Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-20
RATE OF FREIGHTS
ov THE soBTHgRE RAILWAY AND
sTTAMssIP ASSOCIATION
ns,ss Inquired Ipto By tho Interstate Com.
merce cammissioa~Lea
CGcials Testify


WELLINGTON, December i9.-The Inter.
este Commerce Commission resumed this
morn ng i,s inquiry into the rates and classi-
0eaiions Of ibc southern hallway and Steam.
fhlp Association.
Pore. general freight sgcut OF The Nor
f,ik add Western Wilr0ad, vas called, and
rvD.flne. nh1t IS being done by tie rail-
road. .n ihc direction Of SECURING uniformity
IN Justification t0foDghout the country. lie
enoko oi De- coming February mceiisg OF
fhc fri.bf managers IN GhicaCo, and eX-
rresyt o. fc oTioiOn Inst much would be done
in tlc~ uerlon indicated within the next
fix UHfgiht. The sou'heru railroads, he
frd.@E iu line m tbs matter. and their
maoss n. arc az present engaged IN the work
e. mform'ng the rates in ihe South.
~. D.. smith. vice president 81 the Louis
Nfr ava Nls1yilie railroad. explained IN a
genera waV NE methods IN use by bis CON-
rany BE- ilskinx IL througp. JOINT, and COM
n,uag rae, and clos.idcsbons. lie said
ffa Die road does sccepi less rste for a
l1rrfr lln ior shorter distance, aud there
Iv y..l.ie. tse letter 81 the act 10 regulate
comne.c c. hrt he urged IN Qualification the
cn,lfat iion 81 the wicr iucs. while his
roal h.I fhgs yioiaifd TIE letter Of the Law
rl.s.f-d =, a. q purely technical violation
ruIMfo .tnse violation - iis spirit His
road 90 ntccssiy used several class lGcstions,
haf H jal d3ue much ana Wss now doing
.ruch. io sad. 20 secure uniiOrmity Ia the
usit.r 90 ciasslGclUous.
lu or. Wcr % question by The Chairman,
emiu sud that his road had not strictly
compiled with ihe law requiring the posting
% rajos BOB ITS several others, because II was
Wsllufrl Impossible 90 do 80. Ihaf feature
oi the liw be REGARDED as dead letter, foT
o e o. Hnff ar
~ impossible Of performance. Their rates.
be- ,sid. changed almostdaly. These changes
Rorc made necessary by the changes M The
Hrier rates. Which biz company we're Obliged
Goo meet ne had. however, certain rate
fahics posted. but obey we're not always or
even often correct. Iney sometimes showed
Pa raie cher tBan The actual rate, aud then
lc Thought II not only impraciicable. but
even uu desirable t0 keep rate tables posted.
Shippers did not need them. and they were
rarely consulted except Tor criticism.
p. b.. Au0N. trailc.msnagcr ~ The same
road. Xfllined that while his company IN
Some c1.cs charged q higher rate 20 an inter
mediate than io competing terminal point,
fhsi rate 3, never greater than the rate 10 a
COMPETING point added 10 the local rate back.
F1csr rates were, o. course, made under tho
authority 3ffhc commission.
George g.. Gaut, Of Cincinnati, general
Manager NJ ths Queen aud Crescent route,
explained Hat hls been cone by hrs systers
f1 bring ns rates into conformity with the
rrqu.remr1fs Of the intcrstate-commerce
JOYS. Io u1 that Che roads OF me system
comply gr~ity With the law except as 10
uenfs whore there is wster competition.
These exceptions are authorized by the
.-lmiAi .Io1. l'c said thst country meT-
chants c,crYWrcrc were, he thought,
generosity wrli satisfied vito the opera
Non % ihe interstate law, and are pros
POROUS under u. A strict compliance with
sire l1n hlt not. be- thought, impaired In any
degree the revenues 81 hjs system. II hss bat
ou-rteular cla,siicaiioD-thc southern Rail-
way ard Steamship A-s0ciatiou-and more
-h7r uuetrnths ~ an the tusiness Of the svs-
..m is done uu0 cr thai classification. 1t hiss,
however, special commodity. Mr. Gault was
oi me ouiriou that there was no apparent
necessity for p largr number oi special cisssi-
feliofr. An thr railroads IN the United
-iatc-. he said. could welt allOrd 20 use q uni
aum Classification ~ 10 merchandise, but
.nrre must De numerous commodity rates 20
nfci spectral ease. aud the necessities o. Ger
IaI localities.
Is. X. RYAN, general freight oeeut Of The
sauo system, explained It's method OF ar
irving % or rste required.
IS. u. Ialscy, cnief rate clerk Of the
Southern Railway and steamship Associa-
H1u, niso answered questions bV The commits
sioucr4 a. % the rate 81 construction.
>. W. Thomas president and general
manager Of the Nashville, Chattanooga
snd ~. Louis Iai.roat said that IN the local
State trGc thc rates iu force on has road
eon'orned Co the law. blt on through traihc
neIurcu competing points they do moi. The
.lfo. issued bg thc southern Railway aud
.,camsb.p Association, hc said, are accepted
-LY ~.