Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-16
CURLING DDSTO
R. R. REVENUE,
IS CLAIM
Freight Bureau Members Hear
New Theory of Rate
Regulation.

Declaring that governmental regu-
laticn by relieving the railroads of
unfair and injurious practices from
which they could hardly have freed
themselves, has resulted in increased
revenue for the carriers Attorney
Edgar watkins president OF the At
ianta Bar Association, in an address
at the annual meeting and dinner Of
the Atlanta Freight Bureau at the
Piedmont Hotel Thursday night,
clearly set forth the results of the
work of the Interstate Commerce
Commission and the various State
commissions in regulating the roads
and obtaining rate reductions.
The fact that the recent agreement
between the express companies and
the Interstate Commerce Commission
had obtained for Atlanta a greater
reduction in rates than the Freight
Bureau or local business men have
ever asked for was emphasized by
J. 3. Hockaday, general manager of
the Southern Express Company, in
an address on the new express rates,
which 60 into effect all over the Unit
ed States February /.
Lower Rate Than Asked.
The Freight Bureau has been
fighting,'' he declared. "for rate of
$3.50 per hundred from New York to
Atlanta, and under the rates that so
into effect February l they will get
rate of S3.05 per hundred. The new
rates, based on the block system and
approved by the Interstate Com
merce Commission, mean reduction
of 25 per cent on shipments of hun
cred pounds and more. and in many
instances where the shipment weighs
less than 100 pounds. the reduction is
more than so per cent.
Under the present rate, for in
stance, the rate on a 10-pound pack
age is 81, under the new rates it will
be 4S cents"
Mr.. Hockaday also urged upon the
business men of the city the neces-
sity for securely wrapping their pack
ages and clearly and carefully ad-
dressing them.
Roads and Public Must Agree.
No intelligent executive officer of
a railroad said Mr.. Watkins in his
speech. desires to return TO the days
when there We're no laws regulating
his business and, while all regula-
ton has not been intelligent and
helpful, the general results have been
beneficial One of the greatest bene-
fits is a clearer understanding of the
respective rights of the public and of
the railroads: a recognition by the
the business Of transportation, and
recognition by the railroads that their
money is invested in a public use.
LAS commissioners become better
informed and as railroad officials
recognize more the public character
of their business. cooperation for the
general good will increase and regu
lation will become of still more
value"
Mr.. Watkins declared that the abo-
iition of the secret rebate system
has been one of the most beneficial
results of railroad regulation. but de-
clared there is still the necessity of
stopping another kind of discrimina-
ton that is none the less important
and iniurious-discrimina against
localities.
Should Stop Discrimination.
Unjust discrimination should be
as effectually stopped between local.
ties as it has been between individ-
uals," he said. ut was easy to with
draw a favor from an individual;
sometimes it is easier to extend ia
vor to another community than to
take it away from one. Whatever the
methods. the sooner discrimination is
wholly abolished the better for the
carriers"
In his annual report Chairman w.
A Parker, of the board of directors,
called the attention of the members
OF the Freight Bureau to the various
cases Atlanta now has pending be-
fore the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, and declared that a favor
able decision would result In the saw
ing of several millions Of dollars an
nually to local shippers. One case
alone-the petition of the Freight
Bureau to the commission to estab-
lish no higher rates to Atlanta than
obtain from Cincinnati to BirminS-
ham from North Atlantic ports and
interior Eastern points all rail- anu
sea and rail no higher than Nash
Vile, Knoxville and Chattanooga
will result in a saving of s250,000 per
annum.
Bureaus Free Auditing.
Mr. Parker announced that begin
ming Friday the board OF directors
will audit free of charge all freight
and express bills of members of the
bureau, file all claims and arrange
that all payments be made direct to
claimants, This is considered one OF
the most important steps the direc
tors have taken since its organiza
ton.
Continued prosperity for Georsia
and the South was predicted by Mr.
Parker. He presented statistics to
show the remarka BILE growth of this
section in the past few years.
Other speakers were Postmaster