The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-02-27

vicksburg. He says that his company
has learned that from experience. This
is an unwarranted reflection on the
Mississippi Commission. Not one
word Of testimony justifies the impu-
tation that 1t has ever done or will
do anything that is not fair and just.
The only two orders of that Commits
sion which it is shown we're even
complained of is the order in regard
to the 3 IL cent rebilling rate, which
was corrective order to prevent I'M
just discrimination as between ship
pers, just as we now seek correc-
tive order to prevent discrimination as
between places. The other order was
the one fixing a 4 IL cent rate over
the Alabama and Vicksburg to Hat
tiesburg. on the theory that the Ala
bama and Vicksburg and The New
Orleans and Northeastern were one
line and since it was voluntarily car
rying grain from Vicksburg to Merid-
ian, distance of ninety-five miles, for
8 IL cents, under the application of
it's own established system of differen-
tials the l cent would cover the add
tional haul to Hattiesburg. This or.
der was never enforced and stands en-
joined. 1t must be borne in mind that
that order was also intended to cor
rect determinations growing out Of
the IL cent farte. We are not here
refending the order as to the reason
ableness of that rate. It is, perhaps,
too low, viewed as an involuntary rate.
However, we call attention to the fact
that the Mississippi Commission in
that order expressly adjudicated that
Hattiesburg was entitled to be classed
with Meridian and JACKSON as COM
peting or basing point. The Mississip-
pi statute has a similar provision to
the Federal statute. permitting lower
rates for longer hauls only where con-
ditions are substantially dissimilar.
By that order, which is found on page
29 of the official report of the Rail-
road Commission of Mississippi for
1905-1907, it expressly adjudicates that
Hattiesburg is entitled to be treated
in the matter of rates as a competi-
tive point, as circumstances and con-
ditions being substantially dissimilar
to those of all other interior places
in the State except Meridian and Jack
son, and that in the matter of rates
it is entitled to be grouped or classed
with those cities. This order, made
over the opposition of the railroads,
including the Illinois Central, in favor
of Hattiesburg. effectually repels the
insinuation of Mr.. Hattendorf that the
Commission is standing
guard over Jackson. Mississippi, to
protect it against any other towns.
(17) The only complete and final
answer to the argument that the CIV
ing to Hattiesburg of the same rates
as Jackson and Meridian would com
pei the giving of similar rates to Lau-
rel, Newton, Alderman, Winona and
New Albany is found in the fact that
the giving of the lower rates to Jack
son and Meridian have not had such
compelling effect, and the bringing Of
Hattiesburg into the Jackson and Me-
ridian group could not possibly have
such effect.
(1S) Lastly, it is persuasive of the
justice of Hattiesburg's contention
that no other town, even those which
it is claimed will be injured, is pro-
testing or opposing the petition. No
person or place, not even Jackson or
Meridian, is directly or indirectly op-
posing the petition. The opposition
comes mainly from two roads, neither
of which enters Hattiesburg, whose
interests are adverse to Hattiesburg,
and would be fostered by diverting
the traffic from Hattiesburg to Me-
ridian and Jackson, respectively.
Brief.
The primary purpose of the Inter
state Commerce Commission and Of
every State Commission should be the
prevention of discrimination, both as
between persons and places. When it
is shown that carrier charges less
for a longer haul than for a shorter
haul over the same route the burden
is on it to show dissimilar conditions.
81. C. c. R. ISL.
at is within the jurisdiction of the
Interstate Commerce Commission to
consider whether a railroad company
transporting freight and charging a
higher rate for shorter than longer