The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1910-02-04
PROGRESS OF
RATE MATTER
Officers of the Growers AssOCi-
alton Make Report of Efforts
EAST COAST RE-OPENED
Hearing Commenced in Washington Yes
terday in Effort to Get Reduction on
East Coast and Through Rates.

To the Shippers of the East Coast.
The East Coast Fruit Il Vegetable
Growers Association was organized
seven months ago for the purpose of
cOncertedly trying to secure more rea-
sonable transpOl tation rates either by
proper courts In October conference
was sought and held with the Florida
East Coast Railway representatives,
with no result. In December a hearing
was had before the Interstate Com
merce Commission sitting at Jackson
vile. On this occasion testimony was
taken from cOmpainants from various
portions of the State bearing ON rates
from Jacksonville to points beyond.
At this time the Florida East Coast
Railway was only an incidental feature
of the hearing. In the early part of
the present month the case as heard in
Jacksonville was argued by the respec-
tive attorneys in Washington before
the Commissioners. The latter body
was then sufficiently impressed to order
a re-Opening of the case as it pertained
to the Florida East Coast Railway, and
February 3rd set as the date for wit
nesses and attorneys of complainants
and defendants to present their respec-
tive cases. This hearing will be in
Washington.
In the meantime officials of the Flor
ida East Coast Railway. asked for
conference with representatives of the
Association, suggesting that they were
willing and prepared to make cOncesS-
ions and adjust differences amicably.
Three cents per package of 80 pounds
and for smaller cases in proportion in
car load lots was offered with the condl-
ton that at certain points where rates
are not too high these rates be rails
ed. The Associations representatives
not being sure if this was rate ''revis-
ion upward or downward" suggested
that in the uncertainty they could
scarcely recommend it's favorable re-
ception. They were then given to
understand that this was final what
ever the outcome to their business.
This hearing" was held in Jackson
vile, January Goth, the Florida East
Coast Railway represented by it's presi.
dent and traffic agents, the State Rail-
road Commission being in attendance,
and the result being profitable to the
one, to the extent of the railroad fares
beneficial to the other parties concern
ed in clearing the sky of any embarrass-
ing remnants of doubt.
During the present week meeting.
of the Board of Directors of the Assoc
citation was held in this city and four
of the number were selected to attend
the hearing in Washington, and this
review of the situation, and partial re-
cord of the progress made to date. it
was, thought advisable to make and
publish to the growers through the me-
dunn of the press.
Since you have been IN the business
the cost of making your crops has in
creased fifty per cent and the price re-
ceived cut in two owing to competition
from new territories opened. Through
the volume of business they handle has
increased ten-fold, the transportation
companies charge the same and use the
profits made on your business in eX-
pensive efforts to bring your foreign
neighbors' products into competition
with your own.
You now realize that If relief is oh
tanned it must be through the courts
established especially for the adjust
ment of differences between shipper
and carrier. The growers embraced in
this Association have refrained so long
from taking the extreme, distasteful
and expensive measure that they feel
that further forbearance could only be
interpreted criminal Indifference to their
own and family's interests or as cring-
ing servility.
The expense incident. to this conten-
ton will naturally be large in the ag-
and the time required can not
be fOretold. The financial burden if
borne by the thousand
member. and others interested will be
1t is with you whether
this expense be made heavy for the few
or light for the many.
This Association Is not posing as a
beggar; it goes to the Interstate Com 2
merce Commission in the confirmed
belief that its patrons have the same
rights morally and legally as others; it
asks the cooperation and monetary
of the shipper and those IN
terested in hhi welfare. believing it to
be their dutysnd privilege to assist in
an effort from which all must profit.
While many communities have re-
sponded promptly and literally there
are others in the three counties en-
braced in the organization which
have not done so.
1t will he the aim of the directors of
their respective vicinities to keep you
advised Of the progress made.
C. A.. ROBINSON. President.