Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-08-18


such treatment? How could they compete even in
their home markets, with western concern which
in its own territory would have ncomparably lower
rates and which would be able to send its products
into Georgia for only five cents, per hundred
pounds more than the Georgia industries would be
charged for intrastate shipments?
Do the railroads expect to develop the State S
resources and upbuid their traffic by such meth
DDS? Their plea reduced to it's essence. is that
there is not yet enough shipping of meat products
within Georgia to justify reasonable rates on such
commodities; wherefore, they propose to make
these rates high that there be no such
shipping at all! This is a most astonishing scheme
of efficiency. One naturally would assume that the
railroads would proceed on the idea of producing
and fostering business but, as far as Georgia is
concerned they proceed on the idea of dis
couraging and discriminating business
The only theory on which explain their
amazing attitude is that they expect the aggregate
increases under their proposed revision to yield
them such an enormous surplus over their present
earnings that the utter loss of two industries
will not matter. The increases which they propose
on fertilizer and cotton-seed meal alone would
amount to eight hundred thousand dollars year,
according to official estimate of Hon. James ID.
Price the State Commissioner of Agriculture The
increases on the average volume of freight moving
from twenty-one Georgia points to all other points
within the State would amount to approximately
eight hundred and eighty-fve thousand dollars
year. according to competent authorities. This es-
innate is based upon tonnage statement which
the carriers compiled at the request of the Railroad
Commission. If the increase would amount to
nearly eight hundred and eighty-fve thousand dol
lars year on traffic from twenty-one points, what
would it be for all the two thousand-odd points
within the State?
The bald ugly fact is that the railroads,
under the pretense of complying with Interstate
Commerce Commission order, are seeking to wiring
from producers and shippers and consumers in
Georgia the most colossal and outrageous tax that
corporate greed dreamed of imposing upon
this Commonwealth. 1t is not their prime interest
to harmonic freight rates remove inequalities
or conform to the spirit of the long and short haul
law. Their prime interest and ruling passion sim
ply follows the counsel of the crafty Iago-"Put
money i'm thy purse" Whatever their professions
may be, whatever their self-deception may be, the
fact is they are planning to destroy the States in
dustrial birthright for huge mess of pottage on
which they themselves fatten.
They admonisI The Journal, with piety
thy of Urah Heep himself that to circulate the
statement that the railroads are proposing bur-
densome and unjust freight rate adjustment upon
Georgia shippers is calculated to injure the State
indeed. from the corporations whose palms
itching to snatch millions in extortion from the
merchants and farmers and manufacturers of the
State! The railroads have developed suspciously
sudden tenderness for Georgia. They assume the
bearing of the sanctimonious pirate who went to
sea with the Ten Commandments But none the
less they have an suspicious eye for the gttering
millions which they hope to fetch back from the
voyage.
The railroads are confronted with a nation
wide strike. They contend that it would be meal
culably damaging to them to grant. the wage in
creases which their employees demand. For our
own part We think that the rightful interests of
the roads in this in all matters, should be duly
safeguarded But the damage which they claim
they would suffer from the proposed wage
increases is not to be compared to the damage
which Georgia would suffer from the freight rate
increases which they now propose If the railroads
expect sympathy and justice from the public surely
they should give a fairer measure of justice and
consideration to the public.
This rate case is soon to be heard by the Georgia
Railroad Commission. The hearing ought to be
brief one; just long enough, indeed for statement
of the proposition; and that statement should suffice
to put an immediate and everlasting end to such
stupendous plan of piage the railroads are seek
ing to carry out. If there is any power or any
patriotism in our government, it should be exerted
fully and forthwith to protect the people of Geor-
gia from the unspeakable injury which threaten
them through the railroads incontinent greed.
Why not Hyphenated Hughes?