The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-07
RAILROAD RATE CASE IS BEGUN
 AT MONTGOMERY
Is One of the Longest and Most Important Cases Ever Considered by Public
 Service Body
By FRED H. GoRMLEY
4aOntgomery Bureau The Age-HeFald,
 921-2 First National Bank Building

SNl-E ElFbt NdtiOuAi bunk Building
 Montgomery, February 6.-(Spe- cial.)-one of the longest and most important cases ever considered by the Alabama public service commits sion was started Monday afternoon when all railroads in Alabama, through their representatives, ap- peared for the presenta tion of testi- mony and exhibits in support of their contention that no general reductions should be made on interstate rates in Alabama at this time.
 The hearings probably will run into several weeks, being recessed from time to time so as not to in- terfere with a similar case involving interstate rates which was started by the interstate commerce commis- sion. The railroads answered a gen eral citation of the commission. is sued last year, commanding them to show why there should not be a gen eral revision and readjustment of interstate rates on all classes and commodities now handled by the rail- roads tariffs.
 Consideration will be given to the various tariffs item by item. much of the afternoon session being de- voted to the submission of testimony and the filing of exhibits regarding the rates on stone, marble and gran ile, horses. cows and mules.
 C. D. Quinn, assistant to the vice president of the Louisville and Nash vile railroad, was the first witness. His testimony was given in connec- lion with a mass Of exhibits which the railroad offered in defense of It's proposed schedule of rates filed last year following the issuance of the citation.
 The Louisville and Nashviile's pro- posed scale, which is similar to the scale. of other railroads, proposes re- auctions in some cases and increases in others, the contention of the rail- load being that the readjustment 1t proposes will equalize interstate rates in the southeastern states.
 To Call Shippers
 when the railroads have completed the submission of their defense of all rates which they propose to estab- fish. shippers will be called upon for testimony in opposition to the pro posed rates and in support of any rates which they may propose. About one hundred and fifty shippers of Alabama appeared before the com mission through thesr representatives named for the hearing. Those ac- tually in attendance as representa- tives of the shipping interests were M NJ. Caskie, manager Montgomery traffic bureau; c. D. Jones for the Birmingham Traffic association and Birmingham Chamber of Commerce; Morgan Richards, secretary of the Selma Chamber of Commerce; R. G. Cobb traffic manager of the Mobile Chamber of Commerce; A. J. Rebe or Birmingham; B. R. Shepard of Chat tanooga, representing independent shipping interests. and Mir. Parish or Jacksonville, representing lumber shippers.
 Nelson Proctor, commerce counsel of the l.. & N. railroad, made the opening statement for his line during which he pointed out the l.. & NJ system earned only S9-100~of one per cent during the 12 months from Sep tember 1, 1920. to September 1, 1921. He said the returns last October were better than in September but In November and December sharp reduc- tions were shown from October.
 Mir Proctor quoted from state ment submitted to the interstate com- merce commission by W. l.. Mapother, president of the l.. X N. railroad, In which he said rates could not be re- Guced until there had been material reductions in operating costs and that operating costs cannot be reduced without reductions in the pay and modification of working conditions.