Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

TO READJUST RATES TO CEORGIA POINTS RAILROADS MUST OBEY ORDER ENFORCING THE LONG AND SHORT HAUL CLAUSE LOCAL POINTS TO BENEFIT Will Ask State Commission To Ap prove Bimilar Revision In Intrastate Rates Atlanta, Ga. The recent order of the Interstate Commerce Commission enforcing the Long and Short Haul clause of the Federal Act to Regulate Commerce, lias made necessary a gen eral readjustment of freight rates throughout Southern territory, declare Presidents J. It. Kenfy of the* Atlantic Coast Line, W. A. Winburn of the Central of Georgia, M. 11. Smith of the Louisville and Nashville, W. J. Harahan of the Seaboard Air Line, and Fairfax Harrison of the Southern, in a statement, addressed "To The Peo ple Served by the Railroads of the South,” which has just been issued. Since the order of the Commission was handed down, a committee of traf fic officers has been at work prepar ing tariffs which will put into eflcct its provisions. Obviously, precise fig ures to ail points may not be an nounced pending a completion of the work of revision. It. is understood that where long and short haul discrimi nations now exist, many rates will be reduced and some of them advanced, and that an important effect of the revision in Georgia will be to give a large number of local points more favorable rates as compared with the rates enjoyed by the distributing cen ters. For the local points to get the full benefit of the principles under which the interstate rates will be readjust ed, that is to say, the reducing or elim ation of the differences between the rates at the local points as compared with the rates at the so-called com mon points, which are in the main the large cities, it will be necessary for a revision, following the principles of the interstate adjustment, to be made in the intrastate rates, and a pe tition to this effect is to be made by the railroads to the State Railroad Commission. Statement Of President The statement of the railroad pres idents is as follows: “To The People Served By The Rail rouds Of The South: "An order of the Interstate Com merce Commission, pursuant to re quirements of Federal law, compels % general revision of Southern freight rates. It Is proper that the people of the South should be Informed as to the reasous for this revision and the principles upon which it is being made. "Excepting the Norfolk & Western, Chesapeake & Ohio and Virginian Rail ways, which lie in Official Classifica tion territory, the railroads of the Southeast receive virtually no part of the five per cent increase in rates recently acquiesced in by the Inter state Commerce Commlsalou. While the need of the carriers of the South for increased revenue is certainly no less than is that of the Northern and Eastern roads, that need is in no way related to the revision of rates now in progress which arises solely from the necessity of more nearly conform itig to the so-called "long and short haul clause" of the law as amended in 1910, and as now construed by the Interstate Commerce Commission. “The original Act to Regulate Com merce forbade the making of lower rates for a longer than for a shorter distance within the same line .or route under substantially the same circum atances and conditions. The carriers were free to meet competition as they found it and were required to answer only upon complaint as to the reason ableness of their acts. “The amendment of 1910 deprived the carriers of the right to Initiate departures from the long and short haul requirement, and they may no longer meet competition as they find It If the long and short haul requirement Free Literature Describing the Great California Expositions Write at once to this Bureau for literature descriptive of the great Panama- Pacitiv International Exposition, which opened m San b rancisca Febru ary 20, and the great Pananta-California Expositionnow open at ban Diego This Bureau is prepared to supply complete information in regard to rail road rates, hotel accomodations, interesting side trips and reliable, authen tic, unbiased information about any section of the great Pacific Coast country. Send us *2O cents in stamps and we will send you book describing the Pan ama-Pacific International Exposition, book describing Panama-talitornia Exposition, a map of Calirornia and a sample eopv of Scnskt Magazink the great Pacitie Coast national magazine, containing beautiful pictures of the Expositions. The regular price of the magazine is ‘JO cents per copy. Address v SUNSET MAGAZINE SERVICE BUREAU, San Francisco, California of the law Is Involved, unless they first obtain the approval of the later* state Commerce Commission. ‘‘They were furthermore required, by this change in the law, to apply to the Commission for authority to continue in force rates existing at the time of its passage which contravened the long and short haul principle. Roads Must Make Changes "The existing rate structure of the South is not the creation of traffic managers of his generation. It is an inheritam- from those who built the roads, and finds its explanation largely in the geography of the South, and in a public policy which encour aged its creation. The changes now in progress are not of the carriers’ choice. "Water competition, the most im portant factor in bringing about de parture from the long and short haul principle of the law, lias been peculiar ly influential on the rate adjustments of the South, surrounded as it is on tiiree sides by navigable water and penetrated by navigable streams. Ter mini of the first roads were on navi gable waters and rates between those termini were from the beginning de pressed because of tills water compe tition. When, subsequently, railways were extended to the interior, distrib uting points were thereby created, where there arose competition of two or more markets, or of two or more carriers, resulting in depressions in rates, even when there was no direct water competition. “These conditions undoubtedly con tributed to the commercial and indus trial development of the interior South, and, while they resulted in more frequent departures from the long and short haul principle of the law, the carriers had every reason to believe that their practice had the approval of the public, even when it was not directly the result of public demand. “Now, the Interstate Commerce Commission, pursuant to the require ments of an amended law, has conclud ed an enquiry into rates from the East ern Seaboard, including the Virginia Cities, from Soutli Atlantic and Gulf Ports, and from Ohio and Mississippi River Crossings, into the Southeast and Mississippi Valley territory. Asa re sult the Commission has in large meas ure condemned existing departures from the long and short haul require ment, except where justified by com petition beyond the control of the rail carriers, a phrase which came to be re stricted to mean direct or indirect water competition. Must Raise Some Rates “Obviously, the removal of inequali ties condemned by the Commission, by reductions only, would result in disas ter to the carriers. This fact is rec ognized by the Commission, which, in its review of the situation, stated: “ ‘it is entirely clear that the reve nues of a large percentage of the lines iu the Southeastern territory would be so impaired by such a procedure as to make it impossible for them to meet their operating expenses, taxes and fixed charges and leave their stock holders even a moderate return.’ “It is equally obvious that it would be unfair to punish the carriers, in con forming to a changed public policy, for acts which at the time of commission were approved by public opinion. “Hence in working out the Order of the Commission such elevation of rates to the depressed points must accompa ny reductions to the much larger num ber of intermediate points as will at least preserve the revenues of the carriers. “The task of revision is no easy one. It has been undertaken in loyal efTort to conform to the law, as now interpreted, and to be fair to all. “Departures from the long and short haul principle In the South are not confined to interstate traffic. There are in the South a great many intra state rates that do not conform to the principle. If undue discriminations are to be avoided, these intrastate rates must be brought into harmony with the revised interstate adjustment being made under the direction of the Interstate Commerce Commission. It Is the purpose of the railways of the South to take up each intrastate revis ion with the Several State Railroad Commissions.” A QUEER EASTER CUSTOM. In Warwickshire, England. Shake speare’s home county, there was ob served from ancient times a queer Eas ter custom known as “dipping the churches.” It Is described by an old time writer as follows: “When I was a child, a* sure as Easter Monday came, I was taken to see the children ‘clip the churches.’ This ceremony was performed amid crowds of people and shouts of joy by the children of the different charity schools, who at a certain hour flocked together for the purpose. The lirsl comers placed themselves hand in hand with tiieir backs against the church and were joined by their companions, who gradually increased in number till at last the chain was of sufficient length completely to surround the sa cred edifice. As soon as thq band of the last of the train had grasped that of the first the party broke up and walked in procession to the other church (for In those days Birmingham boasted of but two), where the cerem<# ny was repeated.” Easter formerly witnessed many quaint customs in England, but most of them have died out In recent years FIREWORKS AT EASTER. Religious Festival at Florence Reminds American of Fourth of July. Many strange Faster customs are found in Latin countries. In Florence it Is the custom to extinguish the lights in all the churches on Good Friday as a symbol of the death of Jesus, the extinction of life. That this custom goes back to some Roman festival con nected with the vestal virgins who kept careful guard over the sacred flames at the altars of their divinity is now believed by some historical au thorities. The lights having been extinguished, all is darkness and gloom until Easter Sunday. On that day the task of re kindling the flames is inffrusted to one ancient family, the Pazzi, members of which carry flints brought from the holy land with which they strike the new spark. Lanterns are lighted and in this way the lamps are relighted in all the churches of Florence. This, however, is not spectacular enough for the multitude. Therefore an enormous car is loaded with harm less explosives and hauled through the principal streets of the city. It is drawn by two milk white oxen es pecially bred for this purpose and re served for It from year to year. Finally the great car, looking like an enormous [>agoda, is stopped la the square in front of the Cathedral of Florence. The car has been followed, of course, by an enormous crowd, which stands around It in the great square waiting Impatiently for the “Scoppio del Cano” (Explosion of the Car). Arrived on tbe square, a wire is led from the car up to the chief altar of the cathedral, and when the lamp is lighted on the altar a “dove,” a travel ing pyrotechnieal device shaped like the bird of peace. Is released. Its foae aflame. Swiftly it speeds down the wire, and as It strikes the car the dove explodes, setting all the fireworks In the car afire. Then comes the grand explosion amid the huzzas of the multi tude. and Easter Sunday la ushered in to all Florence. There Is little doubt that In this ceremony is a reminder of the ancient celebrations of the return of the sun to power, the real spring festival of the Romans. Eastsr Day and Lifs. It Is characteristic of human life that Its greatest day should be Its saddest, full of suffering and sorrow. It show ed how life in Its essential nature was sad. but 1t was a day of hope, its sor row full of promise, and this, too, is characteristic of human life. —Phillips Brooks. Tax Receivers’ Notice I will be at the following nam ed places for the purpose of re ceiving tax returns for the year 1915 on the days given below: Jenkinsburg, April 2nd. Flovilla, April sth. Cork. April 6th. Stark. April 7th. Worthville, April Bth. Towaliga, April 12. Elgin. April 13. Luther L. Greer. 3-26-2 t Tax Receive . Whenever You Need a General Toole Take Grove's The Old Standard Grove’s Tasteless chill Tonic is equally valuable as a General Tonic because it contains the I weU known tonic properties of QUININE and IRON. It acts on the Liver, Drives out Malaria, Enriches the Blood and Builds up the Whole System. 50 cents. Home Coming, Columbus, Ga., April 14 to 17 Round Trip Fare From $3.20 Jackson $3.20 Via SOUTHERN RAILWAY Premier Carrier of the South Tickets on sale April 12th to 16th, Good returning until April 19th, 1915. April 14th: Formal opening. Baby Parade. Reception ol Visitors and Local-Field-Fun Events. Street Dancing April 15th: Diversified Farming School. Base Ball. Street Dancing. April 16th: Celebration Fiftieth Anniversary of the Last Battle of War Between the States, etc. Base Ball. Street Dancing. April 17th: Floral Parade. Base Ball. Many otherattractions J. C. Beam, A. G. P. A, J. S. Bloodworth, T. P. A, Atlanta, Ga. Macon, Ga. What Are You Going to Read In 1915? The Progress has arrange ments with many of the leading daily and weekly papers and farm journals whereby we can save you money on your read ing. We take your orders at adtual co& to us. This is done for your accomodation—not to make money. The Progress does not make a cent out of these orders. Below are some of our best clubbing offers. Make your se lections and give us your orders and be supplied with plenty of good reading matter in 1915. Ttie Progress and Macon Telegraph (Daily) $4.00 Macon Telegraph (Sunday] 5.00 Atlanta Constitution (on R. F. D.) 3.50 Atlanta Journal 5.00 Atlanta Georgian 5.20 ’Semi-Weekly Journal 1.50 Tri-Weekly Constitution 1.75 Southern Cultivator 1.50 Home and Farm 1.25 Southern Thrice-a-Week World 1.65 Progressive Farmer . 1.50 If you do not see what you want in this list call for it and we will get it and at the same time save you money. All of the above offers are STRICTLY cash in advance. Address all orders to Butts County Progress, Jackson, Georgia.