The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-16
Deal Fairly witb the People


 Attention was recently called by The Constitution to the fact that in no sin gle instance can it be shown that the people of Georgia are deriving any benefit from the reductions which have been made in freight rates, either in- trastate or interstate.
 On the other hand, in practically -ey- cry instance involving the necessaries of life, 1t has been shown that the re- duction in freight rates has been fol- lowed by an increase in the price of the article to the consumer.
 Thus, not only have the manufacture CT and the jobber profted by recent freight rate reductions, but the nanu- facturer has put up the price of his product to such an extent that by the time it reaches the retailer he must ask the consumer more for it than he did year ago. in order to make meager profit for himself.
 The theory of reduced freight rates is that they shall at last benefit the con- sumner. In fact, that is the promise which was made to the people of Geor- gia. Is it not therefore, significant that in spite of the fact that freight rates in Georgia have recently been re- duced to an extent of more than $2, 900 900 year, the people Of the State. the consumers, have in no single in- r stance profited one penny's worthy
 Thomas E. Watson takes up the subject in the current issue of his Weekly Jeffersonian, and admitting that the Georgia Railroad Commission with all of its shortcomings" hassuc- ceeded in bringing about freight rate reductions amounting to $2,oOo,0oO a year, asks if the consumers Of manu- factured goods ought not to be able 10 buy them at least as cheaply as they did a few years ago? There is but one answer, and vet the truth is the farmer and the retailer are paying more, Tn some instances very much more, TOT these same goods than they did before those freight rate reductions became effective Where. then, is the beneht to the consumer who comprises the vast mass ot the people, from these re- ductiQns? Evidently 1t is a negative
 MT. Watson joins The Constitution in protest that the price of stoves ad- vanced 5 per cent in addition to pre- vious advances. within the very week in which the Supreme Court or Georgla sustained the materially reduced rates on that article ordered by the Commis- sion. Likewise, as MT. Watson shows, it has been shown beyond the possibil- ity of dispute that the prices of shoes, of blankets, of dry goods and clothing. of flour and of numerous other com modities upon which these freight re- auctions have been secured within the last two years have so materially ad- vanced to the consumer that the cost of | living Is now far in excess of what tt was before these reductions were made. | In a second interview published to- l day. Railroad Commissioner Joseph M Brown goes still deeper into this sub l ject and shows that whereas the rail- ! road, through the medium of freight l rate reductions and by other methods l is being cut down to a per cent earn l ing basis, the manufacturer Is increas- | ing the price of his product to point | where, In some instances. his earnings are as high as 100 per cent.
 It is undoubtedly true that freight rates have been too high and the re | auctions were unquestionably Justified
 But it Is the people who are part owners in the railroad as seml-pup' | lie institution, and not the few manu- | lecturers and jobbers of the country | It is impossible therefore to escape the l business and equity of the contention | that wherever there is reduction ID | the freight rates it belongs to the whole people, just as much as does 6 | reduction in the rate of passenger rare l and not to the favored few. hemem' l Der the farmers! Remember the prom: l ises made them when they were toio | that freight rates were responsible fol the high prices they were paying TOT | goods.
 The consumer of passenger transpor. l tation derives a direct benefit from the reduction in the mileage rate every 1 time he purchases a ticket. But tht consumer of a stove which two years ago cost him $ll, now pays Tor II l SIS. 65 notwithstanding the ract Una
 the freight rate on this article in Geor. gia has been reduced approximately S'
 That is not dealing fairly with tho people. N ,
 Where is the justice to the consumer | in these conditions?
 The retailer is helpless. his price t( the consumer is dependent upon thal which inc manufact Arer exacts iron | him. Thus neither the retailer. noi i the consumer, has derived the adVan 1 tage promised from these frefght re | auctions. momentous in the aggregate which have been secured. not to th' | people of Georgia, but to the manulac ] t1rnrs nf thiS and nfhar State9i