The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-02-01

a"h itlciiuonu pay uearIV Tor all the ErOuute
they had caused him. Notwithstanding the
fact that McCready solemny promised Mr.
kagland that he would sec to it that he got ac-
commodatons Rs soon as he got in power,
he backed down from bis promise, and would
not let bale of cotton 20 from Richmond
to New York for less than dollar and half,
or from Petersburg for less than dollar and
scvcnty-fve cents.
Ar. Robinson was then further examined
by Judge Ould and Judge Crlmp as to his
-railroad policy, which be explained at some
length claiming that it was calculated to
build up local trade, and had been successful
in that direction. He also gave it as his
opinion that the Petersburg Railroad Com
inny ought to send their freight TO BaIti-
more and other northern cities by water. TOf
course. Will you walk into my parlor.
Here the night session was brought to a
close.
FRIDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
On yesterday morning the committee met
at the Second Auditors office, when Mr..
Robinson was again called to the stand.
Judge Ould called the attention of the COM
mittce to the contract entered into between
the presidents of the Petersburg and Sea-
board and Roanoke railroads in relation to
the lease of the Weldon bridge by the latter
to the former. Mr. Lyon had claimed that
the contract was arbitrary and oppressive to
the Petersburg Railroad Company. Judge
Ould was under the impression that he fMr
Lyon had alleged that the bridge contract
regulated the local as well as the through
rates. lie pointed out that it did not.
Mr. Lyon said what he did maintain was,
that by the terms OF this contract the Sea-
board and Roanoke railroad arbitrarily re-
ouired the Petersburg railroad not to con-
vcv, or permit to be conveyed, over their
road freight of any description between
Weldon and Baltimore, Philadelphia and
New York, at less rates than the SeaDoard
railroad charged on like freights.
Judge Ould repeated that this regulation
did not affect the rates between Weldon and
Petersburg.
Mir. Lyon: Mr. Robinson co1npetS as to
rharge as much orer or Sirty.foW miles Of
ro0d as he does 0Ce,' his eighty miles.
Judge On d: But those terms apply only
to through frcights.
Mr.. Lyon: True; but on every bale Of
cotton going from Weldon to Baltimore we
are tied down to charge for sixty-four miles
what you charge for eighty.
Judge Crump said that, admitting that to
be true, the Petersburg Railroad Company
lad not availed itself of its liberty to reduce
the rates. The contract was terminated i'll
November, when the Petersburg Company
built their own bridge, and there had been
no reduction since.
Mr.. Lyon: Since our emancipation our
cotton business has increased from 5000 to
1000 bales. and the managers and control
lcrs of the Sclboard and Roanoke railroad
would give 81 600 to-day to know how it has
been done.
Mr.. Robinson: 7 think know how it is
done.
Mr. Lyon: Up to the 1st Of November
Reuben Raglaud stood by that contract, as
r hts by every pledge in his life, like an
honorable man. Since that contract expired
he has competed successfully with the Sea-
board road for frcightS at Weldon, in The face
Of all troubles and i'll spite OF the arbitrary
tax at City Point; and it Is Il part OF the pur-
pnsn Of this investigation, Il part OF the
policy OF the f;caboard and Roanoke Com
panv, to find out how, under all the diSad-
yantages of time and diStancc, our compcli-
ton has been crowned with success. There
are men alive who clu tell, and are pre- pared
to do so at the proper time. 1T Is sufficient
for the present to say that we have done no.
thing we ere unwilling to avow, and that it
docs appear that from the time we We're
made free we have successfully competed for
the trade at Weldon. That competition we
mean to continue, with or without the help
Of the Legislature, III the interest of the
public.
judge Cr,mp thought Mr.. Lyon was Oh
scrriEg the real questions at issue hv many
words. He bad not shown that there had
lcrn any reduction of rates on the Peters
burg road siHce they have had bridge Of
their own.
Mr.. Lyon: On the contrary, told YOU
that we put our hands into our treasury and
pGtd away the distractions.
Judge Crump: How have you paid them
away?
Mr.. Lyon: By money; by greenbackS.
Judge Crump again urged that there had
been no reduction Of rates since the company
had been free. Hewould pin the gentleman
there.
Mr.. Lyon: l don't admit that there has
been 10 reduction.
Judge Crump: know it is right hard to
pin you, but will do it.
Mr.. Lyon: No, sir the pin is not made
that can do it. The rates have been reduced
on cotton by the 80 cents which we pay out
OF our own treasury in order to compete
with the Scaboard road.
Judge Crump: But you change the same
now and then!
Mr.. Lyon: No, sir; within the last thirty
days there has been an arbitrary cXaction of
five cents bale as Wharfage upon our cotton
at City Point.
Mr.. Daniel inquired whether the local ia
riff of the Petersburg Railroad Company
had been changed since the 1st of November.
Mr.. Lyon: TO be frank with you, don't
know but know that we have to pay the
bonus at City Point, and l have heard that
both Mr.. Robinson and Mr.. Eagland have
been paying agents in the Carolinas 10 offer
parties bonus to ship by their respective
routes.
Mr. Robinson said he had heard that the
Petersburg Company was giving drawbacks
to shippers, but nobody knew it.
Mr.. Lyon: Yet you knew it.
Mr. Lyon continuing said it seemed to be
the purpose Of the opposition to get through
rates out of his head. but he was not to be
misled. We have here constantly an Illus
tration of how gentlemen whose minds
are full of through tariffs can fail to
comprehend gentlemen with local tariffs in
their minds. Mr.. Ragand came here to
tight for free competition for through
frelSbtS between BALTIMORE anu eiuoD,
and was not TO be diverted from that Issue.
As long as it was possible to do so the Sea-
board road held contract over the Peters
burg road to control the prices charged on
that road.
Judge Cr,lmp again said that, according
to his view of the evidence, the Petersburg
Company had, since their emancipation,
shown no disposition to reduce their rates,
and the only charge was the five cents
| Wharfage. . ...-
Mr.. Lyon: Then Mr.. Robinson has misled
you, for he himself states that we have been