The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-07-22
MR.. ST. JOHN TALKS.
THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE S. A. L. AN
sWERs SOME QUESTIONS.

The Reasons. in His Opinion, for the
Establishment of an Opposition
Bay Line-How HOs:ilities Began
Rivalry Means IrreparabIe LOSS,
If Not Utter Ruin.
Portsmouth Star. July ID.
Mr.. James, A. Hill hands us the following
piece. He is one OF our best business young
men, and is great friend of the S. A. l..
In view of the fact that the war now going
on between the old Bay Line and the new
Bay Line. which was recently put in opera
tion by the Southern Railway, is regarded
With an unusual degree of interest," repre-
sentative OF the Star this morning sought an
interview with Nice-President ST. John of
the Seaboard Air Line with view of ascer-
tanning the status OF the case from the stand
point of the latter road. Mr.. ST. John readily
submitted 10 an interview, anu the scribe
opened on him as follows:
'"Mr. st. John, The Star is aware that your
personal and business relations with the Bal
timore Steam Packet Company are intimate
and harmonious. You are doubtless In po-
sition to know the precise nature OF the causes
which have aroused the antagoniSm of the
Bay Line towards the Southern Railway
originating in the establishment by the lat
ter of line OF steamers to compete for traffic
between Portsmouth and Baltimore. A state
ment from you, therefore, in regard TO the
matter would be considered Of great import
ance and would be read with the liveliest in
tereSt by our patrons and the public"
Mr.. ST. John-It is true as you conjecture
that am fully cognizant OF the reasons
which have compelled the Baltimore Steam
Packet Company to assume the strong deien-
sive position IL now holds, 10 repel m unpro-
voked and unjust attack on it's business and
property rights. Hostilities began when the
Southern railway, regardless OF the obllga-
tions OF duty or courtesy, established Who'll
ly unnecessary and uncalled for line of steam
ers to parallel the Bay Line between Baltl-
more and Norfolk.
Ouestion-But hasn 7 the Southern the right
TO run line of steamers OF It's own on the
bay, If IL chooses TO do so?
Mr.. st. John--Certainly, any man or corpo-
ration has the technical right TO do so, when
the object is 10 serve the public interests. or
even their own; but In this case the Southern
seems actuated by no such motive. say this
boldly and advisedly. The Southern proposes
10 destroy, rather than build up. Before II
can even hope for success IT must cripple and
uuuihilafe the prestige aud traffic that has ac-
crued to the Bay Line during 80 years or more
of faithful public service. The business
created aud carried on by the Bay Line Is
now only moderately profitable. A serious
diversion or absorption OF its traffic means
for II nothing less than .rreparable loss, II
not utter ruin. 1t is the manifest duty Of the
avert the impending disaster. Nor can friend.
ly connections afford TO stand idly by (not
Knowing whose turn will come nexO and per-
NIT the depreciation OF property contem-
plated.
Question-But has not the Southern been
refused such facilities of transportation as II
equires, and thus been forced. sS a matter OF
necessity, TO establish an independent line OF
It's own?
Mr.. st. John-The claim by the Southern
that 1t cannot handle its business through
any other than It's own line Is preposterous.
Equally hollow is the pretext that other es.
tablshed lines cannot furnish all the facili-
ties Ii could possibly need for scores OF years
10 come. The correspondence Of President
Hoffman with the Southern officials fully
demonstrates the folly of such assertions.
In his letter OF April TO Mr.. Spencer, presi-
dent OF the Southern, he thus tersely sums
up the case: al regret to know that you do
not intend TO use the Merchants and Miners
Transportation Company MS your connection
between Baltimore and Norfolk instead OF a
line of your own, which means that you have
determined 10 make an attack on the Balti-
more Steam Packet Company and the Sea-
board Air Line for the purpose Of attack.
Therefore you must assume the responsible
ity Tor the decentralization and loss of revenue
TO all lines which must follow. Both the Bal
chants and Miners Company have done all
In their power TO preserve the peace by Offer
ing the services of their lines on terms OF
perfect equality with all lines rs your con-
nection, but II seems that 1t is your desire 10
disrupt the entire situation for purpose.
Your proposed additional line cannot by any
possibility pay you, while IL can only tend 10
destroy the revenues of others SO long as 1t
IL.
The "purpose," the real animus Of the
southern, is revealed in the sentence last
above quoted. II does not even court COM
petition on legitimate lines. Its aim is to re-
duce the Bay Line TO a subordinate position
| as carrier of traffic between the North and
the South, or drive it as contestant from the
| field altogether and usury It's place. II can.
not expect or care to do a profitable business
| in The struggle for supremacy 1t invites, but
hopes to intlict greater damage on others
| than 1t will receive. The Southern, it argues,
has nothing 10 lose, but everything TO gain
from such a conflict, while the direct con-
| verse OF that proposition Is true as regards
| the Bay Line.
Question-But in what way and to what ex-
tent are the interests of the Seaboard Air
| Line involved In the struggle between the
Southern and the Bay Line?
Mr.. st. John-Thc Bay Line. although en-
tirely independent OF the Seaboard Air Line;
friendly connection. More than that, the
Seaboard Air Line in extending its aid in
time OF need to the Bay Line is practically
conserving It's own Interests, which are also
threatened. We believe that no confidence
can be placed in the promises or policies OF
the Southern. In some States it seems to
successfully evade enacted law and court de-
clSions, and so long as 1t can dictate the men,
| bership OF railroad associations and the of
| tcers comprising them IL is a stickler for
tariff rates, and especially Is the latter said
10 be true where IL has been successful in clos.
ing out all avenues OF competitions. In
asserted staten In regard TO the con.
solidation of other lines with its own, and
where Investigations have followed concern.
ing such matters, 1t has suddenly uecessltat
ed the use OF "field glass" TO determine its
ownership.
For competitor to oppose 1t simply to in
vite the statement that such competitor will
cease 10 exist in q very S hort term Of years
and with many lines the lear OF 1t causes dis
crimination In it's favor and against It's com
petitor, entirely at variance with the third
section of the act to regulate commerce,
which provides that: 1T shall be unlawful
for any common carrier subject to the proviS.
ions OF this act to make or give any undue
or unreasonable preference or advantage to
any particular person. company, firm, cor
poration or locality, or any particular de-
scription of traffic, in any respect whatsoever
or TO subject any particular person, company
firm, corporation or locality, or any particu
lar description OF traffic, to any undue or un.
reasonable prejudice or disadvantage In any
respect whatever" etc.
The influence OF the Southern has been
powerful enough thus far 10 prevent arrange
ments for running through sleeper 10 an d
from New York over our line, which the
Southern enjoys. We have been three years
trying to secure this from our conn ections
and expect yet to accomplish 1T, although al
present it is unlawfully denied us. We have
been thwarted in the same way and by the
same influences, in our efforts to secure
through car facilities for our passenger traffic
hot ,peep AtIapta ond Nexp Orleans nptwith