The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-12

| and prosperity of certain sections by impeding and hindering the develop ment of their resources.
 VIII-Complainant further ayers that existing methods of preparing cotton for shipment are crude and wastefuf, but improvements are prevented by the system Of charging by defendants of same rate for compressed as for un- compressed cotton. That 1t denies to his own cotton for shipment and per petuates a system that is condemned by the cotton world.
 IX-Complaints ayers on information and belief that defendants are owners and controllers of the Atlantic Com press Company; that the operation of said congresses has proven unprofit- able, and that their arbitrary methods of discrimination against independent compresses is proving a source of ex pense in the transportation departmer ts of defendants.
 -x-Complainant ayers that the de- fendants cotton tariffs which read as follows. CA) "Rates on cotton, in bales, un- compressed. with privilege to carrier of compressing."
 tB) Rates cotton. uncompressed, in- cluding cost of compression at car rlers expense"
 are indefinite and Is neither a rate on compressed or uhcompressed cotton, and leaves the shipper in doubt as to the condition his cotton will reach des- tination and Is therefore, unjust and unreasonable.
 xI-Complainane further ayers that defendants cotton tariffs are unfair and indefinite both to the shipper and spinner in that it denies to the shipper the privilege of determining for him. self whether his cotton shall reach destination in a compressed or uncom- pressed state, and the spinner has no option in determining as to how his cotton shall be delivered to him.
 xII-Complainant ayers on informa- tion and belief that defendants cot ton tariffs are based on uncompress- ed cotton but much the greater part of same transported by them Is com pressed for which services the defen- dants pay eight and one-half cents per hundred pounds. thereby mixing and confusing the service of compress sion. which is foreign to that of trans portation, and a service and charge for same over which your Honorable Commission has no Jurisdiction. with the transportation service and charge. or which you do have Jurisdiction.
 XIII-Complainants further aver that while defendants tariffs are ostensibly based on uncompressej cot ton, it includes compressed cotton as we'll fin that they decline to give a lower rate on cotton rendered to de- fendants compressed. thereby saving to defendants the cost of compress ing. and complainants therefore charge that the present tariffs of defendants on compressed cotton are eXorbitant, unjust and unreasonable.
 Wherefore the petitioner prays that the defendants be required to answer the allegations herein and after due hearings and investigation an order be made requiring the defendants:
 First-To divorce the preparat tion of cotton in bales for shipment fSom the transportation of same. by fixing the rate on cotton compressed to density of not less than twenty-two and one-half pounds to the cubic foot, at eight and one-half per hun dred pounds less than the present rate on cotton from all points in Alabama to all points without the state to which the defendants have a schedule of rates on file.
 Second--That no local cotton from compress point be permitted to be fIoated. or concentrated, by absorption or refunding of any part of local charge. to another compress point, and that a compress point be defined as a place that has a compress erected Tor
 the purpose of compressing cotton. that has already been baled and able to perform such service.
 Third.-That all through shipments of uncompressed cotton he required to be stopped at first compress points through which 1t passes en route to and i'm the direction of It's destination for compression. provided. that such compress Is in operation and the ship uers desfhe such compression.
 Fourth-That rules and regulations of defendants for the concentration of cotton compressed or uncompressed shall apply equally to all points of coupression, and that a back haul in oonrantration be restricted to inter mediate stations between any compress noints or that no cotton be permitted to he hauled through a compress point in concentration.
 Fifth-That a reasonable contract | to he entered into between congresses | and the defendants, whereby said de- Yendants will be fully protected In all i their rights and secured against loss ana injury. be approved; and for such Tnrtber order as the Commission may deem necessary in the premises. Railroad Commission of Alabama Rv Charles Henderson, President Alex M Garber.
 Attorney General