Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-19
INTERSTATE LAWS.
UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS WILL
SEE THAT THEY ARE CARRIED OUT.
The North Has Been Getting the Best Of
the south-Ths Latter to Rave
Chance TO Explain,
by telegraph to tho pIspatch.l

WAsHISGT0s. March 1s.-Tho Interstate Com
merce Commission to-day concluded for the
present its hearing Of the representatives Of ths
trunk lines In the matter of export rates. The
gist OF the evidence vas that with fow exceptions
the inland published rates had not for some
months been maintained. Some Of the roads
had made An effort 10 maintain thcn, ana in
consequence mad practically lost their export
business. The Lake Shore and Michigan South
err had In very few months fsom carrying 80
per cent OF the export business dropped to- per
cent Other roads had suffered quito as severe
~. Genetal-Manazcr Hayes, OF tho wabash,
was called and answered several Questions put to
his colleague. Mr. Hopkins, Al saturday, session
~ Juugo strong, counsel for the La2o shore
he said that his road had not for sono time
maintained the uniform inland rate. and that
their Inland export ra.es were often less than
thelr domestic seaboard rate.
Mr. sol. HAS, OF Tho Richmond and Danviile.
SAID the situation % the southern roads was
wholly different from that OF tho trunk lines
because OF the fsct that they have no regular
lines OK steamers plying between the southern
ana foreign ports. and hence they are Dependents
upon rAmps, whose rates are often higher than
those OF tho regular lines.
1t seemed TO be the uniycrsll opinion Of the
managers present that the uniform through OK
port tarin could not be maintained. as IN that
case the railroads would be at the mercy OF ihs
steamship companies. But tho opinion was "a
general tnAt tho ful inland ra could be main-
tanned IS contemplated by Inv, and that the
faithful observance OF The law would result In
goOi 90 all concerned.
Chairman Cooley then said made the state
meht awhile ago that we propose, at the re-
quest OF the gentlemen here representing the
sonihern roads. 70 give them Is hearing, and
they have named for that purpose two weeks
from tomorrow. We should be glai TO namo
an earlier date II practicable. but we don't nni
II Is convenient. DO not know that there IS any
reason why II should be- earlier excepting
the one that this sort Of thing which has
been going on at the North. or which
Ihink tue evidence Is abundant. may perhaps
continue unless the commission makes some
deliverance on tho subject now We dc not want
10 be compelled 10 announce an opinion on so
Important q matter without careful delbera.ion,
nor until these southern gentlemen have been
heard. But IL Is very manifest that there have
been things going on here that should stop az
once They never ought 10 hare been done, and
n they should cease forthwith there would be no
reason why we should not tako tTo months or
even little longer time for the final expression
Of opiRi0n.
A. to what has been going on, We must COM
piiment Mr. Hays Tor coming forward snd
sta ing frankly just what the facts were a. -
CARDS his road. We SHOULD have been bet,er
satisfied IL Ike cOurse had been taken 10y at
the others They must all be satisfied nov that
what ibey have been doing has not been Justified
by Jaw, and there should be- no more Of it. They
ought all now 10 do what no doubt Mr.. Hays Will
do-namoly, in manly manner endehSor 10
comply wish the law. our purpose is not 10 hurt
anybody but to be Of service 10 the community
IN seeing that the law IL observed and while W.
have h1e1 two weeks from tomorrow for tho
hearing Of these southern gonhomen, in tho
mean dime We expect the parties 10 take up the
law aud study It. and see that 40 far as their own
roads are concerned II ia lived up 90.
uerc Is The law, and 70 Is not for you hereafter
t. say 20 ne that there are practical obstacles In
She WAY 81 cOnpl yiug With o.: That you WOuiI
lose business by 80 doing. AMI all shat sort OK
thing No are not concerned in that. No 40
not Nish ~ do anything 20 maze You lose busi-
ness. AZ mo same time We cannot accept u "a
vail excuse that II you obey tho law you viii
thereby lose business. ho time ought 10 DO
/ considered ~ gone ~ when manager can
come % rs md say, " named TINS rate. ana
did n regaruIess OF law. because my cOW pettOr
hEd done the came thing There u no excuse
for that practice. II a wronR Is conc by ono
roa1 ~ O injury Of another, the proper method
OF redress is not o. duulicate The wrong. but 10
60 before the common authority whether II 10
the commission or a voluntary es'DclailOn, with
the complain Of wrong. one crime 10 fhutoal
circles IS no moro 10 Toe excused ny enotucr lhhn
one uheft Is % Dee Justihe1 ~ Az tn"r, bhu 10
ought TO be Just ~ diecreitaule o. violate COM
/ merral law ~h'h affects the railroad managers
as Is Is 20 violate criminal law ln The Appropua-
/ ton OF private property.
/ think ia Justice ~ these southern gentlemen we
| ought 90 give q continuance Oi This Investigation
/ for couple Of weeks In order 20 les them snow
/ what there is that Ia peculiar IN their case. NO
/ dOnot want 70 express 8u opinion mat VIII aAect
/ their Interests until they ihelnselFe. are iuiy
I heard but in the mean time the practices I'M tue
1 fOrtn that hayc been Justly complained o. ani
/ which have all appeared 10 be unlustihaole,
should not be continued That should oe fully
/ underst)gi.
! trust tnnt after saying 40 much We shall not
| two weeks hence have complaints brought 10 us
/ that these practices have been going ON IN mo
mean time Parties must not take redress u
Wrougs into thor ovn hands when mo legailty OF
what hoy complain Of ~ to say tho least very
/ doubtful They ought 20 remember. too, tha',
! though the hearing Il suspended, the law re-
I mains IN force, aud its penaluos are Ia the
| mean time pronounced agains; all yioators just
/ a. mn IA AZ though no such continuance had boon
taken
Tuesday, April %. was fixed upon as the day
/ whom the southern carriers VIII be heard IN the
| matter Of export rates aud the methods Of COM
| puttpg them Tho commission viii give hear
ing o. passenger associations regarding the issu-
ancs and printing Of tariffs thursday, Max
gl-t