Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-10-18

away of existing rates and a setting
up of new and higher rates. Every
consumer, every merchant, every man
ufacturer and every farmer is vitality
concerned, for the price of all goods
used by the consumer is directly affect
ed by freight rates, and the profit or
loss of the merchant and manufactures
and farmer is determined to a very
considerable extent by the measure of
freight rates they must pay.
Statements furnished to the Railroad
Commission by the petitioning rail-
roads show that the rates they propose
will increase their annual revenue
$S84,000 on traffic moving out of q
points in Georgia. If their revenue
will be increased to this extent on out
going traffic from 81 points, to say
nothing of ingoing traffic to those
points, what will the increase be for
the state as a whole?
An estimate carefully prepared by
Hon. ]. D. Price, state commissioner Of
agriculture, shows that the proposed
new rates on fertilizer alone will Weld
the railroads an increased revenue of
100000 per annum. Who will pay
this tax? The farmers, of course.
Estimates prepared by the statistical
bureau of the Georgia Shippers Associ-
alton show that the proposed new rates
on most conservative calculation.
will yield the railroads of Georgia an
annual increase of $3,OO0,OOO in rev.
enue.
Notwithstanding the fact that their
Golfers are already bullying with en-
ormous gains in operating income:
Notwithstanding the fact that freight
rates in Georgia already are higher. on
all classified traffic and many com
modities, than are the freight rates of
Virginia, North Carolina and South
Carolina, where several of the same
roads operate and where traffic con-
ditions are practically IDENTICAL
Notwithstanding these facts, the rail-
roads of this state are now attempting
to secure still greater revenues from
the shipping public, and are making
the attempt on the grandest scale that
was ever launched in any state.
Association To Protect Shippers
Standing against the railroads in
this attempt is the Georgia Shippers
Association. 1t was organized to pro
tect the general shipping public, with
out regard to any particular group Of
shippers. 1t was organized to resist
and oppose the unreasonable and I'M
justifiable advances in freight rates
proposed by the railroads. 1t was org
anized to gather and present evidence
showing why the Railroad Commission
should deny this petition.
In the prosecution of this enormous
undertaking the Association bas been
engaged for several months. 1t Sc
cured the services of Hon. w. A. VIM
bish of Atlanta, one of the leading
commerce lawyers of the United
States, and he is representing the AS
ISOLATION in the hearing now in pro-
sress. 1t employed numerous rate
clerks to compile data and exhibits for
off-setting the mass of matter with
which the railroads have undertaken
t. overwhelm the Commission. In
every legitimate way it is exerting it
self to the limit of its resources
against this attempt to overthrow
scale of freight rates fixed by the peo-
pies elected representatives and es-
tablish new and higher scale fixed by
the railroads.
Success or failure depends upon the
support it receives from the shippers,
whose interests the Association is
striving to protect. Composed entirely
of shippers, the Association is entitled
to and deserves the moral and financi-
al help of every shipper in the state.