The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-04-19
DISCRIMINATION
 IN COTTON RATES Three Cases Before Interstate Commerce Commission FAVOR EAST AGAINST SOUTH Thirty Railroad Companies Charged With Discriminating Against Cot
 tor Manufacturers of
 the South.

Washington. April 1s.-Three cases in- volving charges of excessive rates and discrimination on the part of about thirty railroad companies against cotton man ufaeturers of the south, were heard to- day bv the interstate commerce commis- sion. Chairman Knapp and Commis- sioners Clements, Cockrel and Lane are hearing the cases. It is likely the pro- ceedings will continue for two days.
 The cases which practically are identi- cal, were brought by the Enterprise Manufacturing company of Augusta, against the Monroe cotton mills of Mon roe. Ga. and the Graniteville, s. C. Man ufacturing company, against the Georsla Railroad company and others; the same complanants against other railroads on similar charges; and the China and Japan Trading company of Augusta. against the Southern railway, and others. all com plaints alleging that the defendant com panies charge unjust and discriminatory rates on cotton goods and cotton waste shipped by the compliments to Chlna and Japan. It is alleged that the railroads favor the eastern mills in their frelSht rates to Pacific coast terminals on goods intended for the Oriental trade. They say they are compelled to pay a rate or $l2o per 100 pounds on such goods from points in Virginia, North Carolina, South Caro- lima Georgia, Alabama. Mississippi, LoulS- jana and Texas, whereas the eastern man ufacturers obtain a much lower rate to the great disadvantage of the mill own CTS of the south. K. J. Southall of Au- gusta represented the complainants, and the railroads directly involved are repre- scented by their counsel.
 Great Advan.sg SC.
 The testimony of the manufacturers and shippers of cotton goods in the south today showed that the difference in the freight rate given them by the railroads and steamship lines from the rate given to eastern manufacturers and shippers amounted substantially to 43 cents bale to China They contended that this was sufficient to affect seriously the trade of the south in the Orient, where the consumers of their goods were largely coolies. receiving a wage of not exceed ing 10 cents a day, on which the cooies were obliged to maintain himself and his family.
 It was shown also that prior to July, l9O6 the freight rate on cotton piece goods from the south to the Orient, both by the Suez canal and by the Pacific lines, was much lower than it is now In the summer of 1906 the steamship lines through their representatives held several conferences at which the general subject of freight rates on cotton goods to China and Japan was discussed. Finally the matter was referred to a committee ap- pointed with power to increase the rate if that action should be deemed deslr able.
 5i25 Per Hun el~ed.
 So far as the evidence thus far ad- duced shows the committee did not make report of it's determination. but the individual members of it which was the traffic representatives of the several steamship lines. announced that the rates hereafter on cotton piece goods from southern ports to China and Japan either hy the Pacific or by the Suez canal route, would be sl.25 per lG0 pounds II was de- nied by the steamship lines that any thng approxmating a definite agreement as to rates was made among them, but each line did announce a rate of $1 9 per hundred pounds on cotton goods, which is the rate today. It was said that compettion among the various steamship lines in carrying of cotton goods still is active, but no specific instance