Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-20
THE RAILWAY RATE-wAR.
Action OF seaboard AIr-Lipe ON
Judge speer's Order.

AUGUSTA, GA. September lg.-The fol-
lowing Geographic correspondence be.
tween l.. r. Watts. general counsel Of the
seaboard Airline. and Judge Emory
speer VIII ba published IN the Chronicles
tomorrow:
Portsmouth, va, September Is. 1886
Judge Emory Speer. Mt. Airy. Ca:
Il have just received by wire % copy
or your injunction order ana It Is our
purpose TO conform strictly to IT,
we hled tariff with tho Interstats
commission September I'd, operative Sep
TENDER 9Th, reducing rates SO l-3 per cent.
from those prevailing prior TO that date.
mis- tarim conforms strictly to the act
10 regulate commerce. especially as TO
tho third and fourth sections. giving TO
all points the benefit OF the reduction.
This tariff differs from that fled by ths
southern, which ciscrlmuates against
Augusta and other points. IN that the
REDUCTION applies only to competitive
points-that IS, points where they directly
compete with the Seab0ard line. This
tariff we will have observed. under the
terms Of your order. as II WAS In force
on the 5th. having been recognized ami
approved by the commission before thas
date
con the morning Of the 10Th we flei
| with tho Interstate Commission tariff
reducing rates on cotton. 70 become Of
! iective three days thereafter. This tariie
was received, and approved by the COM
mission, and under II we have made
contracts with cotton-dealers and vessel
owners for the shipment Of cotton %
Liverpool at prices predlcated upon tas
rat quoted. III l understand the order
correctly, II does not interfere with tnis
| tariff, as the tariff, itself does not in any
| sense violate the act referred 10, and ap-
| nj 70 int al al
| competitive points on our lines.
J IL do not desire any modification ~
| your order, but wish TO understand IL
! fully, so that tho MANAGEMENT may 10
/ governed accordingly az IT Is their pur-
| pose In this case. as IN the past. - i'm
| p.icitly obey the mandates OF tho court
| and the laws OF the land
Il wire you thus fully. so that we may
take whatever action Is necessary, and
at once. with the Interstate Commission.
| For this reason. l beg you TO kindly an
| swe~ promptly 10 Portsmouth, Va.
I'VE are advised that tho Southern
| people are proceeding 10 file tariffs re-
| duciug rates from Atlanta and other
| points, regardless OF your restraining
| order. As we are endeavoring 10 comply
| with this order. and also the act 10 regu-
| late CONNER. / think II best 10 call
your attention TO what seems 10 be a
violation OF both the injunction and tho
| act. and ask the protection OF the court.
(SigneO 81. r. WATTS,
General Counsel"
mt Airy. Ca, September Is, 1898
| "Hon. l.. r. Watts. General Counsel Sea-
| board Airline Portsmouth. Va:
IN response 20 your telegram of this
| date. / do not feel at liberty To attempt
| TO interpret by telegraph tho decree OF
| the court. 20 which you refer
with regard 10 your complaint ~ vio-
| laton OF that decree by the Southern. I
have 10 say that 81 any violation - pre-
| scented, pursuant 10 the rules OF practice
and procedure, it VIII be given Instant
Signed EMORY sPEER. Judge"
Portsmouth Va. September II. 1SJ5.
j"Judge Emory Spcer Mt. Airy. Ca:
"YOur Telegram received After fuii
| consideration, ! have suggested 10 tho
| MANAGEMENT the action indicated I'm ths
| following telegram, which IS a copy OF ths
one sent to our Atlanta agent today,
and n tariff making IL effective VIII DO
| fled with the Interstate Commerce Com
mission Immediately:
| ITO II. l. Cheatham, Atlanta. Ca:
after giving consideration TO the
order Of judge Speer, We have concluded
That the proper thing 10 DO "a 20 reStors
an rates from the 18th, pending his de-
clsion. and we DO this IN order that IL
may not be said that in any way we are
| in opposition thereto. This means North
| Carolina South Carolina and Virginia. as
well az Georgia.
(SigneD ID X, WAITS,
General Counsal'