The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-02-08
SHIPPERS Win
fight BEFORE
R. R. Commission
MISSISSIPPI CLASSIFICATION RE.
INsTATeD THIS MORNING
AFTER HARD FIGHT.
tHANGE effective MARCH 4TH
Matter Was Thoroughly Thrashed out
And a Volume of Testimony anc
STATISTICS Furnished the Commits
sion.
CHANGE EFFECTIVE MARCH 4TH

telephone message from Mr.. J..
W. Champlin to The News conveys
the information that the iobbing in.
lerests and commercial bodies nave
succeeded in having the Mississippi
rate Classification re-instated. Mr..
Champlin telephoned from jackson
Where he went with Hattiesburg's
delegation to lay before the Railroad
commission the side of the local ship.
pers and jobbers, that the commission
mad this morning needed the appeal
OF the business interests and abrogat.
ed the Southern Classification, which
was substituted several weeks ago for
the Mississippi Classification, then in
effect.
The order re-instating the Missis
sippi Classification is to become eff
fective on and after March the 4th
next.
In thus making the change in clas
sitications the commission was un
doubtedly impressed with the argu
ments of the representatives of the
several commercial bodies and Other
bushes men who have made such G
strong fight for the change, and Il
goes to show that these representa-
tiyes were well fortified with facts
and figures and presented their side
Of the question in an able manner.
Secretary Stockman of the Com
Mercial Club, and j. T. Con
ner have returned from Jack
son where they have been in the in
telests of the freight classification
matter that is before the State Rail
road Commission. The object of thi
trip was made as the result of an agl
t&tion recently started by merchant
and interested shippers, and has t,
do with the proposed Reinstatement
of the Mississippi Classification of lo
cal freight rates in lieu Of the South
ern Classification now effective
About twelve cities was represente,
in the gathering, including civic bod
secretaries, merchants and lawyers
Tuesday night there was a meeting O
about 100 members of the Legislature
held for the purpose Of discussing tn
matter, and parties thoroughly i
touch with freight rate conditions az
dressed the body One Senator re
marked that the progress made by tn
Railroad Commission was little shoI
OF marvellous, when it is considere
that their work and Investigation ha
been made without the assistance
expert rate and traffic men. Thf
they had accomplished wonders, BIT
that II was absolutely necessary thu
an expert rate man be employed
Look after this most complex and ia
reaching matter that effects ever
phase Of mercantile and industrii
nnrsuits and the welfare of eveI
community that depends on local IL
norts and exports alike, for compel
tive progress.
regular court of inquiry was hei
Arguments heard, statistics quote
examinations of witnesses and repr
sartatiyes Of either side placing the
arguments before the commission
fui stenographic report Of the pr
ceed,ngs was made and will present
volumIuous array Of pro and con m
.orio, for the work Of the Railros
o..,r,,ss,on The Importance OF q
hoor,rg was well exemplihed when
vas noted that every railroad enteri'
III. state was present with their re
d. .ooontatiyes. freight, traffic and &c
a .roI agents. counsel and in one
o..ree the vice-presldent genef
manager and general counsel OF o o
.,,rOad assisted by an expert ra
ION # is pointed out by those r'
nosonting ,, the manufacturing intere'
., the state. that it takes years ans,
.. O.,,su ,u' and research work to enai q
I ons n become thoroughly faminariA
with the various intrieasss =, apf s,s,e S9
rates, and they strongly .,,.. S.se -. "a Go
Doin.msnt 'ssrai of man to assist 'A' .