The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-19
RAILROADEXPORTR RATES
STATEMENTS OF THE TRUNK LINE
REPRESENTATIVES,.

Inland Published Rates Not Main
tanned for Several Months-Roads
Which Kept Them Up Lost Their
Export Business-Chairman Cooley
Makes a Statement to the Officials
Present.
WASHINGTON, March lS--The inter-
state commerce commission to-day con-
cluded, for the present, its hearing Of repre-
sentatives of the trunk lines in the matter
Of export rates. The gist of the evidence
was that with a few exceptions the inland
published rates had not for some months
been maintained. Some of the roads had
made an effort to maintain them, and in
consequence had practically lost their ex-
port business.
The Lake Shore and Michigan Southorn
had in a very few months, from carrying S5
per cent. of the export business, dropped to
7per cent. Other roads had suffered quite
as severely.
General Manager Hayes of the Wabash
was called and answered several questions
put to his colleague, Mr.. Hopkins, at Sat-
urday's session by Judge Strong, counsel
for the Lake Shore road. He said that his
road had not for some time maintained a
export rates were often less than their
domestic seaboard rates.
THE SITUATION IN THE SOUTH.
Mr.. Haas, of the Richmond and DanviIle.
said the situation Of the southern roads was
wholly different from that of the trunk
lines, because of the fact that they have no
regular lines Of steamers plying between
southern and foreign ports, and hence hey
are dependent upon tramps, whose rates are
| ~ Au., Is
lt seemed to be the universal opinion of
the managers present that a uniform
thl ough export tariff could not be main
tanned, as III that case the railroads would
be at the mercy of the steamship compa-
nies. But the opinion was as general that
full inland rates could be maintained as
contemplated by law, and that faithful OBJ
servance OF the law would result in good to
all concerned.
CHAIRMAN CooLEY's STATEMENT.
Chairman Cooley then said:
made a statement while ago that we pro-
pose, at the request Of gentlemen here repre-
senting southern roads, TO give them a hearing
and they have named for that purpose two
weeks from to morrow. We should be glad to
name an earlier date IL practicable but we do
not ma that II Is. do not know that there Is
any reason why il should be earlier excepting
one that this sort Of thing which has been going
on at the north-ot which ] think the
evidence is abundant-may perhaps con-
tinue unless the commission makes some de-
hVerance on the subject now. We do not want
to be compelled TO announce an opinion on SO
| important matter without careful elaboration
| nor until these southern gentlemen have be IN
heard. But il Is very manifest that there have
Deen things going on here that should stop at
once. They never ought TO have been done,
and IL they should cease forewth, there would
be no reason why we should not take two
months, or even q little longer time, for final
expression of opinion.
HAYS coMPIINENTEp
As TO what has been going on, we must COM
pliment Mr.. Hays for coming forward and stat
ing frankly just what the facts were regards
his road. We should have been better satisfied
4 like course had been taken by all others.
They must all be satisfied now that what they
have been doing has not been justified
Of it. They ought all now 10 do what
no doubt Mr. Hayes will do, namely in a manly
manner endeavor TO comply with the law. Our
purpose Is not to hurt ANYBODY but 10 be of
service to the community in seeing that the law
Is observed; and while we have fixed two weeks
from to morrow for the hearing of these south
ern gentlemen, in the meantime we expect the
parties TO take ur the law and study IL, and see
that 50 far as their own roads is concerned it Is
lived up to.
NO EXCUSES WANTED.
Here is the law, and 1t Is not for you here
after to say to ms that there are practical obsta-
cles IN the way Of complying with It; that you
would lose business by so doing, aLG all that
sort OF thing. We are not concerned I'm that.
lose business. At the same time we cannot
accept it as valid excuse that IL you obey the
law you viii thereby lose business The time
ought to be considered as gone by
when manager can come 20 us
and say: 81 named this rate and / did il regard
less OF the law because my competitor had done
the same thing" There is no excuse for that
practice. If wrong is done by one road to the
injury OF another the proper method of redress
is not to duplicate the wrong, but 10 go before
the common authority whether it be
a
ton, with complaint of the wrong. One
crime in railroad circles is no more
to be excused by another than one theft is to be
justified by another, and it ought TO be just as
disereditabe to violate a criminal law which
affects railro I'd managers as il is TO violate the
criminal law in the appropriation OF private
property.
IMMEDIATE CESSATION.
| say these things in view of the fact that we
think 10 justice to these southern gentlemen
we ought to give a continuance of this investi-
CATION for couple Of weeks, in order to let
them show what there Is peculiar in their case.
We do not want TO express an opinion tnat will
affect their interests until they themselves are
fully heard, but in the meantime the practices
in the north that have been justly complained
Of, and which have all appeared to be nnjusti-
faole, should not be continued. That should
be thoroughly understood.
trust that after saying so much we shall not.
two weeks hence, have complaints brought to
us that these practices have been going on in
the meantime. Parties must not take the re-
dress Of wrongs into their own hands when the
legality Of what they complain of is, to say the
least, very doubtful They ought to remember,
too that though the hearing is suspended, that
the law remains In force and its penalties in
the meantime are pronounced against all vio-
lators just as much as though no such con-
tinuance had been taken.
Tuesday, April 2, was fixed upon as the
day when the southern carriers will be
heard in the matter Of export rates and
their methods Of computing them.
The commission will give a hearing to
the passenger associations regarding the
issuance aud printing Of tariffs, Thursday,