Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-08-18
BRUNSWICK LAYS
FIRST REQUEST
FOR THE RATES
{ BY NED M'INTosH.)

1
ATLANTA, Ga, Aug. 18. Taking the
same position taken in communications
tothe state railroad commission by the
Gainesville Merchants and Manufac-
turers' association. and by individuals
and business concerns of a number ce
other smaller cities in the state. J.M
Smith, secretary of the Brunswick
board of trade, appeared before the
state railroad commission Thursday at
the first days hearing upon the petit
ton of the railroads of Georgia for 4
rate revision, and asked the commits
sion to grant the rates asked, stating
that to grant these proposed new rates
would be to free Brunswick from dig
elimination in favor of larger cities.
The hearing is for a revision of
Georgia intra-state rates recently fixed
for the southeast by the Interstate
Commerce commission, which order be-
came effective January 1 Of this year.
At the opening of the hearing Chair
man G, Murphey Gambler of the state
railroad commission, stated that the
usual procedure before the commission
will prevail in the present hearing.
which means that the railroads, wha
are the petitioners, will first present
their case, and that the objectors ana
protestants of the proposed revisions
will then make reply. On this basis,
the railroads proceeded with the pre-
sentation Of their case, which win oc-
cupy several weeks.
W. A. Winburn, president Of the Cen
trail of Georgia railroad, presented the
general summary OF the revisions the
railroads seek and their reasons fof
seeking them.
The principal witness of the morn
ing session was r. A. Brand, vice pres
ident of the Atlantic Coast Line. whose
road is seeking equal rates with Class
C roads, the Coast Line being Glass
B road. Mr.. Brand declared that con-
ditions under which the Coast Line op-
crates are such that the road is enti-
tied to the same rates as the other
roads; that the Coast Line has so much
maintenance and operating expense
an undeveloped and sparseIy
settled portion of eastern Georgia from
which there is practically no traffic.
At the afternoon session. the princi-
Hal witness was N. B. Wright, general
freight agent of the Central of Georgia.
He outlined the history of the fixing OF
rates and classifcations in Georgia.
showing that the tendency has been
downward so consistently and so long
that the bottom has been reached.
where the roads can no longer stand
reduction.
Mr.. Smith, in appearing in behalf OF
Brunswick, declared that Brunswick
has been Disseminated against by
beth interstate and intrastate rates.
but that relief was gained from the in
terstate discrimination through the or
Ger of the interstate commission, eff
fective last January. The granting OF
the intrastate rates asked by the rail-
roads, he said, would give Brunswick
relief from the intrastate situation.
"The basis on which the interstate
rates were fixed is just" said Mr.
Smith, and Brunswick is unalterably
committed to this principle. The pro-
POSED intrastate rates are based on the
interstate rates already in effect, and
involve the same principle. For these
reasons. the Brunswick board of trade
prays your honorable body to grant the
rates asked by the carriers"
for this season Of warm weather on
earth, and it was considerable trouble