The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-25
LAUNCHES NEW
 MOVE AGAINST
 0LDRATE CASE
Alabama Public Service !. Board Reopens Fight For State Shippers
tsrArE CAPITAL BUREAU)

MONTGOMERY, Ala, Jan. A- : The Alabama Public Service commis- sion has filed with the interstate com merce commission a petition asking sfor modification, suspension, vacation or annulment of the orders Of the ln- 'terstate commerce commission in the famous Meridian rate case. This case { is one of the most noted in recent Ala bama history, and it is charged that the decision of the interstate com, merce commission in this case will seriously hamper the Alabama commls- sion in revising Alabama intrastate rates.
 The Alabama commission asks the interstate commerce commission after such hearing as may be deemed prop CT to issue an order modifying, sus- sQending, vacating or annulling the or der or orders previously made Tn the oaid Meridian case so that Jurisdiction my be restored to your petitioner to require the maintenance and observs ancs by the carriers within said ter ritory of just and reasonable rates for the Transportation of cotton, in bales, sny quantity; clay, concrete and shale products in carloads and hay in car loads; and that such other or further order or orders be made as to your commission may seem appropriate and necessary to restore the jurisdiction over all Alabama interstate rates in the territory herein mention to your petitioner, as it had and possessed prior to the issuance of the order or orders by your commission in the said Meridian case"
 Intrastate Revision
 In its petition the Alabama public service commission pointed out that it is actively engaged in revising all class and commodity intrastate rates in Alabama, and stated:
 'In its work of revising the class and commodity rates for intrastate transportation in Alabama, your peti- tioner will be hampered, delayed and embarrassed and forced to incur con- siderable expense, as long as the or der or orders of your commission in the said Meridian case apply to or affect Alabama intrastate commerce i; lapd that it would be in the interest Pof the public, including both' carriers and shippers, and contribute to more orderly, harmonious, systematic revi- sion of rates to meet changed cond1- 4tions if your order or orders h the said Meridian case were modified, sus- pended, vacated or annulled so as to restore to your petitioner Jurisdiction over Alabama intrastate rates affected by the said Meridian case, which the law of Alabama grants it."
 In addition to seeking the restora- ton of its former authority over in- trastate rates in Alabama affected by the decision of the interstate com merce commission in the Meridian ease, the Alabama commission men, tioned specific commodities in regard to which it seeks to have the order of the interstate commerce commission changed. It was pointed out by the petition that in the original hearing of the Meridian case the complainant's principal contention was that the main- tenance of relatively higher rates be- tween Meridian and points in Alabama than applied within Alabama on like traffic subjected Meridian and its in- dustries to undue prejudice in the transaction of business at points in Alabama ;and further, that the inter state commerce commission held that where there was not present movement -0f particular commodity between Meridian and points in Alabama and no prospect of substantial movement In future, undue prejudice against 4 Meridian could not be found.
 New Rates On Cotton
 In seeking changes in cotton rates. specifically the Alabama commossion called attention to the fact that it has Already in course of its revision of Ala hama rates applied new rates on cot ton, which are the same for standard line railroads as have been ordered in Georgia by the utilities commission of