The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1908-08-12
COMMISSION WILL
PASS ON RATE
QUESTION
EXPECTED THAT INTERSTATE
COMMERCE COMMISSION WILL
FINALLY DECIDE THE MATTER
WITHIN NEXT MONTH.

Washington, Aug. 11.-During the
next month or six weeks it is prob
able that the interstate commerce
commission will decide upon the ques-
tiCn of the reasonableness OF the pro
posed increase of freight rates in
Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and
portions of South and North Carolina
in the southeastern territory. and in
Texas in the southwestern territory.
The complaint of the Georgia ship
pers has already been filed with the
commission and the railroads have
been given 20 days in which to reply
to the charges. The commissions de-
cision will effect the proposed changes
throughout the southeastern territory.
Tie complaint of the Texas railway
commission probably will be filed to-
morrow, and Chairman Knapp has
given assurance that an inquiry and
decision in the case will be expedited
as rapidly as compliance with the
law will permit.
The proposed increase of freight
rates in the several southern states
embrace practically all extensive in
creases proposed throughout the coun-
try at this time. The decision of these
cases will have an important bearing
upon rates generally, as the question
to be determined in respect to south
ern rates are largely the same as may
be urged as the basis of increase else
where.
1t is said by experts who have I'M
officially calculated the percentage of
the increases in comparison with the
old rates that the proposed increase
on class rates from st. Louis to COM
mon points in Texas is between and
per cent. AS there has been no
increase in rates from st. Louis and
Chicago, Boston, New York and other
points in the middle west and east
tie percentage of increase between
exas common points and these Sec
tions is less than per cent. 1t is
stated that the increases from St.
Louis and Ohio river crossings to
Atlanta, Ca, average less than the
increase from st. Louis to Texas
points.
The railroads will, it is expected,
urge among other reasons for increas-
ing their rates, that they have been
prevented from reducing wages, and
they will point to the decision to that
effect by Chairman Knapp, of the In
terstate Commerce Commission, and
Commissioner Neill of the bureau of
labor, sitting as board of arbitra-
tors, in reference to the wages Of en-
ployes of the Southern railway They
will point to a reduction of their in
terstate passenger revenue by the re-
duction of rates from 8 to 2 cents in
Virginia, and from 8 to 1-2 cents a
mile in other southern states. 1t is
expected that specific instances of in
crease in both wages and cost of ma
terial since the old rates went into ef
feet will be alleged. And that on
some branch lines doing an interstate
business there have been reductions
in freight rates by state enactments.
Both in the case of the complaint
of the Georgia shippers and the state
railroad commission of Texas there
will be strenuous effort to prevent
an increase of rates, of which notice
has been given. All representations,
whether of the railroads or of the
complainants, will be scrutinized very
carefully, so that the facts will be
fully established.
President Roosevelt has been ap-
pealed to by Senator Culberson, of
Texas, in an effort to restrain the
railroads from putting the new rates
into effect in that state, and Mr.
Roosevelt has referred the matter to
the attorney general. In the mean
time, the Texas and Oklahoma state
railway commissions will file separate
complaints with the interstate COM
merce commission tomorrow.