The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-06
R R AIR DAD RATE
|. ADVANCE UPHELD
Decision May Have Important
Bearing on Other Cases
Pending.

Washington, November 5.-Uphold-
ing the sweeping advances in rates
on Southeastern traffic on many COM
modities as justified by needed i'm
proved facilities, the Interstate Com
nierce Commission to-day, in di-
vided decision, dismissed the cases
instituted by the railroad commits
sions of Alabama and Georgia and
the A. p. Morgan Grain Company and
others.
The decision may have an impor-
tant bearing OH other pending cases.
including the Southwestern shippers
case. which was heard by the COM
mission to-day and taken under adj
visement and the wholesale increases
in rates by the railroads generally,
now suspended by the commission
pending Investigation. To-day's de-
cision Involves the Atlantic Coast
Line, the Louisville and Nashville and
other roads as defendants.
The advances involved were made
on August 1, 1908, and the majority
opinion written by Commissioner
Cockrell. held that they were not
found to be unjust, unreasonable nor
unduly discriminatory. The decision
covering the advances applies generally
to Georgia, Alabama, Florida and the
Carolinas from Ohio and Mississippi
River crossings.
The majority opinion holds that both
the adjustment of rates between Biz
mingham and Atlanta and the advances
made August l. 1908. were based on In )
creasing taxation and in the prices OF
material and labor.
1.-THE condition of most of the rails
roads in this section of the country.
Inv, tjey -
up to the highest standard, and in or
der that their facilities may be I'M
proved and extended to the ultimate.
lasting advantage Of the people Of the
South, it is necessary that the carriers
be permitted to charge rates that are
| fully compensatory for the services
they perform, so long as such rates
have not been shown to- be unjust, u9-
reasonable or excessive with respect to
! the public. We are unable to hold
| that an advance is unreasonable be-
cause some part of the benefit there
| from will accrue to a carrier that
| during the period of the last ten
| years has regularly paid interest on It's
total bonded debt and in addition
thereto has recently paid dividends
| uopn its stock Wa.
| 1t was alleged that these increases
i NSic Willy u pul VI oSlACA O. FS@NASN
| made or to be made in the freight rates
! throughout the South The decision.
| however is confined to the specif ic
| matters now in issue, and the commits
sion SAYS is not to be construed as en-
tending beyond them or as indicating
! in any degree approval of, other or
!, further advances III rates. The adj
4 vances We're in meats, -four, grain
1 apacking house products etc., mostly
4 time freight that must be- moved
4 promptly, the wheat and corn milled
I in transit without extra charge. and
1 the loss and damage claims being
4 higher than the average on all CON,
moditles.
4 Dissenting opinions were filed by
/ Commissioners LancSand elements. Mr
Clements contended that there Was nc
i justification for tho threatened burden
upon the transportation of this section
5Eof the country, either In the, needs ( O
carriers, the history of rates or tbs
/ ability of the public to pay ~ cent:
4 per captaamore for the staples affected