The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-05-11
The Commerce Commission Investigates the
Question as Affecting Ocean Frelghts.
NEW YORK KICKS AGAINST NORFOLK
The Investigation Bc%,El ut tlso fnsti-
ssntinn OF the Ncw York 2'roHuce
ENcfnu@c-Giaimcd tt!at DiscriIni-
nations are Against New york nnd
For No1olls and NEWPORT News.
Philadelphia, May 10, 1897.

here, resumed its hearing on the subject
OF differential freight rates. "A plelini-
nary hearing was given in New York on
March last. and a postponement.. was
taken, With the agreement III 2 / thGscGm-
mission continue The hearing in tlA city
to-day. The case at issue Is that OF the
Produce Exchange OF New York against
thirtyfour railroad companies for main
tanning, IN alleged violation OF the IN ter
state commerce. act, 4 system OF freight
diifercntials in grain, four and pro-
visions from the West to Philadelphia,
Baltimore, Newport News and NGrfolk,
which the New YORK Produce Exchange
alleges has operated to the disadvantage
or the commerce Of New York. The dif-
feren,ials complained OF are two cents /
hundred pounds in favor of Philadelphia
and three cents in favor OF Baltimore,
Norfolk and Newport News.
Ihe petitioners also ailegc that chip
pc!s Of grain to liostnn are given the
advantage of he same rate as is
charged TO New YORK. and in addition
the shippers are granted certain privi-
leses in the way OF terminal facilities at
Boston for grain shipped for exports
All the members of the Interstate Cont
merce commission We're present III the
nearing to-day.
THE REPRESENTA-
The Produce Exchange OF New York
was represented by Assistant Supclin-
tendent y. NJ. Mcknight and Mr. .lohn
Valiant, With their counsel, J. -. I[e.-
nan. The railroad companies repre- esanted
ny counsel were the Pennsylvania by
John G. Johnson; New YORK Central. by
Frank b. Looms: the Boston and ri
bany, by Sherman lioar; the West Shore
by Ashhel Green: the Baltimore ana
ohio, by eN-Judge Bond: The Ches3 pcakc
and Ohio. by Hcnry S. Drinller. and the
Lehtsh Valley, by FIancis I. Gowen
Inc, tive, n,
We're looked after by eX-.Judgc William
y Fisher, of the Baltimore Chamber OF
Commerce.
Owing TO the latc arrival of the out-of-
town attorneys, the meeting was not
called 10 order until - O'Clock. The
ne!e announcement Of thcaubipct OF the
meeting was then made and then an adj
louEnmcnt was ken until 80 O'clock
me committee rocOnVened at . D. m
WhereupOn Mr.. Herman, reprcSculcinGy
the New York Produce Exchange. p.a-
scn;eu Voiuminouts statis ,ical tables in
reference TO rail:Oad freight traffic ana
the export trade in support of his, ar
Sument that the existing differant.al
"a te Disseminated agains. New Nork.
Silas w, lctt!tt, who represented the
Philadelphia commercial bodies, follow
eu Mr. Herman in an argument, in
whjch he COMMANDED that the present diff
iereniial rates have been really in cy-
istence for over th:r:y years. ana are
simply the natural results or busineGs
principles and business competition He
said the railroad companies had eXpcy-
fenced coEsiderah bic difficulty in settling
upon satisfactory rates ana there had
been several QuarreiS among the C1mua-
MES over the subject, and ,wo or three
long rate wars. but that settlements Of
the troubles always brought ahout wnat
WAS natura ~ correct, an agreement on
ihe nresen. basis OF diifcreni!ai rates on
Il !. -!
10 the seabQard cities
y QUESTION OF GROWTH.
EX-Judge Fisher, Of Baltimore, also
took exception to the statistics present ed
by Mr.. Herman. He argued that the
statistics did not show that the differ
enNal freight rates were at an resDpn-
s.bie N1r the decreased business at New
ork. CT .he increase III business at the
othcr points. lie said there were various
causes which affected trade Of all Kinds
nj dilIerent times and in q varying man
ncr.
lie claimed that no human mind could
nSufc to an absolute certainty as to
What results certain commercial changes
brought about. He argued that a com
parison or the figures of 1886 with those
or 1879 did not in any degree cover the
question, nor, he claimed, could the
HSurcS OF any other two years fully
Sito" iic cltcl OF tllt cfGnllui freight
rates on the volume OF business at tile
several seaboard cities. lie said the
figures Of other years would show that
the traffic into Baltimore had decreased
considerably in relative comparison to
that into New York, ana he also claimed
tnat III certain commodities there had
0ecn decided failing off in Baltimore in
the year 1896. These decreases, he
claimed, were from causes entirely for
cign 10 that Of differrntial rates He,
too, argued that the business Of Norfolk,
NeWnori News Galveston ana other
S0uthcn points had grown enormously in
the last fifteen years and that this alone
would have its effect on the trade Of
New York. This decreases IN the export
trade and the freight carrying business
at these Southern ports. he ciajmeti, re-
suited from Increased railroad Facilities
ana other commercial business reasons.
The only witness examined to-day was
II. Il. Kelly, freight commissioners OF the
Philadelphia Trades League of whom
was asked lnnnmerable questions as 10
elevator and storage charges, the mum
Der of vessels carrying grain from this
port, the names of local exporters etc
Very little information oe general i'm
portance was presented.
81 The COnllniS sion tnpp a n iS,i~ra1 i'm RI