The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-09-22
LOWER RATES ON COTTON.
The Railroad Commission is Asked to
Make a Reduction.

The Railroad Commission was in SEES
sion all day yesterday and will meet
again this morning.
| Only two cases were heard yesterday
a petition for reduction of freight
Meherrin Steamboat Company against
the Atlantic Coast Line for discrimina-
tion
Neither of these cases, however, was
decided yesterday, and further evidence
will to-day be heard touching the petit
| ton for lower freight rates on cotton.
| At the hearing yesterday Mr.. Il. G.
Stanard, manager of the North Carolina
Freight Association, and Mr.. J. S. Rags
dale cotton manufacturer of James
own, NC, represented the petitioners. In
opposition to the reduction, the Seaboard,
Southern Railway and Atlantic Coast
Line were all represented. Traffic Man
ager L. M. Emerson appeared for the
| Atlantic Coast Line, Second Vice-Presi-
dent w. w. Finley, Traffic Manager
J. M. Culp, General Freight Agent J. B,
Drake and Division Freight Agent J. B.
| Munson, represented the Southern. Traf-
| fic Manager III. w. 3. Glover was pres
etnt in behalf of the Seaboard
! Several Of these gentlemen spoke in
Opposition 30 the proposed reduction, con-
tending that the rate was already low
enough.
Mr.. Stanard; for the petitioners, argued
that the rate on cotton is too high, mas
much as the rate on cotton factory pro-
ducts is very much less. He though they
ought to be the same. This, he said, was
true in regard to other products, as for
instance, leaf and plug tobacco.
The railroads.&c.. Glover for Sea-
board, Mr.. Emerson for the Coast Line
and Messrs. Finley, Culp and Col. Hen
derson for the Southern-made answer
| that the cotton factory product rate in
North Carolina is the same as in the
other Southern States, but that the cot
ton rate is lower than in other States,
except Georgia, and that is the same. A
comparative statement was filed by Mr..
| Finley, of the Southern Railway, show
| ing these rates in the different States.
The present rates in North Carolina,
Mr.. Finley said, are a general average
of STA per 100 pounds less than the ave-
lrage rates on cotton in Texes, Mississip-
lpi, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina
and Georgia. He stated that a vigorous
and earnest investigation had recently
been made by the Georgia and Texas
Railroad Commissions for n reduction of
leotton rates in those States, but that these
Commissions had decided that the rail
roads could not stand a further reduction
The complaint of the Meherrin Steam
boat Company against the Atlantic Coast
Line, for refusing to prOrate rates with
It on equal terms with other steamboat
companies, came up at the afternoon
session. Judge Winborne and Judge
Shepherd represented the complainant
company and Traffic Manager Emerson
appeared for the Atlantic Coast Line.
Mr.. Emerson admitted that his com
pany did discriminate against the Meher-
rim Steamboat Company, in favor of a
rival line But he claimed that it was
done only on interstate freight and that
the North Carolina Commission had no
jurisdiction in such case. The COM
pla:nants contended that the Commission
did have jurisdiction, but asked, in case
it was decided that it did not, that the
matter be investigated and the facts laid
before the Interstate Commerce Com
mission
The Commission reserved its decision.