Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-12
RAILROAD RATE WAR
Hearing on the Injunction Case
Anxiously Awaited.
MUCH DEPENDS ON THE DECISION
Rumor That Pullman Charges Are
to Be Reduced.
FOR AN ACCIDENT HOSPITAL

| FOX a y ACCIDENT HOSPITAL
AS the time approaches for the hearing
of the of the Southern-Se aboard Air
| Line before Judge Simonton az Spartan
| burg. 8. c.. and which is set for argu-
| ment Saturday next. some very interest
| ing facts are being brought to light.
Among the most important of these is an
! agreement made many years ago between
| the York River Line. now owned by the
Southern Railway Company. and the Bay
| Line. which is controlled by the Seaboari
| Air Line. the chief feature of which was
| a penalty forfeit of s15.91 to be levied in
| the event of an encroachment by one on
| the others territory. When the purpose
| of the Southern's decision to establish its
| Norfolk line was promulgated the Sea
| beard notified the Southern that rs latest
act was a violation Of the agreement in
| question, and this was followed by a de-
mand for the s75.aR forfeit. To this Pres
ident Reuben Foster of the York River
| Line replied in a letter stating the agree
| ment referred to by the Seaboard people
| was annulled July =, 1851.
1t has also been disclosed that the Penn
| sylNlf la Railway Company. through Vice
| President Thomson, has been taking a
| very active part in the pending contro-
| versy and that he has made a number of
|
! board people together with a view of hav-
| ing the issues involved Strengthened out
| amicably. Mr.. Thomson failed in his eff
| FORTS. however. but w. to a few days ago
! he entertained hope that the troubles be-
| tween the contending roads could be all
| justed in a manner honorable to all. and
| replying to a communication from Presi-
| Gent Hoffman of the Seaboarl in which
| the Southerns stand given, he again
| oTered his services to promote harmony.
| To this Mr.. Hoffman answered that much
| as he regretted 1t. Mr.. Thomson's services
| could not be utilized under ,he circum-
| stances.
| The present dangerous aspect of the
| railroad industry in the south is a source
| CT great anxiety to every one interested IN
! these properties. and while the controversy
| IS at present virtually confined to the
| Southern and Seaboard Air Line Companies
| every line within the southern competitive
| territory is vitality interested.
The Southern Railway Company has fol-
| ioWed steady course in the present diff
| hculty with the Seaboard by refusing TO
| Withdraw its steamer line between Ralti-
| more and Norfolk. and the latter has ap-
| parently been equally determined to force
| a war in rates. The serious condition
| which as result confronts all the south
| ern lines is keenly felt and efforts are he
| ing made to get both the Southern and the
! SeaboaTd TO compromise for the sake of
| peace.
| Effect of an Injunction.
There is, however, another feature of the
| case which is giving railway owners gem
! orally much food for thought. Suppose it
| Is argued, that Judge Simonton makes his
| temporary injunction against the cutting
| OF rates permanent The order of that Of
| fetal established a decidedly novel prece-
| dent, and while it virtually gave to the
| court the right to determine what rates
| snail be charged it also carried with it the
| elements of danger
| very serious question has been raised
| whether it is advisable to go into court and
| hight the injunction and deny the right of
| the court to interfere in rate making. or
| remain passive for the sake of harmony
| and the avoidance of trouble. Railway Of
| 1clals all over the country are extremely
, jealous Of their rights to fix rates for the
| recent decisions of the Supreme Court have
| indicated that railroad companies solely
have the right to fix their rates on traffic
| II the position assumed by Judge Smonton
1t Is argued, is sustained, there is much to
| rear Tor the companies. for they Will be
| powerless to advance rates so long as re-
course II the courts by injunction re-
| mains.
| ing considerable changes in the location OF
| some OF its agents. District Passenger
| Agent Taylor has been transferred from
! Atlanta to Norfolk. Va. Mr. W. D. Allen
has been transferred from Jacksonville to
| Atlanta and Mr.. L. A. Shipman has been
promoted from travelling passenger agent
at Birmingham to be district passenger
| agent at Jacksonville. Fla. vice Allen
| transferred.
| To Reduce Pullman Rates.
| There is a rumor in circulation In rail-
road circles that the Pullman company is
| contemplating a reduction In its rates
The parlor car service will be first af-
fected. The railroad managers have. it
Is said finally convinced Mr.. Pullman
! that his rates were to large extent pro-
| hib1tive and the reduction will probably
| amount to fully 80 per cent Following
| this change Pullman fares will be cut
on the Baltimore and Ohio and Hooking
| Valley and Ohio Central. Some of the
| Southern railway men are urging Mr.. Pull
man that while he is doing such meritor-
| ious work he will extend the good work
| SO as to include their territory in the
| changes. as it is believed there is abundant
scope for sweeping changes in the rates
as they now stand.
| 1t is understood that deal has been en-
| tered into between the Baltimore and Ohio,
| the Grand Trunk and the Lehigh Valley
| whereby the Lehigh Valley will have two
| through trains a day between New York
and ST. Louis. The Lehigh Valley has {.
| direct Chicago connection with the Grand
| Trunk running from Suspension Bridge
1t is further stated that as soon as its
short connecting branch between Tona-
| wanda and the Canadian side of the Falls
| services for Chicago of New York
| The Black Diamond special on the Lehigh
| Valley will make the run from New York
to Buffalo in ten hours As soon as the
| Trunk will revise its schedule to connect
directly with this train.
Railway Hospitals.
The awful accident a few days ago at
| Atlantic City has called public attention
| in a very emphatic manner to the necessity
| Of an organized system of relief In case of
railroad disasters, and it is urged that a |
railroad hospital would be important
stop i'll that direction. DR.. J. F. Valentine !
| chief surgeon of the Long Island railway |
system, is taking the preliminary steps to |
organize a hospital corps on that road, and |
some months ago the Erie officials adopted
plans looking to the establishment of a |
similar organization. The New York State
Association of Railway Surgeons, with |
membership of about one hundred, has for
some time been endeavoring to secure the |
establishment of such a system. Upon in |
vestlgation among the employees and the |
managers of railroads they have found |
that those who are familiar with the work |
tngs Of this department roads where ii |
has been installed favor it, but many are |
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