The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1910-02-11
PROGRESS OF
RATE MATTER
Officers Believe Growers Have
Much Hope From Commission
BIG AMOUNT INVOLVED
Railroad Claims That Growers Ask for
HaIf.Mllion Dollars Large Sum for
Producers TO Lose or Win

That the growers of the East Coast
have much to hope from the contention
for lower freight rates which has been
made before the Interstate Commerce
Commission, is the opinion Of II. V.
Moore, secretary of the East Coast
Fruit and Vegetable Growers Associa-
tion, who returned from Washington.
The Florida party appearing. before
the commission was composed of Presi-
dent c. A. Robinson, Secretary T. V.
Moore and Directors Cullen Pence and
w r. Hardee. Attorney A. A. BOggs
represented the association in company
with Attorneys Glasgow and Drayton.
The Florida East Coast railroad was
represented by President j. X. Parrott,
Vice. President j. p. Beckwth and At
torneys Abrams and Andrews.
MIR. Moore and Mr. Boggs appeared
before the Rivers and Harbors Com
mittee in presenting the claims for
another appropriation for the Miami
harbor. They asked for an appropria'
ton to cover the additional work neces-
sarv to widen the channel and deepen
il according to estimates made by the
engineer in charge of the work of this
district. which is $3.50, 900. Mr.. Moore
saws that Congressman Sparkman was
of the opinion that the item would be
included, though it is admitted that
the time is short, as the bill is to be
reported this week.
Speaking of the rate hearing Mr..
Moore said:
"The East Coast Fruit & Vegetable
Growers Association completed its
final hearing in Washington before the
Interstate Commerce Commission Feb
ruary Bird and 4th.
This is the third appearance of the
shippers before this body within a
period of six weeks, and while the COM
missoner's decision may not be known
for some time, whether it is favorable
or unfavorable, whethera material re-
duction of rates is secured or other
wise, the shippers have reason for self
graduation in that the effort has been
made and conducted with a vigor, dig
nity and determination which command
ed the respect of the court and the at
tention of the defendants.
Sin the contention just closed the
growers felt that in performing. duty
their interests required the prize was
olthy of the effort.
"In his argument before the Com,
mission the carriers attorney declared
that the concessions asked for would
m can reduction of his clients revenues
of 1852, 900. This is a large. sum Tor
the carriers to lose, but it is equally
as large for the shippers to lose, or
win.
1.-The members of the association
who have given the rate question most
thought are impressed with the import
ance of promoting in every way POSI-
bic water transportation. Competition
Only will permanently adjust rate dllil-
culties.
The acts of the Rivers and Harbors
Committees of Congress, as they may
be favorable or 'unfavOrable,, are as
material to the interests OF the snip
per as are the decisions ofithe rate-ad-
justing commission.
1T is not the intention of this asso-
citation to engage in politics. 1t recog
nizes, however, that transportation
charges are of paramount Importance
and for this reason men and measures
will be subject to the most careiui
scrunity. If in the past politics nave
been injected into business there can
be no crime in injecting business INTO
politics.
The growers of the East Coast are
urged to maintain the permanent III
tegrty of their organization, not Tor
getting that units uncombned can not
be effective" :,
In letter to THE TRIBUNE. President
G. A. Robinson. writes:
1.-The case of the East Coast Fruit
and Vegetable Growers Association
VS.. the Florida East Coast Railway pc
fore the Interstate Commerce COmii,'s,
sions in Washington, was suDml'teu
at one p. m. the 4th inst. ~,
We who are here on the ground iee'
that our prospects for reduction IN
freight rates on Pines are good. Wv
thing, in particular that we nave a ahn
Onstrated to our ye0ple IS TINS: ia.
the Florida East Coast Railway Is
amenable to the Interstate Commerce
Commissioners" This as you know
they 1.-THE Railway Company nave az
ways contended that they were not.
We are now making an effort TO get
some appropriation for the Santa Lu-
Gle Inlet. but the chances for this are,
no, so good as Senator TalIiaferro woulo
have us believe. If he gets any,appru:,l,
priation for this waterway, ne VIII
have to get hustle on himself. un,
dnr,ts. ii ~ - ! -, e MT in, the CITY ana