Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-03-16
COMMISSION BACK
At FREIGHT RATES
HEARING At CAPITAL.

ATLANTA, Ga, March 16.-The
Railroad Commission recessed from
Wednesday morning until Thursday
morning 10 o'clock when the shippers
took up the matter of the proper
measure of rates from the several
Georgia ports to the interior The
shippers association has been able 20
get ahead of the Commissions sched-
ule by reducing the number OF wit
nesses, and getting testimony redcc-
ed to a concrete form.
The first days session was given 20
considering the proposed adoption OF
the Southern Classification in lieu Il
the Georgia Commission Classification.
The railroads and shippers appear to
be nearer together on this point than
any other. The shippers made the
statement through Attorney Wimbush
that they desired a uniform classi1-
cation, but that they desired it to be
Georgia Classification and subject
to such changes by the Georgia Com
mission as might from time to time
he found necessary without the con-
currence of the Southern Classitica-
ton Committees forces
The Various rules of the Southern
classification were commented upon
| bv MIR. Chas. Z. Cotterill of counsel
for shippers, and such objections as
the shippers have formed toward the
adoption of the rules stated. Many 81
the rules of the Southern Classiflca-
ton are useless it was shown to the
shipper in Georgia, on interstate ship
ments while others would be budren-
some. The shippers appeared to pc
willing that the Georgia Commission
handle the whole subject of the
adoption OF the classification without
suggestion from the shippers EXCEPT
the classification be more uniform.
Tuesday was given to deviatioaS
from the long and short haul law il
Illustrated by taking Macon as base
and showing the rates in all direc-
tons. pointing out the Violations in
the proposed scale. The most inter
esting feature of the eharing was the
explanation of a composite mileage
scale arranged by H. T. Moore and 3.
Gillian of the shippers association.
| This scale was made up of the in
| trastate rates prescribed by Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina and
the present Georgia Rates were taken
averaged and compared with the pro-
posed scale embraced in the petition
of the railroads. Mr. NJ. P. Galloway,
counsel for the railroads, observed
that the composite mileage scale thus
prepared by the shippers association
would bring reductions 1870 below
the present Georgia rates, instead OF
the increases that the railroads had
requested authority to publish.
Wednesday morning the adoption
of the proposed mileage scale, as pre-
pared by Messrs. Moore and Gillian
was again taken up Mr.. Moore show
ed that it had been the practice Of
the Central of Georgia to blanket
rates after certain distances had been
reached in forming its mileage rates.
At the conclusion of Mr. Moore's tes-
timony. Chairman Gambler inquired
al Mr.. Moore what he desired the
Commission to do with the scale
made by averaging the state scales.
Mr.. Moore stated to the chairman
that one of the means of arriving at
a reasonable rate was comparing with
other rates applying under substan-
TALLY the same conditions. He stat
ed. however, that the he recognizei
the right of the Georgia Commission
! 10 ignore all lndL Illt COMMISSIONS !"
other states had done, and even the
Interstate commerce combustion and
make a scale which would appear 70
be right to the Georgia Commission,
that they are responsible for such
maxima rates as will be established
in Georgia, and it was so understood
by the shippers association.
Mr.. Albert Bach, of the National
Milling Company. who is considered
ar expert on the grain subject, testi-
fed as to wishes of his plant to be
placed in a position to prefer the
Georgia grain producers to the west
ern producers and asked that such
reasonable rates be had as would per-
nit him to encourage the Georgia far
mer. After the conclusion of Mr..
Bach's testimony the Commission took
recess until Thursday 10 o'clock
| a. IN.
I