The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-11-30
SHELBY, ATTACKS RATE COMMISSION
 ON BRICK TARIFF
Declares New Schedule Is Rank Injustice To
 The Public

The Public
 In a statement given to newspapers Saturday, John w. Sibley, dean of southern brick manufacturers, attacks the Alabama Public Service commis- sion for it's decision in q recent case which raises the freight rate on bricks within the state. The new schedule, running from F to IF cents per 100 bounds, will mean an increase of $120,- GOO othe building public, he asserts.
 q dislike to appear i'll the role of trying a case in the newspapers that has been heard before the Alabama Public Service commission and de- cision rendered." Mir. Silbley says, but the interests of the public especially of the Birmingham district, are vitally and adversely affected by the decision. It seems to me that the only hope of relief is to arouse public opinion sufficiently to cause the commission to reconsider the matter.
 .s, Most Important Center
 1.-The question at issue is the mat ter of freight rates on brick and clay roducts within the state. The Birming- ham district is perhaps the most i'm portant clay manufacturing centre in all | the south. embracing all kinds, such as common, face, fire and paving brick and hollow building tile Gas well as sewer pipe, which does not come within 1 the scope of this easel and furnishes perhaps 30 per cent of the entire ton mage that moves by rail in Alabama. The statement was recently broadcasted that Birmingham building needs are eighty-eight millions of dollars. Based on this years building permits and the amount of brick that will be required | to meet these needs (which of course will increase as time moves On) the cost in freight on brick to meet the needs of the building public of Bir- mingham will be $120,O00. Of course. the consumer will have to foot this bill. "The decision was rendered by two thirds of the commission, as it is stated President Patterson did not participate in the disposition of this case, although he presided at its hearing and cross questioned the principal witnesses on both sides.
 v w Ulle LuS oiASn industry of the district feels that an Injustice has been done as it affects the entire state of Alabama, the great FEest injury is to the Birmingham dis trict which is the largest consumer sof clay products as well as producer in the state.
 ."For 30 years the railroads have charged the same rate on all kinds of brick to the Birmingham district from points of manufacture in the Bir- mihgham district. The manufacture l. of building brick at the hearing asked that this practice be continued. and the carriers offered no objections. The two thirds decision of the Alabama Public Service commission raised the rate 12 cent per 100 pounds on common brick and set all other bricks in different class and raised the rate l 11a cents per 100 pounds, above the present rates that have prevailed since the World war.
 |: Former Uniform Rate
 "Let the. public bear in mind that prior to the World war the uniform rate on all kinds of brick from these points in the Birmingham district to Birmingham and adjacent points was 11h cents per. 100 pounds or 30 cents ton, the same as on coal. The Ala bama commission admits in it's decision on this case that it has already recog- nized and ordered rate of 79 cents ton, on coal (of all kinds) from Bir- mingham group mines for maximum haul of 30 miles, so is inconsistent in dividing the group and making different rates on brick for the same territory. The uniform rate on brick has prevail ed to my personal knowledge since 1888. To meet the needs of the country dur ing the war this rate was raised to AZ cents and soon after the war 10 per cent reduction was made mak- ing the present rate of cents per 100 pounds In other words before the war Birmingham paid 7j cents per 1000 freight on it's building brick from these Birmingham district points and now pays an average of S2 per l.OOO, an increase of 166 per cent, whereas the net increase in freight on general commodities has been only 40 per cent.
 'Now the Alabama Public Service commission is placing an additional burden upon everyone who builds any thing from a bungalow to q school, court house or sky scraper. If that is service to Alabama, I do not undre- stand the meaning of the word.
 ''The manufacturers have done all in their power to prevent this injustice to the building public, and the press, Chamber of Commerce, contractors. property owners, League of Women Voters and civic clubs must take up the gauntlet and with united action demand a remedy.
 If the commission will not recon slider their action, the public's only relief will be found through the ballot box, when opportunity offers.