The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-19
Il Has Not Yet Been ESeduceo
bv the Commission.
wASDlSCussEO YESTERDAY
AGAIN POSTPONED FOR FUR1H'
Err INFORMATION.
sFrFOR FINAL HEARING JUNE !
Decision as to Freight shipped From
Castle Aayne Reserved Depot
Matters Are Also Still
Undecided.

Undecided.
The Railroad Commission has again
postoned the reduction of telephone
rates. though it is bound to come.
After listening to argument at great
length on the question yesterday, it
was decided 10 postpone action until the
next meeting, June 1, when more data
will be at hand to govern the Commission
in making the reduction.
The Railway Commission was in ses-
sion all day yesterday, though very
few final decisions were reached, still
much work was done and number of
cases will be decided to-day. They were
fully argued on both sides yesterday and
decision reserved by the Commission
until this morning.
The most important of the cases argued
yesterday and to be decided to-day is the
case of the Charlotte Oil and Fertilizer
Company VS.. Wilmington and Weldon
Railroad Company This is a complaint
of excessive rate from Castle Hayne to
Charlotte. The Seaboard Air Line and
Southern Railway were made parties to
it. The compliments aLlege that the
Wilmington and Weldon Railroad Com
pany refuse to route shipments of phOs-
phats rock to Whining ton thence over the
Carolina Central Railroad to Charlotte.
which would be the most direct line and
would therefore be entitled to cheaper
rata. The Wilmington and weldon Com
pany-. on the other hand, claim that mas
much as the shipments originate on its
line j. is entitled to the long haul on this
freight, that is. via Columbia, S. c., or
GOldSboO, n c. This would make
difference of ID cents Il ton in freight.
The ease was fully argued by both sides.
Mr.. Fred Oliver, president of the Char
lOtte Oil and Fertilizer Company, and
Mr.. ID. b. KimbaH, appeared for the
plaintiffs; the Coast Line was represented
by Messrs. L. M. Emerson and HI. w.
B. Glover, Traffic Managers, and j. III.
Drake, Assistant General Freight Agent.
Another case that took up considerable
time in discussion, without 4 decision be-
ing reached, was that of the citizens of
Maxton VS. the Carolina Central Rail-
road Company and Cape Fear and Yad-
kin Valley, asking that these two roads
be repaired to build a Joint depot at
Maxton- The citizens of lMaxton were
represented by the Mayor. Mr.. j. $.
MacRae, and Commissioners A. j. Nc
Kimmon and ]. w. Carter The Caro-
lima Central was represented by Messrs.
w. III. Day. General Superintendent
McBee and Division Superintendent
Moncure, the Cape Fear road was repre-
sented by General Freight aand Passen-
ger Agent W. Il. Kyle. and General Man
ager j. VI. Fry. The ComniisssonSfeserv
ed it's decision.
Nor WAS the petition of the citizens
80 a.
Southern Railway granted. 1t almost.
certainly pviH be this morning, though.
The petitioners were represented before
the Commission by Prof. J. O. Atkinson,
Prof T.. Il Moffitt and Mr.. w. II. Will
hanson. Mr.. III. w. Miller appeared for
the railroad.
The petitions for new depots al Hollis
burg and Mebane were continued.
As to the petition for a new depot at
Winterville. 4on the Scotland Neck branch
of the Wilmington and Weldon Rail
road it was decided that it should be
builf-the citizens to furnish the lumber
and the railroad to erect the building.
The Commission set June / for the
hearing of the petition and complaint of
the citizens of Halifax and Northampton
counties against change of the line of
the Saaboard 1T CASTOR. 1t is expected
that at that tine all parties will be rep
resented and sill sides Of the question
heard.
The most important case, however.
was that of the citizens of Asheyille vs..
Telephone Company. This is the com
plant on which 3he matter of reduction
of telephone rates was taken up and all
the afternoon was devoted its dis
scussion by the telephone men present.
~, Of fl,x, cc,n V,,p 1e,t
was set as the day for further hearing of
argument and final determination of the
maater.
AT yesterdays heaa.ing no one appear
ed ian behalf of the petitioners, but the
telephone companies were all well repre-
scented. Superintendent McCluer, of
Richmond, and Mr.. r. G. Strong, of this
city. represented the Southern Bell Tel
a.phone Company; Messrs Il. X. Bridgers
and A. T. Strauss appeared for the Hem
derson Telephone Company: Mr.. w. w.
Shaw, of Durham. spoke in behalf Of the
Interstate Company; Mr.. X. Nj. King.
by brief, for the Greensboro Company,
and Mr.. C.. Il. Young for the American
Company.
Mr.. McCluer said that the petition
from Ashevile was based on false calcu
lations The income. he said. instead
OF being $4,000, was below SSOOD; ana
that the net profit was not more than
d per cent. The expenses, be said, were
much greater than set forth in the petit
ton. In the State of North Carolina.
ne said, taken all in all, the Bell Company
makes no money whatever.
What do you charge in Durham -
asked Commissioner Ohio Wilson.
Wen, III Durham there are some Pc
GUITAR circumstances. There was the
hrst opposition telephone service we had
TO contend with in the State. Most of
orr subscribers there get the service free.
IF he rate is reduced throughout the
State we will be compelled to do one of
two things: Either reduce the quality Of
our service or continue to do business
at q loss"
Such policy as that now proposed.
Mr.. McCluer thought, would tend to
drive out capital from the South
Commissioner Ohio Wilson said in tho
matter of railroads they had data upon
which to base action: in the matter of