The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-15
TO LOOK INTO RATES RAILROAD COMMISSION TO INVEs- TIGATE WIRE COMPANIES. Mrl Nesbitt Says He Will Have SOme- thing to Say as To Telegraph
 and Telephone Rust-
 ness.

Birmingham, Sept. 14-(Special)- The State Railroad Commission will meet in Montgomery Monday and will be gin an investigation of telephone and telegraph rates, as well as the rate of cotton compressed at the gin, with a view of securing a better rate for the people of the State If 1t is found that the rates now in force are excess sive
 w. D. Nesbitt. associate railroad commissioner, talked today of the work before the commission.
 T will call attention of the com mission to the rumored advance in telephone and telegraph rates," he said, and if 1t is found that they have been unwarrantably advanced, steps will be taken to see that they are re- duced. I have been out of the State for three weeks, just returned a few days ago. and have. not had time to investigate the subject fully. l under stand that the telegraph companies have put on a rate that is twenty-five per cent higher than the rate previously charged. l do not know for sure that this rate applies to Alabama, and for that reason can't say definitely that IL comes under the supervision of the railroad commission. However, tho subject will be investigated fully.
 Tt has been brought to my notice that the telephone companies have ad- vanced rates since the telegraph strike notably the flight rates. This will also be thoroughly investigated by the com mission.
 "The commission will investigate the rate charged on cotton compressed at the gin This matter was brought to out attention by the Farmers Union of this State and we have been asked to make an Investigation The farm CTS think that if they compress cotton al the gin and load from fifty to seven ty-five bales in the car, instead of twenty-five bales of uncompressed cot ton as at present, that they are en- titled to a reduction in the rate charged by the railroad company. The only
 instance in which this question has been brought to the attention of the railroads was in Georgia. Two years ago the Central of Georgia railway granted a rate from Arlington, Ga. for cotton compressed at the gin of thirty cents less per bale than un- compressed cotton. As the Farmers Union is preparing to establish many congresses at their gins they feel thaS they should know just what freight rate they can figure on in shipping this cotton"
 The securing of a greatly reduced rate by the commission companies from express companies is something that the press dispatches from Montgomery have entirely overlooked. At con ference between the commission. the railroads and the representatives of the express companies. an agreement was reached whereby express rates on a great many articles was reduced twenty five per cent. Another copceS- sion obtained from the express com panies was that all packages of five pounds or less should be carried be- tween the points in the State for twenty five cents, this rate applica ble to butter. eggs. fruit and many other kinds of produce. This will mean a great deal for Birmingham as it will encourage shipment of farm produce here. and will also benefit the farmers who need a market for what he grows, The rate becomes effective October Is.
 By an amendment to the act creat- ing the railroad commission passed just prior to the adjournment of the last session of the Legislature, the railroad commission was given authority to have the same supervision over tele- phone and telegraph rates that they now have over railroad rates
 Mir Nesbitt will leave Monday for Montgomery to be present al the meet ing of the commission.