The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-04-18
PRIEST aanFFMAN'S STATEMENT
AcnH 0fthc s.. a. l.. Discusses OF Water
Itnte War,
Presidents Onlce,
baltimore, Md. April ~. 1887

Presidents Office
Baltimore, Md. April IL, 1887.
Editor MaDufaCturprS' Record:
l have received n page from the Rail
way Age. In which there ia a statement
evidently put out by the Southern Rail
way officials giving 4 yarbled account
OF a correspondence between Alessli;
Henry Fink, j. w Thomas, Samuel
incorrect. and many Of the statements,
are untrue. commencing with the tirst
few lines. The truth Is. that hearing
from several different sources that Mr.
spencer said he was perfectly willing
TO conccdc the local business between
Baltimore and Norfolk to the Baltimore
Steam Packet company, which all other
mes running between Baltimore ana
Norfolk have always done, and had no
desire TO do more than TO transact the
business Of his own line by his Balti-
morc-Norfollt ships: in fact, a sor. OF
ferry, and being sure that he had re-
pea ted this to more, than one party.
Whom | can name, and as this was al
that ! had right to expect. requested
Nh. lleniy Fink ana Mr., J w. Thomas
10 meet MIR, ST. John and myself in
New York to see If MI Spencer was
willing to do AZ he said. explained
the situation to these gentlemen. ana
they agreed with me that this ought
TO be satisfactory 10 Mr.. Spencer, and
Win ms view expressed I authorized
at the WALDORF by appointment
FOUND to my surprise that Mr.. Spcn-
Ger mad evidently misundcrs TODD my
motive. and thought that it was weak
ness OF position that had brought me
to propose the conference. ana | was
also surprised to find that the othe.
gentlemen were urging me TO meet MIR.
Spencer's views, which were. that the
matter Of the amount of b,hsincss to be
coded to the Southern Inc should be
determined by arbitration, and Mr.
spencer refused then and there Ia settle
the matter in any other way than by
larb!tra ton. found that no ARRANGEMENT
could be made under the plan rs, first
understood, and therefore retired from
the conference, saying that | would
conSlde' the matter and make I. dcicnitc
proposition. correspondence enSuad
between Mcssrs. Fink. Thomas ana nv
SELF, under direction OF my board Of III
rrc;crs, which fully set fa!. II The iruo
state of this ease. ana called thar at
ieh.!oh to The fact that thee were four
steamship lines doing business hctwcrn
Baltimore ana Mort nix. including tho
baltimore steam Packet company, and
mat TWO OF these lines had been run
nflS iof many ycanS, ana had ALWAYS
coded the local business 10 the baltimore
steam Packe; company. ana lind thar
| II the Baltimore Steam Packet Company
| should ccdr any pari OF the local bust
! ness 10 the line Of the Southern rail-
way established less than six months
that surely they would cXpcc their pro-
portion also, ana that this business di-
N.ded between four would mean a lack
| OF sufficient supper: ii any. ana that an
| arbitration between any TWO of these
| lour lines could not possibly settle the
| Qestion
| The article In the |: iiway Age states
| t!lat Mr.. Spencer accepted the promo
| tiit?on made by Md.sl.s. Fink ana rhoma 5
| ana that a second time NJ. Spencer had
| accented proposed agreement The
| facts arc that The only letter written BY
! Mr.. Spencer rs 10 accepting or Gcclir-
| ing any proposition was under date or
| January BAD, and addressed TO Mcsts,s
| Fink and Thomas, and in this letter he
| does not accGp. their proposition. aS-
ccpt upon conditions which he names
| in the following words
| The plans and conditions which Won
! suggest VIII be acceptable 10 tho South
| erh ta!iWHy company and to the 3alii-
more, Chesapeake ana Richmond Steam
| boat company, provided:
| Il. That IL the agreement as 10 al
! loilncnt of business AZ Norfolk. Porte
mouth, Old Point and Richmond is to
| be Tor term OF years, there shall be a
| PROVISION In the agreement for Il rcavbi-
| traii0n as TO the allotment of business
between the parties at the expiration!
| or cach year on the demand of either
| party 10 the agreement.
Ihat there shall be at the same
concluded from Sixth Page.)
!