The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-29

-hHnnSef Culp- Ell the southern railway,
are IN Washington, but it was harmed at
the Southern Offices here that there was
not the least doubt that the Southern
railway would observe the injunction of
the United States circuit couN issued ut
Spartansburg, s. c., yesterday The
jurisdiction OF Judge Simonton, who is
sued the injunction embraces the States
of West Virginia, North Carolina and
South Carolina and his order controls
every line connected with the present
Southern rate war Some questions may
arise us tG how far the coUrls can control
the steamship com panics on Chesapeake
Bay, hui tits said that freights shipped
over rail lines, though paa't of the dis
lance by water, come under interstate
commerce. laws and are subject to rcgula-
tiOns by the courts.
1t is understood that Judge Simonton
considers the Port Royal and Augusta
railroad, which yes tcrday applied for an
injunction, as under his protection. be
cause he appointed the receiver for the
property. In the rate war between the
Seaboard Air Line and the Southern and
the lauter's connections the Port Royal
and Augusta would have been seriously
crippled.
At the time the injunction was made
tariffs were being compiled by the COM
misslcners of the Southern States Freight
Association, in Atlanta, and by the chair
man OF the Southeastern Mississippi val
ley freight rate committee, at Louisville
promulgnting the so per cent. reduction
agreed upon to meet the cut of the Sea-
board Mir Line
The Seaboard Air Line, in defense of its
cut, alleged that the Southern had need
leSsly and for the purpose of extinction
of present companies established IL steam
Inn hot l..
In statement made to-day by the South
EN-. Railway Company, it lis explained
that 1t has been operating for years
steamship line between Baltimore and
West Point in connection with the rail
way system. On January | the South
ern extended its lines from Selma, y. c.,
to Norfolk, Va, secured extensive termi-
nails ut the latter point and. on July /,
la0G, extended its steamship line to Nor
folk to a connection with its railroad mt
that point. This change was made be
cause the freight to and from Baltimore
could he handled more satisfactorily and
economically than via West Point.
HOFFMAN Is SURPRISED.
Baltimore. July %. = resident Hoff-
man of the Seahoard Air Line expressed
great surprise this morning at the action
Of United States Judge Simonton. of
upon the warning Southern railway com
mnies 30 prevent further cutting of rates
President Holman said that he IA vet had
10 definite information concerning the
exact nature of the proceedings in ques-
ton and u:til he did it would not he pos
siblc for him to enter fully upon a discus
sion of the matter.
II think any one can see through this"
he added; las soon rs Mr.. st. Johns in
tcrview of Saturday reached the Southern
States Freight Association, they then
tried to find Il way ont of putting in their
eighty per cent cut. and had themselves
enjoined so as to retire gracefully AS
we had already made public statement
that we would not put in such rates it
was hardly worth while to enioin, except
a. blind to try and deceive the public in
believing it was not their act. -
MIR. ST. JOHN INTERVIEWED.
Norfolk. Va, July 2S.--Mr. f. St.
John, vicc-presdent and general manager
of the Scabonrd Air Line, was called upon
ut Portsmouth this evening by Il represent
tative of the Associated Press and asked
to state his position in view of the recent
bill filed before Judge Simonton. and
especially with regard to the injunction
and order passed requiring his road to
restore the old rates, and also what he
proposed to do in view of this action.
Mr.. st. John said:
Il only know of the order and action
from short tclegraphic reports published
in the morning papers. My company
has not been officially notified ''of such a
suit or of any injunction. 7 propose to
obey all lawful orders of 5the courts as
long as they stand in force can't say
what the course of my company will be
until / am served with ,copies of the pa
per- and have advised with our counsel
If the newspapers have fully and correctly
reported what has been done by the
courts, ] must confess that it will seri-
ously damage us in more ways than one
In the first place the interstate COM
merce commission require that ten days
notice he given of any raise in rates, and
the order which is said TO have been
passed requires us to Instantly raise the
rates back TO what they were on the 18th
OF July. ] shall have to take the advice
of my counsel as to the proper course to
pursue under these conditions. Further
more, if this order is correctly reported
it will prevent the Seaboad Air Line from
carrying out existing contracts in accom-
modating the public with-aDy sort of ex-
eursions or doing many OF the things
which are within the discretion of every
railroad management in the WAY of con-
Quoting its business. If such action has
been taken in the manner published it is
easy to see that the whole of it has been
inspired by the Southern Railway. If
this great monopoly expects to throttle |
by appeals to the courts, it
will certainly he mistaken. do not know |
what charges or statements are in the bill |
presented TO the court. but ] do know |
that the time has not yet arrived in this !
.eva,~N Ht.....