The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-21
RAILROADS HAVE RIGHTS.
Danville Merchants Inclined to Ask
Too Much.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.-The Interstate
Commerce Commissioners to-day filed an
opinion, by Chairman Cooley, in the case Of
the complaint Of the Committee ON Trans
portation of the Danville, Va, Chamber of
Commerce against the Richmond and Dan
vile Railroad Company. The complaint
contained number of charges, the chief Of
which were that it made excessive charges
that it Disseminated in its charges
against merchants and traders
OF Richmond, Lynchburg and Charlottes-
vile, and especially that it Disseminated
10y refusing to give to merchants and
traders at Danville in respect to merchan-
disc purchased by them at Richmond and
other points, through rates from the point
OF purchase to the point at which they
might make sale thereof
THE CHARGE PROVEN.
Elaborate proofs were taken in tho case
and the commission finds number of in
stances of excessive charges to be made out.
In respect to such charges the parties pay
ing them were not represented in
the case before the commission, but it was
shown that SO far rs the rates were found
To be erroneous they had been corrected,
and if overcharges had not been repaid
the party in each case was entitled to have
repayment on demand. The through rates
planned of, but tho commission holds that
in So far as rates are made by other compa-
mes, without the participation of the de
tendant, the defendant does not charge it
self with any responsibility therefor by
merely giving the rates in addition to its
own TO any one who asks for through rates
The commission also holds that the
justice of local rates cannot be determined
10y comparison of them with the rates
tn IN
freighGs are carried for long distances III
great volume and at relatively very much
less expense than like freights can be car
ried when moved in less quantities and for
comparatively short distances.
WANT TOO MUCH
70 the present ground for the charge Of
discrimination in favor of Richmond as
against Danville, an illustrative instance
may be taken. The Danville merchant
claimed that in case he bought merchandise
in Richmond and shipped it TO Danville,
and then sold it to Goldsboro, and other
points further on, and shipped it to such
point, he should have the through rate on
the merchandise from Richmond to the
point of final destination, and unless no was
given such through rate, he was at a dsad-
vantage in competition with Richmond NOR
chants in making sales to the same point
The railroad company comedies the through
rate When Inc DanVllle merchant makes his
shipment direct from Richmond to his place
of sale, but refuses TO do so when the ship
lnent is first to Danville and then a second
shipment is made to the point of sale.
The commission holds that in the case
supposed, the railroad cannot be compelled
to give the same rate for two shipments
that it gives when there is one only. The
fact that its refusing TO do SO operates in
favor of one town, or adversely to another,
does not charge it with unjust discrimina-
tion. Discrimination must consist in doing
for, or allowing to one party or place, what
is denied to another. 1t cannot be predi-
Gated on action which in itself is impartial.
The House then adjourned.