The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-07-20
SOUTHERNERS
URGE JUSTICE
FREIGHT RATES
REMOVAL OF EXISTING DiSCRIM-
NATION AGAINST SOUTHERN
PORTS PUT UP TO ADMINS
TRATION STRONG.
~ GEORGE II. MANNING.

BY GEORGE n. MANNING.
Washington. July 1s.-An extended
hearing was given by railroad admin
istration officials Tuesday to a hum
dred or more representatives of cities
and ports in the gulf and South At
lantic states and the Mississippi val
ley, who urged that the same railroad
freight rates be published from cen
trail freight association territory west
of the Buffalo and Pittsburg line to
the gulf and South Atlantic ports as
TO New York.
The removal of the long existing
discrimination against the gulf and
South Atlantic ports by giving them
the same railroad rates from the CEN
trail territory as to New York and
other North Atlantic ports must be
effected in order to permit them To
compete with New York on export
business and secure the traffic TO
which they are naturally entitled, the
southerners urged.
Senator Underwood and Congress-
men John McDuffie and Oliver. of
Alabama; Senator Hoke Smith, of
Georgia; Senators Fletcher and
Trammell and Congressman Smith
wick, of florida; Senator Smith, of
South Carolina: Senator Simmons and
Congressman Goodwin and nall of
North Carolina; Senator Ransdell, of
Louisiana, and Senator Gore, of Okla
homa, participated in the hearing with
the business men from their states.
Pensacola was represented directly
by Congressman Smithwick and C. w.
Thacker. of the Pensacola chamber of
commerce.
The case was heard for the railroad
administration by Edward Chambers,
n
tor OF public ser ice: George T. At
kins, Jr, traffic assistant to Mr.. The
len. and Conrad E. Spens, export and
import assistant to Mr.. Chambers.
Senators Fletcher, OF Florida; Sim
mons of North Carolina; Smith, of
Georgia; Ransdell, of Louisiana, and
Gore. of Oklahoma, made lengthy
speeches favoring the general propo-
sition. The railroad administration
has power to effect these changes
at once. they urged. and they should
be made as a matter of justice. To
put into effect the rates they asked,
the speakers said. would bring about
a great boom at the gulf and South
Atlantic ports and would directly ben
eft all the territory of the gulf. South
Atlantic and central states.
The concrete proposition was laid
before the railroad administration by
Luther Walters, attorney for those
favoring the rate changes. His prop
osition was outlined as follows:
1. All rates should be published as
Joint through rates.
.. Export rates should be estab- /
lished. both commodity and class
3. All South Atlantic and gulf ports |
TO take the same export basis to the |
same destinations.
4. Export rates to Europe Africa, |
the Orient. Far East and Australia. |
from 100 per cent territory and west
thereof to the Mississippi river should
be on the Baltimore basis; east of
the 100 per cent territory to the Ohio
Pennsylvania line. should be on the
New York basis; from all points in
central freight association territory
east OF the Ohio-Pennsylvania line ex-
port rates should be published on the
basis of the present rates to the gulf.
5. Export rates to Mexico, Central
America, Cuba, West Indies and South |
America from the Mississippi river to |
the Ohio Pennsylvania line. TO be pub |
lished on the New York basis with |
present gulf rates as maximum pro-
vided such gulf rates do not exceed /
the present domestic rates; from cen-
trail. freight association territory east
OF the Ohio Pennsylvania line export
rates should be published on the
present rates TO the gulf as shown
N Boyd's /. G. c. Nos. 103 and 104. u
q South Atlantic ports should be
Dut on the same basis of import rates
rs now in effect from gulf ports: inn
port rates to remainder of central
freight association territory TO he pub
lished from both the Atlantic and gulf
ports on the same basis as requested
export rates.
Those attending the hearing were
much cheered by the announcement
Of Mr.. Chambers at the opening OF the
hearing that instead of cancelling the
Boyd's proportional rates now apply
ing from Ohio river crossings to New
Orleans as many traffic men nave
feared. the railroad administration
will extend those rates to all gulf
Ind South Atlantic ports east of the
This announcement was taken by
many of those attending to forecast
hat the railroad administration will
20 "A step further and grant the gen
raj request for equalization of rates
presented today
II think ! can assure you gentlemen
hat the railroad administration is in G