The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-18
WILL HEAR BOTH
 SIDES OF MATTER
Chamber of Commerce Will Hear Coal Operators and Railroads Before
 Taking Any Steps

At an enthusiastic and largely at tended meeting of the railroads and transportation committee of the Cham Der ofs Commerce held at 4:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon, it was decided to crease in rates on coal--one for the operators and citizens generally and the other to hear the railroads side of the case The increase asked for by the railroads is 10 cents a ton on coal from Birmingham to Sylacauga An niston and Talladega The present rate is 50 cents a ton
 While there was no concrete antag- onism manifest in the meeting yester- day it was evident that the majority of those present felt that the rail the proposed increase would be fought by the merchants and manufacturers of Birmingham as we'll as by the oper- ators. There will be a meeting of the merchants. manufacturers. coal oper- ators. and citizens generally at the Chamber of Commerce within the next few days at which time the matter will be thoroughly investigated from the operators viewpoint. Later the railroads will be heard by the rail roads and transportation committee of the chamber.
 The board of directors of the Cham Der of Commerce instructed this com mittee to investigate the matter and it's chairman, H. J. Porter, wants to get both sides of the case before re- porting back to the directors. When the report is In 1t is believed the direct ors of the Chamber of Commerce will
 .f hot Alx- and place this report before it's mem bers for action.
 Much Interest Manifested
 Yesterdays meeting of the commit tee was attended by about 25 of the most representative business men and man nufacturers in the Birmingham dis trict. The Alabama Coal Operators as- sociation was represented as was also the Merchants and Manufacturers as sociation. Many business men were on hand and all were intensely interested in the hearing.
 Upon the request of J. c. DeBardeleben
 president of the Coal Operators associa
 ton, w. C.. Adams made a statement o1 the proposed increase. presenting the op orators side of it. This precipitated ( general discussion, in which nearly every one present joined.
 Walter Moore, in a statement before the committee, said that the coal opera tors of Birmingham and this district were the least interested of anyone in the Bir- mingham district; that the proposed in crease affected everyone within the con fines of Birmingham in that it would doubtless have a tendency to cause pros. pective new industries to hesitate about locating In this territory.
 F. NJ Jackson followed MT Moore and in vigorous statement practical echoed the sentiment expressed by the latter Reference was made in the meeting tt the competition Birmingham coal opera tors are compelled to meet at New Or. leans in fuel oil and it was stated that the railroads have an idea of ultimately asking for an increase in coal rates iron
 Birmingham to the Crescent City Tn, point was brought out that the railroads had not mentioned the possibility of in creasing the rates from Birmingham t, Pensacola and Mobile
 J. Frank Rushton. vice president of thu Chamber of Commerce, spoke and gave civic bodies should take a position o defending Birmingham before the stat railroad commission.
 The hearings on the matter before tn railroad commission are scheduled to be gin September 14, and 1t was pointed ou that the chamber would have to decid, its position immediately. For this req son it is beleived that both sides of tn, question will be heard by the chambe committee in the immediate future an, that body will state its position in tn, matter