The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-02-06

CHANNEL.
Judge Crnmp: Did he not tell you why !?
Did he not say that the cotton would have to
he hauled over three miles in Baltimore.
The committee adjourned without waiting
| for IN answer.
SECOND DAY.
PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON
ROADS AND INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS, JAN
UARY Is, 1879.
Mr. Daniel: desire to ask Mr.. Ragland
some questions in relation TO the difficulties
he found in getting a through tariff over the
FREDERICKSBURG road when he held that in
terview with Mr.. Robinson.
Mfr. Ragland will say to the committee
that stated all had to state about that yes
| terday. | stated what were facts, and if
there Is any further proof desired on that
| Captain Sprigg will give a statement, and I
will be glad if the committee will send for
Mr.. Wynne. Ill
Mr.. Lyon: DOES Mr.. ROBINSON DENY THE
TRUTH oFswHAT Mr.. RAaLAND STATED YES
TERDAY?
Mr.. Daniel: We intend to controvert
what he said. He is mistaken. It is not a
| question Of veracity; it is question of er-
rOr.
Mr.. Lyon: I will read this schedule of
| tariffs on the lines north of Richmond. The
rate on cotton is thus stated Cotton in
| bales Is marked as fourth class. On the
fourth class the expense from Richmond to
Baltimore is twenty-five cents per hundred
pounds. So that when Mr.. Ragland stated
that he would pay Mr.. Robinson according
to the printed schedule HE DID NOT ASK HIM
TO REDUCE Els RATES. BUT WAS TO PAY THE
| REGULAR PRICE.
Colonel Taylor: Did Mr.. Rasland under
stand that Mr.. Robinson COULD refuse to take
| freights at the regular rites?
| Mr.. Ragland: can only state that. ne cid
refuse.
Mr.. Lyon: Dir. Ragland had referred espe-
| cialIy to the price he offered Mr. Robinson
as being the price stated in the printed tariff,
and felt that it was due to the committee
and TO truth that that printed tariff should
be exhibited.
that We expected to produce it ourselves.
| Colonel Taylor: Mfr. Rdgiand ,cas dSked
yesterday lohether he had made an effort TO
secure through rates. In reply to the inquiry
he gaUc the substance of his tnteruie,o nth
| Mr. Robinson. Mr.. Daniel has indicated q
desire to crosS-queStio,s. Mr.. RGgland as to
that interUie,r. s- <.''
Mr.. Daniel: In justice to Mr.. Ragland /
desire to call his attention particularly to
some facts which may have escaped bis re-
collection, and take this course from an
unwilingncss on my part to correct his recol-
lection when he may be able to correct it
himself. On the 2lst of November, 1872, ut
this meeting Of the board Of presidents, he
had asked Mr. Robinson if he would carry
cotton from Richmond to Baltimore at the
rates mentioned in the printed tariff where
cotton is rated as fonrll-class. He has an
swered that he did so ask Mr.. Robinson, and
that Mr.. Robinson declined. l was then
going to ask him as to The circumstances Of
that inquiry; what was Mr.. Robinson's
reply; whether he did or did not say that
cotton placed in the fourth class was an
error, which be had .promptly corrected
when he discovered RSand that therefore
he could not carry cotton at rate which
was never intended; that he designed to put
| it in the second class.
Mr.. Ragland: l would prefer that the
committee allow Captain Sprigg to come be-
fore it and answer that question. 1 have
stated ali that / can recoiect on the sub
biect. Mr.. Sprigg has always arranged the
tariffs, for i have not had experience in
railroads long enough to make tariffs and
schedules.
Mr.. Daniel Were you aware that that
rat, of fourtll-class was about one-fourth of
the rate per mile at which cotton is carried
on your road!
Dir. Raglnnd: was not.
Mr.. Daniel: Have you no recollection Of
his telling you about the error?
Mr.. Ragland: He and Mr.. Sprigg had q
conversation about that. He told ME nothing
about it. lie ONLY TOLD NE THAT 1T WAS NOT
4 PROPER. CHANNEL FOR COTTON TO De SHIPPED.
| He SAID THE SEABoARD ROAD WAS THE PROPER
CHANNEL.
Mr.. Daniel: Did he not say that the cot
ton would stop more than two miles from
the business portion Of Baltimore?
Mr.. Raghnd: lie didn't say anything
about that. I told Mr. Wynnc after we left
the office, "Now, suppose, Mr.. Robinson
has refused to carry this freight, he is satiS-
fed" Mr.. Wynne said, "You might have
known he would refuse without asking
him."
MIR. Daniel: Was Captain Sprigg men,
Der of the Board?
Mr.. Ragand: He was invited there by
telegraph from Mr.. Robinson.
Mr.. Daniel: Was he member of the
Board?
| Mr.. Ragland: No.
Mr.. Daniel: Was it not the official busi-
ness Of the presidents TO arrange freight?
Mr.. Ragland: only know it was my way
Of doing business. Whatever Mr.. Sprigg did
l would stand up to.
Mr. Daniel: Did you ever make PROPOSE
! ton to Mr.. Wynnc!
| Mr.. Rasland: l did. He didn't object
to it.
| Mr.. Daniel When through tariffs of this
sort arc made are they made by written
communications between the presidents, or
by discussion at a meeting, or are they
made by casual conversation?
Mr.. Ragland: would say that if you
were president OF road, and l were to ask
you in casual conversation whether you
would do certain thing, would take your
answer as meaning what you intended to do.
| Mr.. Daniel: Is il not customary among
railroads to establish such through rates by
correspondence if not by record? If this
had been done in the board, would there not
have been record taken Of it by the secre-
tary? .... .-.s. ...,. 2 @!%
| Mr.. RAGLAND: WELL, YOU COULD NOT MAKE
| RECORD If A MAN WOULD NOT AGREE TO ANY
THING.
| COLONEL TAYLOR DID MIR. ROBINSON RE-
FUSE TO TAKE FREIGHT ON ANY TERMS?
Dir. Ragland: lie refused to take 1t be-
cause it was not proper channel.
Mr.. Daniel: At that meeting was not the
timetable under consideration
Mr.. Raghnd: Yes.
| Mr.. Daniel: Was there not record made
of your action? .,,t... @.
Mr.. Ragland: suppose there was.
Mr.. Daniel: What other business was trans
acted at that meeting? ls .
| MIR. Ragiand: Well, we agreed to buy