The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-06-01
GREAT VICTORY
FOR PEOPLE IN
BILL PASSAGE
LONG AND SHORT HAUL BILL ONE
OF THE MOST USEFUL MEAS
uREs YET PUT THROUGH BY
PRESENT LEGISLATURE.
BY FRANK |. HuFFAkER.

Tallahassee, May 31.--One of the
greatest victories achieved for the
common people OF this state during
this session of the legislature has been
the passage of what is now known as
the long and short haul bill. The bill
4 provides that no railroad company
shall charge more for short haul
than it does for a long haul over the
same line and in the same direction.
1T is an exact copy of the Interstate
Commerce Act relative to the same
matter. The bill further provides that
a railroad company may upon appica-
ton to the railroad commission secure
relief in certain instances from the ap-
plication of the bill, where the en-
forcement of the provisions Thereon
would be confscatory. 1t also provides
that the present rates shall under no
circumstances be raised where the
rates have been reduced to meet water
competition.
Representative Edwin Spencer, Of
Marion, introducer of the bill, said:
1T would seem strange to many
P&ople, who have not informed them
selves upon this question, that such a
bill would be necessary, for 1t certainly
seems strange that railroad COM
pany should charge more for freight
from Jacksonville to Tallahassee than
n does from Jacksonville to Pensa-
Cola, or that it should charge more
from Jacksonville to Ocala than 1t
does from Jacksonville to Tampa yet
this is the case.
"As result of this discrimination in
favor of seaport towns the interior
of the state of Florida has long been
at the mercy of the railroad COM
panies.
The argument of the railroad COM
panies has always been that it is nee
essary to lower the rate to the sea-
port city In order TO meet water COM
petition, but a close examination OF the
rates from Jacksonville to Tampa and
from Jacksonville to Ocala, will dis
close the fact that that argument is
certainly not logically carried out
since on many articles the rate is
much lower from Jacksonville to Tam
Pa than from Jacksonvill eto Ocala,
and on other higher, NOTWITHSTANDING
water competition on all articles.
Not long ago 1 was discussing the
establishing of factory for Ocala
with interested parties, who were
thinking Of spending some money
freight rates, however, and found that
hey could secure much better rate
Nkver either the Seaboard or Coast
Line frbm Tampa, than Qcala. they
immediately declined
: ''As an illustration OF this unjust
discrimination the rate on first-class
freight per hundred pounds, is as fol-
lows.
From Jacksonville to Tampa, soc.
From Jacksonville to Ocala, &c.
From Jacksonville to Leesburg, CSC,
On Second Class Freight.
From Jacksonville to Tampa, 43c.
From Jacksonville to Ocala, 5sc
On Third-C Freight.
From Jacksonville to Tampa, Sac.
From Jacksonville to Ocala, soc.
On Flour the Rate
From Jacksonville to Tampa is &c.
per barrel.
From Jacksonville to ocala Is acc.
per barrel.
OcaIa is used as an illustration sim
ply because of the fact that Ocala is
about halfway between Jacksonville
and Tampa.
"One1half million people will be eff
fected by the provisions of this bill,
and I spredict that while it may take
several years for the railroad commits
sion to satisfactorily adjust these rates,
that the interior sections of the state
will ultimately cease to be discrimin
ated against, and town in the inte-
rior will have as much chance to grow
as a town on the seacoast."