The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-03-27
ocALA FLORIDA FRIDAY, MARCH IT, 1914

oOh'AAAC dhd " tlIC AAtOA III
than is now given on less than car
load lots, and thus give to the whole
Saler chance to compete with Jack.
sonville and Tampa. This idea seem
ed to meet with the approval of the
commission, Mr.. Dunn stating that
he thought that to be very good
idea, and that the commission had al
ready been considering that PROPOSE
ton.
Mr.. L. S. Light was then sworn as
a witness and gave some interesting
statistics and figures relative to the
operation of railroads. From the
facts and figures given by Mr.. Light
| the claim of the railroads that the
long and short haul could not be put
into effect was made to seem absurd
Mr.. r. l.. Heating was then sworn
as witness and testified that the
freight rates between Jacksonville
and st. Petersburg were less than the
freight rates between Jacksonville
| and Ocala. He stated that he had
been in the wholesale liquor business
and had formerly sold beers and
whiskies by wholesale in st. Peters
burg, but that the dealers in ST. Pc
tersburg could obtain their WHISTLES
and beer from Jacksonville at a great
Snc1 loco frainhf oh
could from Ocala, and he was there
fore shut out from doing business
there.
Mr.. C. N. Kirkland wholesale gro
Ger, was then sworn and testified
substantially as the other wholesal-
ers had testified relative to the inc
qualities of freight rates, showing va
rious discrimination. He said that
if carload lots could be received at a
less freight rate than less than car
load lots it would relieve the situa-
ton to some extent.
A letter was then read from Mr..
George MacKay stating that it was
impossible for him to be present at
the meeting, but that he was heartily
in favor of the enforcement of the
, long and short haul law. He stated
! in the letter that this hearing had
been misnamed, that it should have
been called IAN inquest over the dead
interior, due to inequalities in freight
rates, and unjust determinations
against the interior"
A letter from Mayor John d. Rob-
ertson was then read, and set out in
forceful language the conditions as
they exist at present in the interior.
Mr.. Robertson stated in his letter that
the present conditions amounted to
nothing less than highland piracy"
He cited some instances of discrimi
nations and inequalities.
Mr.. Menzes stated that he would
like to cross-examine Mr.. Robertson,
and Mr. Robertson was called to the
stand. Upon cross-examination Mr..
Robertson went into detail in regard
to freight rates, and told of the gen.
eral feeling and attitude of the peo-
pie relative to the matter.
Editor Frank Harris then addressed
the commission and gave his views
concerning the necessity for enforce
ment of the present law. Mr.. Harris
stated that the interior had long ask
ed for Justice; that it seemed to be
the policy of the railroads of the
state to build up the seaport cities to
the detriment and starvation of the
interior; that as he saw it the rail-
roads were standing in their own
light, because it was through the inte-
rior that they secured their business,
and that if the interior, were not in
habited the railroads could do no bus
mess.
DIR. ]. E. Chace then testified that
the whole community felt embittered
at what they considered discrimina-
LlOuS against Tic 1nJCltOl III
rates; that he. had talked to business
men, private citizens and others that
they were a unit in declaring that
some remedy should be had for the
present existing conditions.
During the afternoon Mr.. H. S.
Kealhofer, traffic manager of the
Jacksonville board of trade, appeared
in behalf of that organization and
argued that the interior was~not be-
ing Disseminated against in favor of
Jacksonville.
Mr.. Stringfellow, during the prog
ress of the hearing, stated to the
commission the conditions as they ex-
list in Georgia, and pointed out that
certain inland towns were made bas-
ing points in Georgia, and stated that