The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-03

The Louisville and Nashville trans ports goods from the East te fensa- cola by rafi and water throuEh the ports of Charleston. sawannah and Jacksonville and Hampton Roads.
 There has been no advance of rates from Pensaeola te New Orleans. There Is no movement of traffc from Pensa- ecia to New oriesns.
 Commissioner Clements directed that the ease of rates from New orleans to Montgomery be taken up.
 ' Mir. Smith opened by filing exhibits showing reductions on six classes of rates from St. Louis, Louisville and Cincinnati to Montgomery since octo- Der l. 1887. and net increases on some classes from New orleans to Mont gomery since the date named. Reduc- tions from the nlad Western points to Birmingham were also noted by Nr. smith. Tables of rates were also filed showing that on certain classes there are lower rates via the Mobile and Ohts from New Orleans to within six ty-seven miles of Montgomery than to Montgomery.
 Tables showing reductions of rates from the North Atlantic seaboard to Montgomery under the rates from New Orleans to the same point. According 10 Mr. Smith there are also lower rates from New York and Baltimore to New ton are less than from New Crieans. Other tables of like purpose were also aied.
 Statements comparing rates from Montgomery to Mobile and New 0r- leans with rates In the reverse diFee- taon were filed by the witness.
 Case ts Closed.
 With the presentation of these stats- ments Mir. Smith said he would rest his case
 Exhibits were filed by Mir. Compton pointing out inaccuracies In the rate tables of Mir Smith in the cases of rates from New Orleans to Mobile and Pensacsls. The witness also explaaned that there have been no advances of rates to Montgomery and Selma from New Orleans and that the advances from the latter netat to Pensacola and Mobile were due to the necessity of preventing lower rates to Montgomery. The former low level of rates applying from New Orleans to MnbIle and Pen- sseola was due to potent water com petition existing in 1888. when the rates were first put in.
 Testimony was presante6 by Mir. Compton that in 1888 the rates from Memphis to Birmingham and Montgom- cry were made the same as from New Orleans to these points as the result of the arbitration by Judge Cooley,
 
 Commerce Commission. The influence of the Frisco building between Msm- phis and Birmingham was described as pertaining to the rates between thosa points. The conclusions drawn by Mir, Compton were that there Is justiflea- ton of as low rates on the first six classes and as low commodity rates from Memphis to Montgomery and Sel, ma as from New Orleans to the same points. The equality of these rates exists today.
 Mir. Compton described the accepted basis of making commodity rates from New Orleans to Montgomery. Selma and Prattviiie. Commodity rates are always made on a uniform differential basis. When rates were made from the Ohio river crossings to Montgom- cry and Pratfville. those to Prattviile were made a certain differential high CT than Montgomery. Therefore. whsn a rate changes to Montgomery 1t au- tomaticaIly changes to Prattville.
 Just snd Reasonable.
 The witness said the fact that rates to Montgomery from Memphis. Louis ville. etc, were made relative to the clusi~ely that they are just and rAa- sonable He also stated that the pres ent adjustment of rates between the points named is not unfavorable to New Orleans in competition with Mem phis. Louisville and oth!~ Ohio river crossings for the trade to Montgomery and Selma.
 The opinion was expressed by Mir. Compton that the making of commod- Hy rates from New Orleans to Mont gonaery and Selnaa lower than from New Orleans would be preferential to the latter caty. The present relative adjustment of the rates was said by the witness to be fair and gave a tech hical explanation of differentIals ap- plying to the two cases to support his contention.
 Answering Mir. smith the witness said that more export business Is ham died through Pensacola than through any other port but he could not say that the bulk of export business moves Pensacola.
 Easing a question to put to Mr. Compton. Mir. Smith said that as a rs- suit of a conference in New Orleans between railroad men and merchants there was reduction of rates from that port to Dofhan, Troy, and other Alabama towns. Very recently, Mir. smith said, the rates have been ad- vanced. and he asked Mir. Compton If such advances were due 10 the advance from New Orleans to Mobile Mr. Compton denied that such advances have been made and lf they existed they were not due to the Mobile ad- vance.
 Answering Mir. Smith. Mir Compton said he would issue . commodity rate from New Orleans to Montgomery and Selma on melting. rate of so cents.
 The cross examination of Afr. Comp ton ended a few minutes before o'clock, and the hearing was conclud- cd.
 On suggestion of Commissioner Glenn 4Bts. Judge Ed. Baxter, of the defend ant railroad. and Mfr. Smith of the New Orleans Board of Trade. agreed that Into a single brief should be consoli- dated both the cases of rates from New orleans to Mobile. Pensacola, Mont- gomery and Selma. The cases will also be argued together not earllsF than July 1. The time for filing briefs was set for the complatnants on July and for the Louisville and Nashville on September 1. or pFier.
 The Commission here formally ad- tourned at 1 o'clock.
 Take a trip to Havana on the 'sFama Nnefonnl'' Limited. Fare Bc.