Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-04-06
EDITOR HOWELL is
R0UNDLY RAPED BY
GOVERNOR SMITH
Continued from Page one

now paying annually in the state in round
numbers in excess Of what they paid
prior to 1907 $550OOO.0o
The pay of employees on the railroads
has been increased since July LIST, 1905
An effort by the Western & Atlantic
railroad in 1908 to cut their wages was
prevented by an order of the railroad
commission requiring that cause should
be shown prior to a reduction of wages.
1t was but natural that, the Western &
Atlantic railroad failed to make the
showing for 1t has since appeared that
they made for the fiscal year ending Jus
~ LIST, 1908, $1OO,OO0.0O more than they did
for the previous fiscal year.
Under the direction of the railroad COM
mission the tracks of the railroad COM
panies have been supervised and the
service rendered to the public improved.
All this is in line with the principles
l advocated during my first race.
Now with reference to port rates.
As to Port Rates
The course of Mr.. Clark Howell
through his paper on this subject has
been unaccountable. At one time he
noisily demanded a reduction of rates
to and from the ports of the state.
On yesterday he solemnly declares
that the port rate proposition has not
even been mentioned =in the commission
in "subdued whisper"
Is 1t possible that he believes this
statement to be true?
There is now pending before the COM
mission an application to reduce certain
port rates. 1 understand that the entire
subject is receiving investigation by
the commission. -
The following is a copy Of letter
to ka mis- al
sents my views:
February 20, 1909.
To the Members Of the Railroad Com
mission.
Gentlemen: Permit me to bring to
your attention the copy Of a letter
which 1 received from Mr.. Max Banner,
director, Georgia division T. P. A.
1 ask you especially to consider the
portion of the letter which refers to the
statement of the superintendent OF the
Central of Georgia Railway company
with reference to a charge or -FOUR
cents per mile.
If you deem it advisable, would be
pleased to have you write directly 10
Mr.. Banner.
In this connection permit me also to
call to your attention the fact that In
the use of mileage books more trouble
is caused travelling men than seems 10
be necessary. 80
II is quite desirable that more I'D
eral sale be made Of the two tnousaho-
mile books good for five parties con-
nected with the same business house,
and that these books should be gooo
for any parties whose names are placed
upon them. This should certainly DC
the case when the five are members Oh
the same family.
I do not believe that the railroad Oh Oh
ficials have sought to encourage the use
of mileage books. They have placed
too MANY restrictions around them sucn
&c nresentation to agents to be pulled
and baggage checking.
The commission could at least nelp IheiI
holders by lessening the extra chsI &c
when the books have not been pulleo Dy
agents. I cannot doubt that some mourn
cations could be obtained by conferences
with railroad officials.
wish also to call your attention to an
other subject. I believe that careiuI
study of the rates from the ports OF
Georgia to interior points, and from IN
terror points to the ports will sausIy YOU
and should satisfy the railroad comPa-
MES. that there are many reductions In
rates which can be made with 1usuce u
the carrier and benefit to the public.
ton. They have been practically the
same for many years, yet the cost VI
handling has been reduced.
wish in this connection 20 call your at
tention to a letter written by your chair
man in 1906 in which he pointed out most
clearly the injustice Of many rates to
the ports on cotton.
There are also rates from the ports to
interior points in Georgia which have a
tendency to prevent railroads in Georgia
from obtaining the business, and rates
higher in some instances from the ports
to interior Georgia points than they are
when hauled from our ports through
the same Georgia points to other states.
Let me call your attention to two Illus
trations:
Rates on fertilizer material, imported,
carloads, from Brunswick, Ga, to Allan
ia, Ga, $2.57 per ton; to Nashville, Tenn,
$235 per ton; from Savannah. Ga, to
Atlanta, Ca, s2.57 per ton; to Nashville,
Tenn, $2.35 per ton.
Rates on coffee, green or roasted. car
loads, in cents, per 100 pounds
from Brunswick, Ga, and sa-
vannah, Ca, to Albany, Ca, CSC; to
Columbus, Ca, sc; to Macon, Ca, S4c;
to Athens, Ga, CSC; from Savannah, Ga,
to Atlanta, Ga, Sc; to Nashville, Tenn.
lie; to Ohio river crossings, &c.
The rates are also in many instances
higher from the ports to interior points
than from those points to the ports. This
prevents our people from properly using
the ports when commodities are shipped
into the state. Let me give an illus
tration:
Rates on social iron articles c. L.
Att ATKINS. Macon. Rome.
Brunswick, Ga,
north-bound E. ..23c &c nc 2Sc
Savannah, Ga,
south-bound =. lie 13c 12c lie
wish also to call your attention to
the matter Of classification of commodi-
ties for the purpose Of charging rates.
1 am advised when rates are promuI-
gated by the railroads they use a CLASH
f1cation different from that named by
the commission, and by changing CLASH
fications change rates.
Is 1t not desirable that all classif1ca-
ton should conform to the classihcations
fixed by the commission
1 am aware of the many duties which
have rested upon you, and the difficulty
you have had to secure a rate expert.
1 have myself in view of the panic
doubted the advisability of urging rate
notifications until recently.
Normal conditions are now returning,
and the surprisingly good showing which
the statements Of the railroads make re-
lieve doubt as to the wisdom of action.
i trust the time has come when fhe