Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-19
AmKR1CAs INTERESTS
On water, Waterways. and Land.
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tBy telegraph TO tho Dsspstch.l
WASHINGTON, December Isl Is said at
The Navy Department that a naval vessel will
probably be sent 10 Colon to protect the
American Interests In Psnxfua, bot that steps
have uot yet been taken IN that direction.
II is customary 10 station vessel In that
neixhborhood during the wis,ier season.
Nothing Is known OF any troubles on tho
Isthmus.
The Iuterstate Commerce Commission to-
day began hearing In the msiter OF tariffs
and ciasvficstions Of railroads south OF the
Potomac and Ohio rivers associated under
the name OF the Southern Railway and
Steamship Association. An order for the
appesranca OF representatives Of these roads
vas Issued by the commission Ocobcr ~,
1899. II reciles the ob5ects of the heAring 70
be ga general examination and invcstiga-
ton OF their tariffs and classifcaii0ns
As on file 10 the ofies Of the commission aud
rs In use upou their lines, respectively, 70
the end that an opportunity may be then aud
there given to said common carriers 10 De
heard concerning the same and In respect 70
the method Of constructing the interstate
rites a. prscticed upon the said lines respee-
lively or in connection with other lines, and
that any changes may be made which shall
he found necessary and proper in order 10
bring said tariffs aud cl1ssiications and the
manner OF trausactipg business Hereunder
into more complete uniformity with the pro-
visions Of the act TO regulate commerce"
Fhe basis OF the order Is set forth, In part,
10 be information and complaints received
from time TO time that the carr iers named in
the order, in many cases, make greater
charge for transportation OF like kind OF
property for shorter than for longer dis
lance; that disparity between the charges
made at different points over The same line IL
IN some instances apparently very great az
related 20 distance; that there n reason to
believe that the requirements OF section oil
the interstate commerce act are not in some
instances complied with; that the yates
actually charged are not given upon their
published schedules, but that special and
combination rates are made, and that tariffs
and elassifcations In other respects do not
appear 10 conform to the requirements OF
tue set.
Representatives Of nearly oil the roads
were present. Chairman Cooley, in OPEN
ing the hearing, said ave have not asked
YOU to come here because there are any
charges against you, but we have asked
you TO come here 10 consider with us your
manner Of msking rates; to consider the ex-
tent to which exceptions 10 Tue gencrat runs
OF the fourth section OF the act prevail on
your respective roads. and to consider the
reasons applying TO particular cases, and why
these cases are deemed iustidable under the
law"
Edmund Fitzgerald, general traffic mana
ger of the East Tennessee, Virginia and
Georgia railway, was called. and testified as
TO the methods OF constructing rates between
Memphis and the West and between Chatta-
uooga and the East. He explained wherein
exceptions to the general rule have been made
and why.
Sol. Haas, traffic manager OF the Richmond
and Danvile railroad, explained the changes
IN the rates which have been made during
the last year. Generally speaking the rates
have remained substantially the same. In
some cases there have been slight reductions
and in others slight advances. Export rates,
he explained, change sometimes daily TO meet
changes in ocean rates.
W. II. Spellman, OF the Central railroad
OF Georgia. rendered prepared argument
Ia favor Of a liberal Interpretation by the
commission OF the fourth section OF the act.
He also explained 10 the commission the
manner OF making export rates.