The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1922-02-10
EQUALIZATION OF
FREIGHT RATES.

Equalization of freight rates be-
tween interior and river cities has
been secured by the constant and
fearless fight made by A. J. Niece
hee, of Jackson, Tenn.
The people in the interior towns
have already had to pay more than
twice as much freight rates on some
commodities, and for same service
that the river cities have. This is
wrong, and might have been stopped
long ago If the interior towns had
organized and put up a bold fight
against il.
A. ]. McGehee, Of Jackson, Tenn,
became convinced that it was impos-
sible to build city at any point not
on the river bank, as long as this un-
just method of rates was continued.
And on July 1st, 1918, took the Secre-
taryship of the Jackson Association
of Commerce, for the expressed pur-
pose of making a fight for equalize-
ton Of rates. The expense was so
great that no town the size of Jackson
could be persuaded to meet it alone.
So in March 1919, The Southern In
terror Traffic Association was organ
ized in Jackson, with the idea that a
reasonable contribution from each in
terror town would raise fund suf-
ficient to conduct the work to fin
ish.
Humboldt, Milan, Trenton, Martin,
Union City, Fulton, Henderson and
Dyersburg have each made one con-
tribution up to the present. But
Jackson has had to bear the great
burden of the expense ,altho all other
towns get the same benefit from this
adjustment of rates. Mr.. McGehee
has prosecuted three cases before the
Interstate Commerce Commission, in
each of which he secured the order of
that body, commanding the railroads
to publish a rate that would remove
the discrimination against the interior
people. In all these cases the rail-
roads and strong river traffic bureaus
of the river cities fought him desper-
ately, but the right has finally pre-
vailed. He even went to Washington
and testified before the Senate Com
mittee, urging amendments to the law
that would prevent this unjust rate
condition, and some of his proposed
amendments passed and are now the
Ilaw.
Many conferences were held all
during 1920 between Railroad Traffic
Managers and Representatives, of
the shippers in Chicago, Louisville, st.
Louis, Memphis and Washington, all
of which Mr.. McGehee attended, de-
manding the rights of the interior
people, and rates on less than car load
lot shipments were adjusted and be-
came effective in February 14th, 1921,
which the interior points have been
enjoying since. The railroads were
then ordered by the Commission to
publish carload rates, equalizing the
| interior with the river points to take
feffect on March /, 1921, which they
did, but the river cities wanted all the
time they could get on their low rates,
and prevailed on the Commission to
suspend these rates and enter into an
inquiry as to their. correctness. This
resulted in hearing begun in Mem
phis and continued to st. Louis, which
lasted for thirty-three days, involv-
ing rates from all parts of the coun-
try, and was the largest case ever
brought before the Interstate Com
merce Commission.
Mr.. McGehee attended every hour
of this hearing and went to Wash
ington in June and argued the case.
The Commission rendered its decision
on November 18th making a Is per
cent reduction in the rates as pub
lished, and these rates will go into eff
feet April lst, 1923, at a time set
by the Commission. But Mr.. Niece
hee has filed petition, asking that
time be reduced to March End, 1922.
that is now pending.
To accomplish this great victory
for the interior people against the bit
ter resistance of the railroads, and
strong organizations of the River
towns, forced Mr.. McGehee to aban-
don all his law practice and other
business interest and to give his
whole time and thoughts to this work.
He has thus met and defeated traf-
fic men, representing the railroads
and river cities, who have been giving
their whole time to this fight, some
of them have been provided unlimited
expense money, and paid salaries,
ranging from S10,000.0O to S50,000.-
90 per year. Thus at great personal
sacrifice he has won not only equal
rates and business opportunity for all
towns, but the adjustment
will result in reduction Of all rates,
possibly from twenty to thirty-five |
per cent. and will give the people in |
the interior districts millions Of dol |
lars annually in their freight bills. |
He has received practically no COM
pensation for this work, and it is now
the duty of all interior towns who
are to receive this great benefit to
get busy and raise their quota to a
fee that will in some degree compen-
safe him for the great expense and ef-
forts that he has put into the heroic |
task.
In order to get this matter before |
the people in the interior districts,
who are to get benefits from Mr.. Nc
Gehee's services, ! am sending copies |
Of this article to the Vice Presidents |
and directors of the Southern Inter-
Tor Traffic Association, who live in
the various interior towns, requesting |
that they have it published in their
papers and that they canvass the
business firms, and send Immediately
to our Secretary A. ]. McGehee, at
Jackson, Tim, as much as they