The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-29
TRAFFIC BUREAU
 SAVES S1,0OO,0OO
Annual Report Points Need IL
 Watch Handling Of Freight Rates

Birmingham shippers have been saved over $1,000O00 during the five years and nine months of operation of the Birmingham Traffic association, F.. Wilkinson, president, points out in his annual report to the members of this organization, now made public.
 The association has grown during this period from a membership of Al, with working personnel of three, to one of the largest traffic institutions in the south, with one of the largest memberships of any southern traffic association, and working personnel of nine. It is stated by President Will kinson that the average cost of opera tion during the life of the association has been approximately S15,O00 per year, or a total cost to the shippers and receivers of the Birmingham dis trict of about $90.000. which will not average 10 per cent of the amount of refunds secured through only two de- partments" of the association, to say nothing of the rate adjustment work. litigation before the various rate-mak- ing tribunals and the rate quotation service.
 Wants More Members
 In his report President Wilkinson pleads for even a greater traffic or ganZation and asks more financial and moral support As to the problems in tle way of rate realignments facing the Birmingham district now and dur ing the coming year, the following re- marks are made:
 The association is facing the busi- ,Nf, ,te ,, fo readjustments are concerned. There is in continuous session in Atlanta a committee known as the Fourth section, committee of southern carriers. and they are working out revised rates on practically all of the principal com modies moving to, from and between points in southern territory. For in stance, there is scheduled for hearing before this committee ill Atlanta. Feb ruary ,, revised rates on cement be- tween points in southern territory February 6, petroleum and it's prod ucts; February z. sugar; February s, iron and steel articles, and hearings have already been held on such com moditieS as cotton, lime, brick, etc. Past experience leads us to the con clusion that practically each commodity revision ultimately results in formal proceedings before the interstate com merce commission and the Various state commissions having jurisdiction. These proceedings are long drawn out and are very expensive, and it is there- fore absolutely necessary that each member of the organization do every thing within his power to increase the membership, thus helping to aceumu- late the necessary funds to carry on this important rate readjustmant work without a serious financial handicap
 Revise Class Rates
 Mir. Wilkinson also has the follow ing to say regarding the revision of class rates to southern territory, which revision, he states, will rebound to the benefit of the Birmingham district
 ''There is now pending before the interstate commerce commission case known as the southeastern class rate investigation, which involves the re- alignment of all class rates to, from and between points in southern terri tory. This investigation was instituted by ,he commission on its own motion and has for it's purpose the fixing of permanent class rate structure for southern territory. Out of this investi gation hearings in connection with which were completed during the past year. it is hoped that Birmingham will secure a more favorable basis of rates than she now enjoys. Distance has been the predomina ting factor, in this class rate revision, and after a conSid- era ton of all clements entering into the making of freight rates, your board arrived at the conclusion that Bir mingham, situated as it is, had nothing t. lose, but. a lot to gain, from the adoption of the mileage theory as the controlling element in the revision of these class rates
 The important work of the associa- tion in the handling of formal com plaints before the state commission and interstate commerce commission is stressed, the report stating that this yearN more formal complaints were handled before the interstate commerce commission and Alabama public service commission than in 1922. This year eAere were 2T complaints handled. or an average of more than two per month.