The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-04
Affects Entire State


 J. B. Darlington president of the Cham man of the traffic committee, visited Birmingham Wednesday and conferred with shippers in that city in regard to the proposed increase He says that the manufacturers and coal men of Birming- ham are up in arms over the action of the railroads, which is believed to be merely an advance step toward a gen. eral increase in rates in sundry com modities
 ''As was pointed out in an interview given out in Birmingham Tuesday by Senator T. E. Kilby" said Mir. Caring ton, "the enforcement of the new rates would have the effect of forcing many Alabama industries that are now work ing to build up the coal business in this state and to enlarge Alabamas indus trial wealth to buy in Tennessee and Kentucky, thus taking money out of this state. Furthermore, he said. "the pro- posed raise would come as an unusually heavy burden at this time in view of the unsettled business conditions. It would not only hurt the coal men and the man ufacturers. but would react on labor and bring injury to the business of the en- tire state. MT. Henderson was nominated on the presumption that his election would put an end to railroad agitation, but if this raise is allowed it will set a dangerous precedent and keep alive the railroad rate quarrel fof years to come.'
 Resolutions Adopted
 The following resolution was intro- duced and unanimously adopted:
 Whereas, it has come to the knowl- edge of this body that the railroads are petitioning the sshte railroad com mission to be allowsd an increase in rates on coal to the industries in An niston, and
 ''Whereas this body has a1way stood for the fair treatmtnt of the railroads and against any ulhecessary hamper ing of the admins ration of their af fairs. and,
 Whereas, most f the industries To- cated and established in Anniston were established in and pnder existing rates on coal, which vtre put into effect more than IT yets ago for the pur- pose of promoting the building of in- dustries, and,
 Whereas, AnAston has invested many thousands Of dollars in these new industries 1 the faith that the existing rates n coal would not be raised which ldustries now yield a large and probable tonnage to the railroads; and, 4
 Whereas. W believe that the pro- posed increasefin rates on coal to be not only unjusq and unfair to the indus tries which hTe been persuaded to lo- cate here by feason of existing rates, but would, II large extent prevent the location # new industries and that the existing fates on coal are fair and reasonable. I
 ''Therefor3 be it resolved:
 T. That he proposed increase would work greatIinjury and hardship to the industries already located here on the, faith of existing rates, and we ear- nestly oppose the said proposed in crease.
 "2. That the present unsettled busi- ness coaditions make it advisable to prevent fany reopening or agitation of existing freight artes on coal.
 ''3 That we respectfully suggest to the railroads that after years of con tention over rates we believe 1t to be to their interest and the interest of the public to refrain from further att tempted increase of rates on coal; and, that it would be more to their in- terest to lend their encouragement and helping hand to the sustaining of in dustries already built and to the build ing up of new industries.
 "A. We respectfully petition the state railroad commission to deny the peti- tion of the railroads for an increase in rates on coal to the industries in An niston.
 JOE HARRINGTON. President.
 "C. c. WATSON, Secretary"