The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-11
So Decide At Meeting Held Yesterday Afternoon At 4 O'clock At the Chamber of Commerce.
l CONSPIRACY CHARGE MADE BY M'GEEVER
 AGAINST THE ROADS
Must Be Hostile to District, Says Member of Board of Revenue. Big Delegation Will Go to Mont
 gomery Sunday Night to Place Pro- test Before the Railroad Commission

Dig Delegation VIII to to Mont- gomery Sunday Night to Place Pro- test Before the Railroad Commission Al meeting of the manufacturers of Birmingham--coal consumers-yes- terday afternoon at o'clock at the Chamber of Commerce auditorium. it was decided to join the Chamber of Commerce in protest to the rail- road commission against the proposed
 increase in freight rates of B 1-3 per cent aske for by the railroads. The manufacturers took the attitude that if the increases were granted it would
 have the effect of dscouraging the bringing to Birmingham of new in- dustries and would lessen the coal lconsumption. thereby causing q cur
 tailment in the coal production of the Birmingham district.
 Hugh McGecver gave 1t as his opin-
 ion that the railroads felt unkindly
 toward the Birmingham district. Ut
 would seem as though there Is a spirit
 of hostility against this district" said NIT. McGcevcr. "The railroads In ask ing for an increase In rates coal
 at this particular time, just as the
 Panama canal is thrown open to the
 commerce of the world, it appears are
 in conspiracy against the Birming-
 ham district"
 Big Delegation to Montgomery Sunday night delegation from the
 Chamber of Commerce, 45 strong. will 
 minghams protest against the pro- posed increase in rates on Monday at the hearing before the railroad com mission. The manufacturers were asked yesterday afternoon to send delega- ton with the Chamber of Commerce. committee and many of those present Immediately signified their intention of being present with the Birmingham delegation.
 F. NJ. Jackson presided oyer the meeting and asked F. q. Shook to state
 the object of the gathering. MT. Shook l told in "a few words that the matter of the coal freight rate increase was up for consideration and told what ac- ton the Chamber of Commerce had | taken on the matter
 Culpepper Exum followed Mir l Shook and said that ''as citizen | of Birmingham l do not believe this 1 is the time to raise question of 1 increase m tfeiSnl fates- T uo not take the position that the rates are too low. but even If they l were at this time it would be more 1 than a hardship on this community 1 and manufacturers generally were the increase granted
 l "It is not within the province of this 1 meeting to decide as to the reasonable l ness of the proposed increase. We l only know that if the increase is | ta1 bR detrimental l to the best interests of Birmingham. 1 Industries in this district have been 1 discriminated against in outbound 1 freight rates to such an extent that | manufacturers of the same goods in 1 other cities can come to this city and l successfully compete with local man 1 ufacturers as to price. The increase l should not be granted.
 l Julius Gosin, connected with foundry company in Birmingham, stated that his company had come to Birmingham some years ago because of the freight rate on l coal and pig iron. He stated that this l was the deciding point which caused those 1 at the head of his concern to locate m l Birmingham and further stated that the proposed increase would work a hardship | upon his firm.
 ] Ii was pointed out in the meeting that l approxinately 150, 900 tons of domestic coal 1 was used in the homes of Birmingham 1 proper every year, and that approximately | 1 .0o0. GOO tons of steam coal was used by l tbe industries of the Birmingham district annually.
 l Railroads Have Profited | One speaker brought out the fact that
 the railroads had been instrumental in l large measure for the upbuilding of Br-
 mingham by having low rate on coal i and pig iron. But concluded the speaker, '.the railroads have pronted by l inc upbuilding of this city more than any l other one agency, and the rates should l be kept as they are for the further up 1 building of the city.
 l It is believed a delegation of between 1 75 and 100 will leave Birmingham for Montgomery Sunday night and appear be- l fore the railroad commission Monday morning. Great interest was manifested | in the meeting of the manufacturers ycs- 1 terday There was no joking and langh- l fer. as is customary after such a meet l ing. Everyone present seemed to feel I the gravity of the situation and to real i ize what 1t means to the Birmingham dis 1 trict should the asked for increase be 1 granted, and everyone seemed determined l to do all within his power to prevent the 1 increase.
 l The personnel of the Chamber of Com merce committee which goes to Mont 1 gomery Sunday night is as follows ;u- l gene L. Brown, chairman; George E. 1 Ward Hugh McGeever. F. M. Jac.sson l M. J. Gregg ". B. Leedy. w. H. Kct- l tig. ]. D. Moore. K. P. McDavid, Coman
 BIach, pr. II. A. Elkourie. Ben NJ. Jacobs, R. W. Roland. w D. Jelks. John T. Yeat- ran. T. H. Motion. T. c. Mcdonald. J. V. | Allen, c. E. Rogers. George A. Blnn. " | N Malone. J. D. Shelby. Gen. Louis V. l Clark, Phares Coleman. w. Thornton
 Estes. Samuel Rand, Julius Goslin. '. 0. I Smith, M. P. Messer, J. A. Millsom. C. R.
 Patterson, George T. Stafford. Ceorge ".
 Reese Louis Shullhoefer. w. H. Stock ! ham. Oscar C. Turner. Culpcpper Exurn. w. NJ. McDowell, James Donaldson w. R. Stewart and T. A. Weller. There will be quite a large party from the meeting of manufacturers yesterday afternoon, and it is expected many other citizens will attend the hearing. Board to Attend Exercises