Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-16

had favored resisting the appeal of west
ern roads to the interstate commerce
commission for an increase of rates. Mr..
Hill said he didn't think Mr.. McLendon
showed any undue sympathy with the
railroads. He thought that the rest Of
the commissioners knew generally that Mr..
McLendon would accept free transporta-
ton for certain inspection trips In reply
to certain other technical questions Of
Mr.. Anderson, Mr. Hill said he would
have to refer to the records.
AS TO PORT RATES.
In the matter of port rates, Mr.. Hill
said that Georgia towns outside of At
lanta generally, as far as he remem-
bered, were not represented at the port
rate hearing. Mr.. Hill, however, in reply
to a question of Mr.. Wright, made this
significant declaration:
Commissioner Gambler submitted an
amendment, making the rate to Atlanta
class rate. and applicable to other Geor-
gia points"
| Mr.. Hill added that letters were re-
ceived from other points asking for a
reduction.
A tilt occurred between Mr.. McLendon
and Mr.. Wright as to the words "unrea-
sonable," and excessive. Mr.. McLendon
said that fair play was fine thing. The
record was consulted and the matter adj
justed.
Mr.. Boyd asked Mr.. Hill II at a pre-
vious hearing Cordele and other points
had not asked to intervene with the At
lanta Freight bureau in its petition for
lower rates, and If the attorney for the
bureau had not refused?
There was a discussion as to whether
this matter, brought up years before Mr..
McLendon's was with the commission
should be introduced. Finally the COM
mittee decided to admit the question.
Mr. Hill replied that he couldn't re-
call the occurrence.
Mr.. Hill, in reply to other questions.
said that Governor Browns. then Com
missioner Browns, dissenting opinion first
brought port rates to public attention.
! DIDN'T FAVOR LITIGATION.
Mr.. Hill said he didn't think that the
mere objection of the attorney of the
Atlanta Freight bureau should have de-
TERED the commission from allowing 9TH
er Georgia towns to intervene in the port
rate decision. He said that, as far as
he knew, Mr.. McLendon had not said that
the matter of rates should be pushed be-
fore the interstate commerce commits
sion.
Mr.. Hill said Mr.. McLendon simply
said:
Here are my views" and presented a
paper on the port rates. He thought that
Mr.. McLendon took the position that the
commission couldn't sustain itself in the
courts on the port rates, that, in gen.
eral way, he didn't want to see the conf
mission make fool Of itself.
, PLAYING THE FOOL"
Mr. Sheppard asked if Mr.. McLendon
had taken the attitude that the commits
sion was making a fool of itself on this
question.
NO, L DON'T" replied Mr.. Hill. 'Mr.
McLendon would have been more cour-
teous to the commission"
He never remembered hearing Mr.. Nc
Tendon express an opinion on this sub
ject.
IMPORTANT LETTER READ.
In reply to Mr.. McElreath, Mr.. Hill
admitted he had written Mr.. McLendon
letter protesting against Mr.. McLen-
don's letter to the Albany Board of
Trade anent any increase in western
grain rates. This letter was read. 1t said
that 1t would be unwise to publish his
(NdcLendon's) opinion one way or the
other, on the question of going to the in
terstate commerce commission.
In answer to Mr.. McElreath's ques-
ton, he said that he feared this let
ter might get into the newspapers.
would 1t not be advisable" he asked
Mr.. Hill, Ito explain for the benefit of
the Legislature, just what port rates
| are?"
ROADS NOTIFIED.
J Mr. HILL at this point, produced letters
showing that several roads connecting
with Savannah had been notified of the
! port rate hearing.
Mr. Anderson elucidated Mr.. HIS
views on the port rate question. Mr.. Hill
said that a committee, with Judge Hillyer
as chairman, had been appointed to get
/ Information and facts to back up an APP
/ peal to the interstate commerce commits
| sion on western rates. This information,
he thought, was furnished Judge Hines,
! the commissions counsel
Mr. Wright asked If the motion OF Mr..
| Gambler, making the port rate a class
rate, applicable to all points, would not
remove all objections to the rate as being
discriminating. Mr.. Hill replied that
there were other objections. He admitted.
however that the Gambler motion, If
adopted, would have removed the dis
| criminatory features.
QUOTES GALLOWAY.
Mr.. McLendon asked Mr.. Hill If Full
Ter Galloway. former Commissioners, did
not say before the board. that IT was
a fact that the grain brokers had threat
ened the roads with opposition to the