The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-24


Assuring the members of the Chamber
OF Commerce and the shippers OF BIZ
mingham that their contentious in regaro
to freight rate Determinations would re-
ceive immediate and careful attention q
r. Compton, freight traffic manager fol
the Louisville and Nashville railroad on
behalf of the railroad officials attend
ing the conference suggested that fur
ther action be deferred until after the
approaching conference of the Southeast
ern Traffic officials, which meets August
is at Hot Springs, Ark, at which time
a decision would be reached.
This action was taken at the joint con-
ference of the railroads and Transports
ton committee of the Birmingham Cham
Der of Commerce. local shippers and the
representatives of the several railroads
entering the city, in which alleged freight
discrimination against the Birmingham
shippers was discussed. Attending the
meeting were a number of the board OF
directors of the chamber and many other
interests were represented.
Conference Is Harmonious
throughout, and while some Of the speak
ers charged gross discrimination on th'
part of the railroads they Invariably
presented data to back up their asser'
tons. e. Wilkerson, representing the
grain men of the city, made strong
argument in favor of the contention of the
local shippers and cited many cases OF
alleged discrimination. Secretary w. c.
Radcliffe, who read letters from the Sher-
win-Wiliams Paint company, at which
they announced 1t was necessary to re-
move their Headquarters on account of
high freight rates explained that the
company would still maintain a ware
house here and distribute their products
in Alabama from Birmingham.
f, S. Caldwell and A. A. Towers were
present as representatives of the Gads-
den Chamber of Commerce. Mr.. Cald-
well was called upon and stated that the
freight rate determinations were worse in
Gadsden than they were in Birmingham
c. B. Compton was the only speaker
for the railroads who suggested that the
matter be deferred until the meeting OF
the Southeastern conference as cited
above.
In the absence of President W. p. G
Harding, who is out of the city, Oscar c
Turner, first vice president, called the
meeting to order and presided over Its
deliberations Mr.. Turner stated the con
ference was called in friendly spirit and
in the belief that after the Birmingham
shippers had presented their side of tht
case they would be given more equitable
freight rates.
Number of Speakers Heard
NJ. p. Northngton, chairman of tht
railroads and transportation committee
in presenting the data in which they
based their contention, stated that while
the railroads had given Birmingham
service they had not given the city due
consideration as shipping point. Mur
ray Brown, of the firm of Goodall. Brown
& Co.. stated that freight rates hat
increased steadily for some years pas
until they were paying more than theil
competitors and cited rates on calico tt
prove his contention.
B. H. Hartsfield, representing the Bir
mingham Stove and Range company. stat
existing rates that barred them from ex
tending their business into other states
r. r. Ezelle of the Perfection Mattress
company declared the rates worked
hardship on the small manufacturer. J
n. Dean of the Birmingham Metal Prod
ucts company stated Birmingham was no