effective. Messrs Clark and Harlan
took an active part in examining the witnesses.
An interested spectator at the hearing was
Representative John Sharp Williams. OF Mis-
sissippI
T J. Freeman. general counsel OF the Texas
Pacific Railroad Company. was the first witness.
He explained the Old system in vogue. under
which he said there was no published export
ratio 10 the port OF export. but the lowest COM
bination OF water and rail rate through any
port from any point fixed the rate. His con-
tention was that IL his road fled the inland pro-
portion 20 the port OF export and added 10 that
each day the water rate TO the foreign destina-
ton the law would be fully compiled with But.
be said, in order 10 make this plan effective and
10 meet commercial conditions. the railroad
should he allowed TO issue through hill of lad
ing from original destination to the foreign point
Of export
L. Green. freight traffic manager Of the South
ern Railway and chairman Of committee rep
resenting lines south Of the Ohio and Potomac
and east Of the Mississippi urged the restoration
OF the practice which before the passage Of the
Railway Rate law obtained for many years be-
cause he said It stimulates and gives
the cotton shipper the widest range Of
competition. as il opens up 10 him the facilities
OF every carrier and every port on an equal
basis. He was emphatically in favor Of waiv-
ing the requirement 10 the thirty days
notice of changes in rates on export cotton.
representative Williams inquired Of the COM
mission II It not their position that carriers
are not compelled 10 publish a rate 70 Liverpool.
Hamburg or Havre, because of the fact that the
ocean steamships. which form part OF the
carrier lines. ara not within the Jurisdiction
OF the commission, ana thar therefore the car
r1ers are not compelled n furnish the through
rate 70 foreign points.
Speaking for the commission. Chairman Knapp
said that they had held that where there 1. A
joint through rate established between an in
land rail line and the ocean line the carrier
may file that entire through rate or may nle
the inland proportion.
Mr.. Williams remarked that he wanted TO
have proper understanding Of the attitude 81
the commission that question.
Z w Porter chairman Of the committee rep
resenting the Memphis Cotton Exchange urged
that the thi1y-day notice be not enforced A
good deal Of satisfaction was manifested by
those present when Chairman Knapp in re-
Spouse 90 question by Mr. Porter said he saw
no reason in the law OF in the commercial con-
ditions why rail carrier from the interior may
not publish its export rate 10 the seal hoard ad-
here 20 that rate and change IL only on such
notice the law permits or the commission
may decide. and at the same time be perfectly
free. as now. to give through bills OF lading to
foreign destination.
J. s Davant, OF the Memphis Cotton Fx-
ing the National Lumber Exporters Associa-
ton: A. r. Smith of Louisville representing the
cotton department of the Louisville & Nash
willie Railroad; W. D. Nesbit of Birmingham
Ala. and p. c. Strachan. Of Brunswick. Ga
also spoke in favor Of the adjustment Of the
thirty days notice.