Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-06-14
GEOR GAS FREIGHT RATE FIGHT
NOW a NATIONAL LSSUE


protect the people of the west against excessive ana
unfair advance freight which the railroads of that terri
tory about to impose.
Four days ago of Georgia went be-
seek relief from unfair and exes
freight that have long burdened the people of this state
These incidents falling closely together in point OF time
present interesting and significant parallel What the ship
pers through the
shippers and Georgia are a
peang through the laws of the state In ultimate purposes
principles largely Identical remains to
of Georgia will guard the
interests OF our own people as effectively as the 1eoera
ment of justice has guarded the rights of the westerners
There further significance the fact that these two
indicates that the campaign Tor
just and reasonable freight rates which The journal mas %
pressing for the past six and which was III
the administration OF former Governor Hoke SMITH no!
local launched for political ends but is national ld
involving the welfare of the whole American people 1t is an oea
Importance that the president of the United
fit himself interfere in order to prevent COM
bnaon of railroads from yong addonas burdens On tne p
pie Twenty-Five transportation lines had agreed among
tariffs June They had selected
evadg the railroad law now beng
shaped law which will provide that all increases III
submitted for the interstate commerce
before they be into effect By his prompt
action the president has protected the Shippers against
ary has virtually forced the roads submit their
proposed tariffs commission
But this act only indication that the subject OF
freight become national issue and that the campaign IN
Georgia supported by the soundest thought OF the country at
large Only few weeks ago the interstate commerce co
declared that freight rates from the central west TO points
in the discriminave and excessive This rulng
upheld by the courts doubtless will be- must result IN read
ustment of the the south The principles IN
that ruling particulars equivalent 10 tne
principles which have conended In the matter OF georgia
freight between her ports and her interior cities
All these go show that the economic ideas on
Governor Smiths campaign was based IN 1910 nave
taken country large and that the needs from winch
that campaign national in character
that the fight for fair freight rates IN Gor
ga impulse that is any less needfu today
than five years ago On the contrary nntr:nobsd is
the intelligence of the people, is lodged in their fun
damenta welfare Neither the people OF HGr on Sev
hope to reach their due measure OF n
their rights the freight question country IS
first of all in the production of commodities but Its
in the distribution these commodities is equally as vital
Unless fair and adequate system distributing food pro-
ducts manufactured products consumer and every eg
business will suffer That is to say unless the ces inc
and manufacturers and the individuals Oh state are
given and just freight rates. that state cannot move for
ward By discrimination IN rates ra1rc "a can lbs.
from the By excessive rates can levy TAX on eve
household IN the land beside winch the epuDcan ngh
is scarcely noticeable.
Consider instance what the proposed rate advance of
railroads would the people An average IN
of ten per cent freight would hundred
and seventy million dollars added to the general cost of v
year in the expenses every family in this country.
grounds do the railroads justify their attempted
They declare that operating expenses have ad
vanced Yet it striking fact that during the first eight
the fiscal the roads have earned ninety
million dollars earned during the corresponding
months of 1907 which the banner year all railroad history
operating of the roads for the ending June
30 1907 hundred and forty million dollars When
panic followed these fell off about hundred million
mediaey panic the operating lacked only
million dollars of having returned to the hghwaer
within the past eight months they have
beyond what they the or railroad
therefore, natural that the people of the west should
effort their freight rates at the present time
equally logical that the people of Georgia should at this time,
of freight in this commonwealth Ninety
eight hardware merchants have appealed to state railroad COM
arer and reasonable tariffs special
whenever effort made
freight Georgia. the reaconae have cried that Atlanta
seeking special privileges But here nearly hundred
merchants and shippers representing practically town OF im
porance the asking behalf of the whole state that
they given reasonable Their petition especially sign
coming does the midst of national movement of
which part and coming the of state election