The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-07
LISTENING TO COMPLAINTS.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE. COMMITS
SION HEARD THREE YESTERDAY.

c1SiOns Are Rendered, however
No Oral Argument by the Attor-
neys, But Briefs TO BE Submitted to
the Commission Instend-TwO 9th
err Complaints of the Freight Dn-
rcau TO BE Taken I'D TO-day-SOme
Interesting Evidence Expected.
The hearing of evidence in the complaint
brought by the Savannah Freight Bureau
against the Louisville and Nashville rail-
road on account of alleged discrimination
in rates on its Pensacola and Atlantic
branch, before the interstate commerce
commission, was concluded yesterday.
There was no oral argument. but the at
torneys on both sides will prepare and
submit briefs to the commission. The
commission will not pass upon the case
until they have received these briefs and
also until the evidence, which was report
ed geographically by the secretaries Of
the commission has been written out and
submitted.
AS the commission will hardly return
to Washington before the end Of thirty
days, and as the secretaries will not be
able to write out their notes until after
their return, it will be some time yet be-
fore the decision of the commission will
be received here. About ninety days is es-
timated as the probable time which will
elapse before the decision is reached.
The principal witnesses before the com
mission yesterday We're Vice President s.
R.gKnott Of the Louisville and Nashville
railroad. and Mr.. f. c. Shepard, general
~ f,a
men testified at length as to the rates in
force on the system, particularly the Pen
sacola and Atlantic division, the reasons
for such rates, and the effect of the rates.
All Information requested by the COM
mission or the attorneys was given fully
and freely. Both gentlemen were inter-
rogated freely by the commissioners and
much interesting information was obtain
ed The result undoubtedly was to put
the case of the railroad in a much better
light before the commission.
Mr.. Knott said that the Pensacola and
Atlantic had always been run at a heavy
loss by the Louisville and Nashville. The
country was very thinly settled and the
amount of business developed along the
line was small. 1t was for this reason
that the company sought to encourage
the naval stores business by giving favor
able rates to naval stores similar 10 those
in force on lines leading to Savannah, in
territory tributary to this port. The rates
in effect ne said, are practically the same
as established five years ago. Up to two
years ago the greater part of the naval
stores shipments came to Savannah. and
no complaints were made by the shippers
on account of the rates, which were prac-
tically the same then as now.
1t was found that the lack Of a home
market was operating against the road
in the matter Of the naval stores industry.
MIR. Knott said, and on this account it
was decided to encourage the industry at
Pensacola, for the benefit, both of the
railroad and the producers. As "a result
the industry had greatly increased along
the line of the road
As to the rates In existence being the
same from each point on the line to River
Junction, Mr. Knott said that it was not
unusual with railroads to group a number
of points under one rate, known as a
blanket rate. To have the rates placed
upon a mileage basis would re-
suit very greatly to the dis
advantages of Savannah, Mr.. Knott said.
While Savannah now controls all
the territory on the Florida, Central and
Peninsular and Savannah Florida and
Western railroads to River Junction
change OF rates to a mileage basis would
benefit Pensacola rather than Savannah,
as the distance would stll be shorter to
Pensacola and the rate consequently less
and both Pensacola and New Orleans
would be on better footing than Savannah
in territory in Florida, from which these
cities are now excluded in favor of Sa-
Vannah
Mr.. Shepard, in his testimony, said the
main reason for the rates were that it was
to the advantage of the carrier to make
long rather than short hauls. The rates,
he claimed We're justified by the circum-
stances and conditions governing the traf-
lie.
Capt. Purse gave the commission some
information as TO the workings of the
freight bureau. Mr.. w c. Powell testi-
fed as to the rates on naval stores on the
Pensacola and Atlantic, and the effect of
these rates from the standpoint of a Sa-
vannah naval stores factor. Mr.. l. B.
Tiedeman testified as to relative market
quotations Of Savannah and Pensacola.
The testimony was concluded shortly after
the beginning of the afternoon session.
The commission occupied the rest Of the
afternoon in hearing the complaint of the
Seaboard Air Line railroad against the
Atlantic and West Point railroad, the
Western Railway of Alabama, the Louis
Vile and Nashville, and the Texas and Pa
ciiic railroad, charging discrimination on
the part of the lines named against the
Seaboard Air Line. The spec
ial discrimination complained Of
consisted of the refusal of the
lines named to handle through excursion
cars of the Seaboard Air Line from points
in Arkansas and Texas to points on the
line of the Air Line in Eastern Georgia,
South Carolina and North Carolina; ii be-
ing customary, the complaint states, to
run these excursions in the fail from
Texas and Arkansas to the eastern SOUTH
ern states for the benefit of persons liv-
ing in Texas and Arkansas who had
gone there from the more easterly states.
The roads named declined 70 perform this
service in 1896, and it is alleged that their
action was the result Of a resolution
adopted by the Southern States Passen-
ger Association Of which the
complainant is not member
Evidence in support of the complaint was
given by Mr. T. J. Anderson, general
passenger agent Of the Seaboard Air Line
Vice President S. r. Knott Of the Louis
willie and Nashville and President George
J. Smith OF the Atlanta and West Point
and Western Railway of Alabama, and
John A. Gee general passenger agent,
gave evidence In reply. The method Of
handling excursion passenger business re-
quested by the Scaboard Air Line, they
said, had been abandoned, having proven
undesirable for many reasons, one objec-