The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-09
ATTACKS RAILROADS
O. c. BARBER MAKES VEHEMENT
 SPEECH IN CHICAGO.
Says Increased Freight Rates Win UI- timafeiy Go Through Some Ameri-
 can Hefress etc Enrich
 Foreign Nebiemen.o

Chicago, Dec. S.--The issue between the clippers of the country and the raiiroads, which, broadly, is said to be whethe CT the blow follows the locomo- tive Or the locomotive the blow. was joined at the annual banquet of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association here tonight.
 W. c. Brown. Second Vice. President of the New York Central Lines, deliy- cred an elaborate plea for the particu- patton of the railroads in the countrys prosperity, while O. C.. Barber, Presi- dent of the Diamond Match Company. veh emently asserted that instead of contemplating increased freight rates, which perhaps ultimately would go through some American heiress "to enrich foreign noblemen," the roads should be calculating how great re- duction they should in fairness make to shippers.
 The banquet, aside from interest aroused by the earnest presentation, Of radically divergent views, ushered in Laverne W. Moves as President of the Association. MT. Barber, in his address referred several times to MT. Brown, declaring that the latter, in his att tempts to educate the public to be- lief that higher rates is necessary. perhaps is taking his cue from the late P. q. Barnum, who said the pub lie was fond of being humbugged.
 William Ii. Vanderbilt" said Mir. Barber who succeeded his father, the Commodore, without the latter's brain and ability, recognized the public with words, The public be damned and the public has been damned ever since by one scheme and another emauattng from the brains of men of his own in- tellect and force"
 MT. Barber declared that at the be. ginning of the panic of last winter, the railroads discharged a greater propor- ton of men than any other industry, and accentuated the results of the panic by cutting off repairs. and pur- chases in every direction. and tried to blame the conditions on President Roosevelt.
 sIt seems to me-" said the speaker. .that the Interstate Commerce Com. mission is absolutely irnpotent in pro- lie for the following reasons: The railroads which have their ramifica- tions all over the United States are doing about one-twelfth of the busi- nese of the entire country in dollars and cents perhaps more. The entire circulating medium of the country passes through their hands once a year. It would be impossible for fifteen or Commerce Commission. to take up even a small fraction of the cases which could consistently be brought against the railroad companies.
 Mr. Browns address presented a careful review of the increased prices within the last ten years save alone freight rates which he said had Jagged behind. He said that if the expendi- lures of the railroad for 1907 could have been made at prices obtaining in 1897 the railroads of the country would have saved sS76.oO0.ooo. He stated that during the past ten months the rail- roads have been making the most palms. taking investigation and analysis of their own condition ever made. He confirmed the charge made q year ago from 1898 to 1908. freight rates had been advanced on s97 articles but he