The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 1905-1908, 1906-10-11
RATES ON FREIGHT
WAS THEME OF DISCUSSION AT
MEETING OF MERCHANTS
AND BUSINESS MEN ON
THURSDAY NIGHT.
Subject Has Been Frequently Dis
cussed, but Nothing Accom-
plished-It is Believed Re-
duction Can be Had.

At meeting or cltlZenS ana DuSl-
ness men which was held at the city
hall Thursday night, 1.-The reduction
of freight rates was the timeworn
topic of discussion This question
has been discussed and threshed out
here time and time again, and moth
ing has been accomplished. 1t will
be remembered that several years
ago the matter was taken before the
interstate commerce commission. and
that body, while they decided that
our rates were unjust, had no power
to reduce. The new Hepburn bill,
which was passed at the recent ses-
sion of congress, gives the interstate
commerce commission and the differ
ent State authorities the right to en-
force, as we'll as fix, rates, and it is
hoped and believed that through the
enforcement of this law the long
sought for relief will now come.
The meeting was presided over by
Mr.. Simon Loeb and Mr.. |. H. Sykes,
secretary of the Progressive Union,
officiated as secretary. Mr.. Sykes
stated that the State railroad COM
mission had recently passed an order
providing that the rate to Hatties-
burg, Laurel and other towns in the
southern section of the State be re-
duced. The secretary stated that
when he saw that that this reduction
had been made he wrote to Hon. s.
ID. McNair, president of the State
railroad commission, and asked that
a similar reduction be granted to Co
lumbus. In reply TO this letter Mr.
Sykes received a communication from
President McNair informing him that
if the matter were placed before the
commission in the proper shape, ac-
ton would be taken thereon Mr.
Sykes stated that the object in calling
the meeting was to get an expression
from the merchants and see if they
would back up the Progressive Union
in the fight for lower freight rates.
He said that in the event the rail
roads refused to put in operation the
rates ordered by the railroad com
mission, it would be necessary to
take the matter before the courts,
and that this would of course necessf-
tate the employment of an attorney
and the consequent expenditure Of
money. He said that he did not be
lieve that the Progressive Union
would be forced to resort TO law, as
it was his opinion that the railroads
would consent to promulgate the
without a legal fight, but that in the
event a fight became necessary he
would have the moral and financial
support of the merchants and bust
ness men of the city
After Mr.. Syke had stated the situ-
alton to the meeting, short talks were
made by Capt. c. a. Johnston, Mr.
w. H. Carter, Maj Jno. F. Mavo and
others, and Mr.. Irving Kaufman Of
fered a resolution pledging to the
Progressive Union the moral and fl
nanciaI support of the merchants,
business men and citizens Of Colum-
bus in the fight for equitable freight
rates.
As is we'll known by most of our
people, Meridian enjoys a freight rate
from st. Louis, New York and in fact
all of the markets from which the
bulk Of our supplies of every kind
are shipped, which is about twenty
five per cent below the rate granted
on the same class of goods. Mr..
Sykes presented figures to show that
during the course of a year the mer-
chants of the city paid out unneces-
sarily about $4,000 on account of
excessive freight rates A petition
asking that Columbus be put on
parity with Meridian in the matter Of
rates will be prepared and presented
to the State railroad commission 1t |
IS expected that the commission will |
pass an order requesting the railroads |
% establish the rates asked for. and |
t is further believed that the rail |
roads will grant the request without |
further parley, but in the event that |
hey refuse to do this the matter will |
De taken into the courts, and a siren
lous offort will be made to secure |
'el1ef from rates that the interstate |
commerce commission has decided
Ire unjust, unwarranted and discrim-
native.