The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-30
FURNACE MEN WILL l. ASK REDUCTION IN RATES ON P|G IRON Independent Iron Makers of Alabama and Tennessee
 Meet Here Today MAY FILE PETITION BEFORE AUTHORITIES Colonel Mabep Explains Why It Is Necessary to Get Reduction in Rates of at Least
 One Dollar

A committee of iron furnace officials representing every maker in this state and Tennessee excepting the Tennessee Coal Iron and Railroad company, will meet this morning in the offices of Col ]. C. Maben, president of the Sloss-Sheffield Steel ana Iron company for the purpose Of taking final action, perhaps, before the ming oi a. petition before the interstate commerce commission relative to decrease of $l on pig iron rates
 The committee which meets today will probably hear the report of attorneys appointed by the furnace makers as 10 the petition to be filed against the raii- roads by the furnace men. The Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company will not participate in the conference, it being un- derstood that the Tennessee company does not seek any reduction on the rates now charged. It is expected that formal let ter telling the committee of the latter company's action will be read before the meeting.
 The furnace makers will ask the inter- state commerce commission to reduce the rate on iron to many points l per ton. It is to be the allegation of the ironmakers that under the existing tariff, and in view of the present condition of the iron mar ket there cannot be made any great profits out of local ironmaking.
 As soon as the committee files it's re- port it is probable that the petition will be at once made to the commission. and particular stress laid upon the point that immediate action is needed.
 
 Colonel Maben's Views
 Col. J. C. Maben, President of the Sloss company, said yesterday that in the old times when the price of pig iron was high the companies very willingly paid a high tariff over the railroad lines to the logi- cal and legitimate markets for local iron.
 However the price of pig iron is now lower than it has been in years" Colonel Maben says. "and we are entitled to the reduction to be asked for. We pay the same rates now as when we sold Birming ham iron at s20 per ton. It Is certain that we cannot hold up much longer unless re- lief is given.
 "The saiil oad officials. I firmly he- lieve. appreciate the equity of the claim cf the furnace men and would willingly give the reduction. However, the men | higher up ere the ones that are resisting the reques. that is to be made. There are those interests who wish that the Birmingham district iron may be retarded from the legitimate districts in which we have sold iron for many years. They know that the Birmingham and Tennes- see makers would destroy them with our iron as surely as night follows day and on account of that fact they want us to be placed under still greater burdens than excessive freight rates
 "The meeting Tuesday will end, I pre- sume, in a determination to go the full length with the interstate commerce com mission in getting q rate on our iron which will permit the district to live from iron making. If we dc not get the re- duction there will be perhaps story different to relate.'
 Get Up Statistics
 The committee that has been handling the formulation Of the petition before the interstate commerce commission is com posed of prominent industrial men of the district The officials appreciate that some very sound and substantial reasons nst be given the interstate commerce commissioners before any hand will be iaid upon tho existing rates. Accordingly. the iron makers have gathered statistics and arguinentative figures which will no doubt form an important part of the pe- tition.
 After the matter is laid before the com mission 1t is probable that an examiner will be sent to Birmingham to. inquire into the conditions and ascertain whether or not the decrease of s1 is equitable. That hearing will doubtless attract the very widest attention