Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-11-06
DlSMlSStS CASES FROM
ALABAMA AND GEORGIA
Opinion Handed Down Holds That
Charges by the Atlantic Ccast Line
and other Railways Are No. Unjust.
Decision May Have important Bear
ing on other Similar Actions.
(py Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, ID. c.. Nov. Up
holding the sweeping advances in
rates on southeastern traffic, on many
classes and commodities, as justified
by the condition Of the railroads and
the needed Improved facilities. the In
terstate Commerce Commission today,
in divided decision. dismissed tbs
cases instituted by the railroad com
missions oil Alabama and Georgia and
the A. L. Morgan Grain Company and
others.
The decisions may h 70 an impor-
tant bearing on other pen Ing cases
IT., southwestern shippers - go. which
was heard by the commlss en today
and taken under. Amusement. and The
Wholesale increases in rates ~ the
railroads generally, now suspend by
the commission pending investigator.
Today's decision involves the Allan :
Coast Line and other roads defend
ants.
The advances involved were made
on August /. 1908, and the majority
opinion. written by Commissioner
Cockrell. held that the rates were not
found to be unjust or unduly dis
criminatory. The decision covered the
advances generally to Georgia, Ala
bama, Florida and the Carollnas from
Ohio and Mississippi river crossings
The majority opinion holds that botn
the adjustment OF rates between Biz
mingham and Atlanta and the sd
vances made August !, 1908, were
based on increased taxation and in
the prices Of material and labor.
Reads Need Improvement.
The condition of most of the rail-
roads i'm this section of the country,
says the majority opinion, zig not yet
up to the highest standard and in or
der hat 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 car
Tiers be permitted TO charge rates that
are flllx compensatory for the serv-
ices they perform so long as such
rates have not been shown to he I'M
lust. unreasonable or excessive with
respect to the public. We are unable
to hold that an advance is unresson-
able because some part of the benefit
thorcfrom will accrue to the carrier.
that during he period CT the last ten
Years has ifosN iaf'Si''t w.
it's total bonded debt. end in addition
thereto has recently paid dividends
upon its stock
Other increases Expected.
IL was alleged that these increases
were only pari of general advance
made. or 20 be made. in the freight
rises Throughout the South. The de-
cision. however. is coniinedfo the spe-
cifc matters now at Issue. and the
commission says is not to be con-
strued as extending beyond them or
as indicating. in any degree, approval
OF other or further advances in rates.
The advances were on meats. -four.
grain. packing house products, mostly
time freight that must he moved
promptly: the wheat and corn billed
in transit without extra charge AMI
the less and damage claims, higher
than the average on all commodities.
Dissenting opinions we're filed oy
Commissioners Lane and Clements
Mr.. Clements contended that there
was no justification fer the threatened
burden upon the transportation Of this
section e the country. either in The
needs Of carriers. the history OF rates.
or the ability Of the public to pay
u cents ro- capita more for the sta-
nicz affected