The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-09-11
AUGUSTA MERCHANTS
Responsible for The Action that Caused
tho Issuance of the Courts Order.
ORDER REFERS TO FREIGHT TO ATLANTA
And Other Points Within the Juris-
dictiOn OF The Judge OF the North
EASTERN Division of the Southern
District of tho United States
Contributors tale E.aw Invoked

Augusta. Ga. Sept. 10.--(Spec!al)-Yes-
terday Joseph Lamar, the attorney r=p-
Tesenting Paul Muslin & Co, of Angus
ia. appeared before Judge Speer, of the
Southern District United States Court,
and fled n bill !ecitmg that the South
ern and Central, y; the Southern States
Freight Association. and the SeaupArd
AIR Line. the Georgia, Carolina and
northern railways are engaged in inter
stale CONNIE rec and are subject 10 the
provisions OF the act regulating the same
and that the former rates are reasonable
and there was no reason for a change
neither has there been a change 50 far
as Augusta territory is conccrnel: tnat
there has been Il reduction OF freight
rates from Norfolk and points .asi to
Atlanta, without similar reductions rs to
Augusta and adjacent territory. which
Is rulnouS TO the trad of Augus.a: that
the discrimination in favor of Atlanta is
forbidden by the third section Of the
interstate commerce act
The petition prays for i decree declar-
Ing the rate wars Illegal and restraint
from enforcement o. the cut and for the
re-esiabl!Snment of the old rate
There are material differences in the
Oil before Judge Speer from the one
recently filed before Judge Simonton, of
the South Carolina District Court. Mr..
Lamars bill makes the point that the
discriminating cut rates are Violative of
the interstate act which prohibits dis
elimination and this bill seeks TO have
rate wars stopped which are .naugurated
Tor the purpose of crushing out weaker
roads in the Interest of Il stronger one.
or which give rates iii the interest of
one locality against the other.
IN The bill Paul Muslin & CO. repre- sent
all Augusta merchants who are kicking
because under the cut rates Atlanta can
nndersell them. not only in legitimate
territory, but in Augusta
The bill complains that the rate war
IS Tor the purpose OF crushing out roads
smaller than the Southern and the Sea-
ooard Air Line; that they are quasi pub
Nc corporations and have no right TO
commit suicide or kill one another TO the
ptelud!ce of the public inierss st; that
while Augusta is nearer Norfolk than
Atlanta, she gets 10 benefit.
!, Judge Speer was al Mount Airy and
a,amar appeared before him there with
Inc bill. His order comma nding that
q mandatory Injunction shall issue
against the Southern recognizes all the
points claimed IN the bill of Paul Muslin
GO. Judge Speer orders that each of
the defendants shall cease the rates now
IN operation and resume their rates
which Were In effect previous to Sep
tember ., which were recognized rs
equitable. This appertains to goods
shipped 10 Atlanta and all other points
within the territory of Judge Speer's
jurisdiction. which is the northea stern
division of the Southern District of the
United States Court
copy OF the order of Judge Spacr
was served this afternoon by DEPUTY
United States Collector George Calvin
on j; c; Whiteford. who is the agent OF
The Seaboard Air Line at this point. No
time is set for the hearing of the case
that being left blank that the roads
may file their answer with the court.
Merchants In this city are determined
that thee shall be no discrimination so
far as this city. Macon and Columbus,
Ca, and other cities that feel the preiu.
dice of this cut which only Atlanta en-
Joys, is concerned