The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-25
RATE ISSUE AGAIN
 ALIVE IN GEORGIA What Will State Do With Soft
 Drink Revenue NEW PRIMARY FOR ATLANTA The City Win Be Allowed to Vote On Form of Commission Government
 It Desires-Many Want
 Barrett's Place.
NEW PRIMARY fORATLANTA

Atlanta, April 24.-(special )-There is not little politics mixed up with the port rate proposition which the railroad commission is about to consider.
 It was in February that Governor Smith wrote the commission asking it to take hold of the port rate proposition, a somewhat belated injunction to the com mission to comply with the promises made in the Macon platform adopted at the time of Governor Smiths nomination.
 Half dozen or more of the leading newspapers of the state have been dis cussing the matter off and on ever since and questioning whether and when the governor and commission would take hold of this matter
 It was not long after the governors letter of February last that two port rate petitions were filed with the railroad com- mission, one by the Beck & Gregg Hard ware company of Atlanta. which also has warehouse and depot in Savannah, asking for reduction in the rate on special iron products from the ports to interior points.
 About the same time the McCord- Stewart company, wholesale grocers, filed a petition asking a reduction in the rates on coffee from the ports to interior points.
 And now comes Governor Smith, and, in a letter dated April 19, asks the com mission of its own motion to make a reduction of cents per 100 pounds in the rates on cotton from interior points to the ports.
 It is on this latter request that the gov ernor and the chairman of the commits sion Hon. s. G. McLendon, yldl fair to split.
 It will be recalled that Mr MeLendon although elected by the people for a full term as railroad commissioner, first got on the commission by appointment from Governor smith, who fired Commissioner Joseph M. Brown, thereby making him governor, and appointed 6r. McLendon in his place.
 Now it begains to look as if the gov ernor had not only named his own sue cessor by firing him from the railroad commission, but is about to lose, or has lost, his mainstay the board: for there is no doubt that until recently he has looked to Chairman McLendon as the chief factor in carrying out my policies" on the commission.
 Governor Smiths letter on the port rate as to cotton, is likely to cut some fig ure in the future political history of the state. While reference has been made to it, 1t has not, heretofore been pub lished in full but under the circumstances it may be well that its contents should be known. 1t is as follows:
 Atlanta, Ga, April 19, 1909 To the Chairman and Members of the
 Railroad Commission, Atlanta, Ga.
 "Gentemen As within few days you will consider the reduction of rates to and from the ports, I desire to bring to your attention especially the rates on cotton from interior points to the ports of Georgia
 T believe that a reduction of at least five (5c) cents hundred pounds on the charges for hauling cotton from all in- terior points to the ports of Georgia would be equitable and fair and 1 suggest that 1t be made.
 T present this matter to your atten- ton at the present time that the cotton rate may be included in your investiga- ton and the railroad receive due mo- tice.
 You will remember that the bill passed in 1907 places the duty upon the railroad commission or remodeling rates at their own initiative, and the petition of no citizen is necessary for the purpose of causing action from the commission Very respectively,
 "HOKE SMITH, Governor"
 The port rate petitions already referred to are to come before the railroad com mission for hearing on May ,. but it is safe to say that the governors request as to reduction of the cotton rate will not be heard at that time. The railroads have been notified and d copy of the gov ernor's letter has been sent them but this is too big d question. it is said, to require them to make answer and de- fense so short notice.
 In a statement which Chairman Me Lendon has prepared, he says he has already given much thought and atten- tion to the matter and he quotes figures to show that other cotton states sim ilarily situated to Georgia now have higher rates to the ports on cotton than this state has.
 Furthermore it has been pointed out that flat reduction of five cents per 100 pounds on the rate on cotton from all interior points to the ports would amount to a reduction of F to 20 per cent and even more than that in cases where the distance is very short
 The cotton rate from Rome to Savan- nah, for instance. Is 45 cents; from Still more to Savannah, 25 cents. The pro- posed reduction in one instance would be II per cent, in the other 20
 The fact of alleged excessive charge on cotton from interior points to the ports, as compared with the rates charged from points in other states. was one of the points made by Governor Smith in his first campaign. On the evening of the expiration of his term he is urging the commission to make good on this campaign promise
 And all indications point to the fact that the man whom he made chairman of the railroad commission is not go- ing to stand by him.
 Chairman McLendon, it Is stated does not believe the reduction would be justi- fled under present conditions; he be- leves 1t would add to a depression which has not altogether disappeared.
 But the governor will be able to point to the fact that he endeavored to have this reduction brought about.
 The question of a reduced cotton rate to the ports will not be heard on May 5. when other port rates are considered The commission will. however take up the matter and assign 1t for special hear ing at a later date.
 It Is a situation whose outcome will be watched with no small interest.