Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-08-08
STATES PROTESTING
Texas and OKLA ON. Bring
Complaints to Interstate
Commerce Commission
POLITICS BEING CHARGED
POLITICS BEING
CHARGED
southerners Accuse Railroads of Pur-
poseIy Trying to Raise Rates in
Democratic Terrtory-say Advance
Will Cause NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Attacks Coal Companies.


Washington, ID. c.. Aug. "a vigor-
Gus storm of protest is brewing over
in the south The advance guard of the
contingent from Texas and oklahoma,
interstate commerce commission the
unfairness and lack of necessity fo-
in that section, reached Washington
Yesterday The commission has re-
ceived lengthy and specifically
worded complaint from produce deal
ers in Georgia, which comes as a Sc
quel to the recently granted temper
AIRY restraining order issued by Judge
Emory Speer, Of Georgia, enjoining the
railroads leading into that territory
from enforcing their increased rates
on the transportation of staples. hay,
ever. was today nullitied by another
court decision.
Coupled with the general volley of
protest from the south against what Is
termed the wholly unnecessary and I'M
called for set of demands on the part
of the railroads, there are some person.
al and unofficial charges that the roads
are playing politics.
Suggest Political Purpose.
why is It," they ask, that the rail-
roads are generally choosing southern
territory, the realm of democrats. as
the place to put their increased rate
IDEAS into effect, and are leaving the
northern field entirely untouched?
If il means that the railroads are
selecting territory where the least
damage can be done to the republican
ticket. say the southerners. the policy
will be exposed and northern jobbers
and manufacturers will be given a
demonstration of what it means to
them as we'll as the people to whom
they are shipping in the south.
There was a conference at the
Interstate commerce commission to-
day between Chairman Knapp and
the Texas and Oklahoma representa-
tives. Senator Charles A. Culberson
OF Texas is here and with him are AL
lison Mayfeld, chairman of the Texas
railway commission, Assistant Attor-
ney General Pollock of Texas, and j.
f. Love, chairman of the railway COM
mission of oklahoma. On Friday there
will be "a formal hearing before Chair
man Knapp and Commissioner Gle
ments, at which the protest of Texas
against the increased schedules to be
nut in force there on Aug. 10 will be
presented.
Georgia Complaint Expected.
The complaint of the Georgia mer-
chants, filed yesterday, has been
expected for some time, and
comes at the suggestion of
Judge Speer, who intimated that
it was case properly for the
judgment of the interstate commerce
1t is of particular inter-
est at this time, owing to the recent
effort made by the railroads it men,
lions to withdraw the newly filed
schedules for revision. In a decision
made public last Saturday the inter
state commerce commission declined
to allow the withdrawal and revision
to be made. This action, both on the
part of the railroads and the COM
has given considerable en-
engagement to the Georgians.
AS brought to the commission the
Georgia complaint is entitled the A. r.
Morgan Grain Company and others
against the Atlantic Coast Line Rail
road Company and others. and declares
that by a concerted movement the
carriers recently sought to increase
their rates thru the intervention of the
Southeastern Freight association,
which is described as an organization
in restraint Of trade. The advance
proposed, which was to become effec-
tive Aug. i, is declared to be in sup
preston of competition and the result
of conspiracy.
Say Advance Will Cause Hardship.
The proposed advance, it is said, will
fall not only upon the merchants but
upon the public, and many of the
commodities involved being staple ar
ticles will produce hardship. 1t is
estimated the proposed advance in the
state of Georgia alone represents an
addition in freight charges of from
100000 to $1,O0O,O0O annually. 1t is
alleged that the advance is an arbi-
trary and unlawful exaction and is
not compensatory charge to meet
the cost of the service. 1t is submitted
that the common carriers have no
more right to advance rates in time of
adversely to compensate for loss Of
tonnage than they have to increase
rates during prosperous times in order
to share in the prosperity of the ship
per.
Georsians Lose Point.
Asheville, n. c.. Aug. Counsel
representing the Southern railway. the