The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-09-13
PASSENGER RATES CUT
RAILROAD COMMISSION MAKES
REDUCTION or A QUARTER
OF A CENT.
MANY Railroad Officials Here.-- 7 he
Commission Allows the Usual
Ten Days in Which to
File Exceptions.


At noon yesterday the North Caro-
lima Railroad Commission met IN spe-
cial session to hear argument regard
ing the order reducing local freight
and passenger tariffs to correspond
with the new through rate made under
the cut.
Among those present were: South
ern Railway, represented by Col. Hen
derson, assistant general counsel; w.
III. Baldwin, Jr., third president;
Col. A. b. Andrews, first vice-presi-
dent; Fairfax Harrison, of Washing
ton, solicitor; Il. II. Busbee, Esq, of
Raleigh, State counsel; j. ii. Drake, of
Richmond, and j.. b. Munson, of Raj
eigh, division freight agents.
Seaboard Airline, represented by:
Judge James c. McRae and Capt. w.
III. Day, counsel, of Raleigh; William
Moncure, superintendent second diyis-
ion; Capt. William Smith, of Raleigh.
Cape Fear and YadlSin Valley, repre-
scented by: George M. Rose, of Fay
etteville, counsel; j. w. Fry, of Green's
boro, general manager; w. %. Kyle, of
Fayetteville, general freight agent.
The objection made by counsel was
that the law allows ten days notice
in which to file exceptions to the or
ders of the commission. Some of the
roads wanted to argue the case at
once, but it was thought best 10 give
the ten days notice, so as to conform
to the law.
The Commission passed the follow
ing order:
Raleigh, n. c., Sept. IL, 1896.
"In Board of Railroad Commissioners
of North Carolina in session at Raj
eigh this day. 1t appeared that the
fourth section of the Interstate Com
| MERGE Act, known as long and short
haul clause, was violated by one at
least of the corporations interested.
This Commission has no jurisdiction
to remedy this, but for each offence
reported Will see that it is properly
brought to the attention of the Inter
state Commerce Commission and ask
for speedy action by it. IL is ordered,
that all railroad companies doing bust
ness within North Carolina, who have
or may put in force cut rates to and
from points in this State, to and from
points outside, shall SO arrange their
local freight tariffs that the same reJa-
tive reduction shall be given to local
business as has been or may hereaftec
be given to through business.
ut is also ordered that the Standard
Passenger rates shall be ON and after
the oath day of September, 1896, as
follows:
"First-class, three cents per mile.
'Second-class, 25a cents a mile.
"That all percentages hereafter
| granted to certain small corporations,
shall be readiusted by them in like
proportion to conform to this order, it
being a reduction on passenger rates
of one-fourth cent per mile for eacn
class. All parties interested will be
heard as to the Teasonableness of these
rates on September, the 22nd. All ex-
captions TO be filed on or before that
date.
"By order of the Commission.
u. w. WILSON, Chairman.
II. C. BROWN, Clerk"
The following letter has been adj
dressed to the officials of the different
railroads. in the State:
Dear Sir: In accordance with the
order of the Commission, you are re-
quested to answer the following inter
rogations:
Has the company you represent,
cut rates in effect?
do your present rates discriminate
against any local interest iii North
Carolina?
"Are your rates based upon what is
known as the long and short haul sec
ton of the Interstate Commission Act,
or are they in effect only at COMPETE
tive points?
Have your cut rates so far increased
your business as to make it profitable
in comparison with former rates
What proportion Of business is In
terstate and what local? Also as to
passenger?
by order of the Commission
The exceptions to the order will be
heard on September 22nd.