Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1907-03-21
LOWER RATES NOT
NEEDED SAYS FINLEY
States Railway Case Before A :
lanta Chamber of Commerce.
BETTER RAIL SERVICE NEEDED

Has Grave Fears that Railroad Devei-
opment Will Be Stopped Because OF
Agitation One Of Great
interest.
Atlanta. March 20-The 1907 an
nuaI dinner Of the Atlanta chamber OF
commerce. at the Piedmont hotel on
Tuesday night, is certain to go down
in history as an epoch marker, and as
one of the most typical gatherings Oh
Atlantans ever modified.
The tremendous success of the din
ner in every way and in each partlc-
ular detail, was the chief topic OF
conversation. The number OF guests
the typical and Characteristic way IN
which they represented each and
every phase of the professional, com
merciaI, business, industrial and
manufacturing life of Atlanta.
Before going into dinner, many of
the guests met President Finley in
an informal way. That President
Finley made a most pleasing impress
sion was recognized by every guest.
He was delightfully."- charming in his
manner, while every Albanian accord
ed him a most cordial welcome.
At the demand of many, John Tenn
pie Graves, made few remarks in his
usual feIicitous manner.
Perhaps a reference on the part of
President Pope in introducing Presi-
dent w. w. Finley of the Southern
railway, caused the greatest enthusi-
asm Of the evening. This was the
suggestion that Atlanta was the log
ica1 center of the Southern railway
and the natural place for the location
of it's headquarters and general offices.
This suggestion occastoned a verit
able storm of applause and broad
and happy smile on the part of Pres
ident Finley As the official arose
to speak his name, coupled with that
Of the late president, Samuel Spen-
Ger, Of the Southern railway, was re-
sponsible for long continued cheer
ing.
"The Relations Of Railways to the
Public" was the subject of President
Finleys address, and his speech was
a pertinent and important presentation
of the subject from the viewpoint of
the railroad side of the question. His
every word was given the closest at
tention, and at the conclusion of his
address, he was given an enthusiast
tic ovation by his many friends and
admirers, who some years ago learn
ed to know and respecs him as their
fellow townsman while he was sta
toned in Atlanta as chairman of the
Southeastern Passenger association.
In his presentation Of the subject,
President Finley stated that better
and more improved facilities for ship
ping and Transformation were greater
needs in the present development of the
south than any lowring of rates. He
stated that these rates at present were
sufficiently low for the southern pro-
Queer to compete with his eastern and
western business rivals. and that the
prompt placing of these products on
the market was the chief aim and
need of the southern shipper.
President FiTfly contrasted the at
titude OF the public towards common
carriers by water and by rail. He
insisted that rail transportation was
more important than water transpor-
tat1on, and that as soon as the people
thoroughly understood and appreciat-
ed this fact, they would be as reluc-
tant to place obstacles In the way of
railway improvements as they would
be to oppose the Improvement OF wa
terways.
Referring to the present agitation
In regard to the regulation of railroads
through legislation, President Finley
expressed the fear that this Iegisla-
ton, unless governed by sound and
conservative business judgment might
lead to the curtailment of railroad ex-
tension and development and condi-
tons made infinitely worse. rather
tnan better. In this connection no
pointed to attempting to remedy car
shortage by penalizing the railroads
and stated that the fact was. that the
demand for cars was greater than the
ability of either the railroads or the
car builders to supply.