The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-10
Revision of Freight Rates on Every Article Handled Be- tween Points in Ala
 bama Probable
WOULD REMOVE RATE QUESTION
 FROM POLITICS
Great Saving to People of State Con. templated in Compromise About to Be Reached With Rail roads, According to Sam
 F. Kennedy
By I. s. BETTY

>s
 Montgomery, July 9.-tSpccinlD-Re- vision of freight rates on every article hauled between points In Alabama. the removal of the rate question from state politics and an amicabie adjustment of all litigation covering the freight rntc question are contemplated in a compromise soon to he perfected be- tween the state railroad commission and the railroads which contested the establishment of the legislative made rates of 1907. Announcement to this ef- feet was made this afternoon by sam F. Kennedy, secretary to the commis- sion. and by prominent attorneys for the railroads.
 The railroads which will be parties 10 the compromise are the Louisville and Nashville, the Central of Georgia and the Western of Alabama. These roads are the principal carriers which fought the 2ih-cent passenger rate and the 110-com- modity freight rates, which were inau- gurated by what Is now known as the-z Conner legislature. By an agreement en- tered into several months ago, the rail- roads re-establshed the 2h-cent passen- ger rate, and at that time promised to revise the freight tariff on all commod- ites hauled between points in Alabama.
 Even Greater Compromise
 The freight rate reduction contemplates an even greater compromise than made by the establishment of the lower pas senger rates, and will result in a much greater saving to the people of the state The new rate schedule contemplates revision of rates not only on the ll0 commodities as specified by the legisla- ture of 1907, but also a revision of rates on the 350O other articles hauled between points in Alabama.
 It Is known that the railroad commis- sion and the railroads have been hard at work for the past several months in preparing a new freight tariff. The com mission has made careful study of the freight rates on every commodity. or article hauled In Alabama, and has endeavored in painstaking way to sub init a schedule which would be satisfac-. tory to the carriers. As a results of tho labors of the commission, and the appar- ent willingness of the roads to cooperate in making a new freight tariff. the re- vised schedule Is now nearing completion. and 1t Is expected that within the next few weeks a thorough agreement will be reached
 Constantly Postponed
 Owing to the efforts of the commission and the railroads to reach some amicable adjustment of the freight rate question. the hearings before the commission on the subject of ordering the establishment of lower freight rates have been con- stantly postponed. The rate question has from time to time been set to come up before the commission on special dates, but each time 1t has been deferred to a later date, in the hope that an ami cable adjustment of the whole question might be reached in the interim.
 The latest date set by the commission for hearing of the freight rate question was today. when the Central of Georgia and the Western of Alabama rates were to have been considered. Postponement was asked by attorneys for the two roads on the grounds that the carriers were not prepared to accept all of the commsslon- made rates and the request was granted. The hearing was deferred until July %. At the same time the commission post poned the Louisville and Nashville freight rate case until July 15.
 It is contemplated that an agreement
 
 first hearing Members of the commits sion and attorneys for the railroads are in constant communication relative to the new freight tariff. and there is every ground for believing that before two weeks have passed the entire question will have been settled upon an amicabls basis
 The new rate agreement. as proposed by the commission and attorneys for the railroads, contemplates the permanent re- moval of the question from politics The entire plan has been to reach some ami cable basis of settlement, without coer- cion from either side. and with the in terest of the shippers of the state in view. The railroads will agree to try the new rates, and, If not satisfactory. will appeal to the commission for relief
 From all that can be learned of tho contemplated compromise the freight rate reduction will cover not only most of the no commodity rates. as established by the Conner legislature. but also most of the other $500 articles hauled between in, tha cta