The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-05

Atlanta. October 4.--(Special. .1-The rate hearing which has been in progress for the last two weeks before three demo- cratic members of the interstate conn merce commission, sitting in Atlanta, is reported to have an interesting political phase prominently connected with the na- tional campaign.
 According to the gossip which has been freely indulged in by those attendant on the hearing, it is even reported that the rate increases now in contest before the commission, were the result of presiden- t,al suggestion as an alternative for wage reduction, which was threatened early in the year.
 It will be recalled that the President through the interstate commerce commis- sion, took up the matter of wage reduc- ton by the railroads early in the present year Following this is also remembered that certain railroads which had threat ened to reduce wages did not do so. and certain other roads which had reduced them, notably the Southern, restored them to the old figures
 Now the railroads, 1t Is said, put It sduarely up to the President that re- trenchment In some quarter was apso- lutely essential to the maintenance Of their financial integrity. But the wages were not reduced and where reductions were made they stayed in effect but short time. Instead there came within A short time announcement that rates would be increased, and certain of the uaY m r. feet on August L
 Of course it would never have done for widespread and sweeping reductions la wages to have gone into effect in a presi- dental year, and especially when the Tor tunes of the republican candidate were so severely at stake, and increased rates being the only way to meet the emergen- CIV from a railroad standpoint, they were put into eeffct.
 Southern shippers and merchants or course complained; that was to be ex- pected. The matter went before the in- terstate commerce commission and three democratic members of that body, all Bryan men, were sent down here to look into the case. With three such good dem ocrats on the job, 1t is argued, the south can have no good reason to complain.
 And the decision. That will not come until sometime after the national election has been held and it's result determined. The arguments following the Atlanta hearing will be made later in Washing ton, and then there Is such mass Of evidence to be gone over, that finding under two or three months is not to be anticipated.
 Politically, it will make little difference then what the result, so long as good wages have not been cut to the harm of republican chances. But there is very general belief that the railroads will suc- ceed in making out their case. They have put it squarely up to the commission that it is either a case of lower wages, higher rates or bankruptcy, and of the three evils they have chosen what they con- slider the lesser. They have even put the commission and the shipping public on notice that further increases are to be made; in fact, it is stated that corps of railroad clerks is busy right now re- vising rates from Ohio river points into southern territory on almost every class of commodity. but it is not expected that these revised and increased rates