Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-11
DIrrERENrIAL FREIGHT RATES.
Hearing on the subject-Growth of
Southern Ports.

PHILADELPHIA. May i0.-The snter-
state Commerce Commission to-day, In
the United States Circuit Court-rooms
here, resumed Ito hearing on the subject
or dincrential freight rates. A prelimi-
nary hearing was given In New YORK In
March last and postponement was
taken. with the agreement that the COM
mission should continue the hearing in
this city to-day. The case at issue is that
OF the Produce Exchange of New York
against thirty-four railroad companies for
maintaining, IN alleged violation OF the
interstate commerce act, a system OF
freight diffcrentials In grain, -four. and
provisions from the west to Philadelphia,
Baltimore. Newport News. and Norfolk.
which. the New York Produce Exchange
alleges. has operated to the disadvantage
or the commerce OF New York. The differ
entails complained of are cents "A hum
dred pounds in favor of Philadelphia, and
cents in favor OF Baltimore Norfolk.
and Newport News. The petitioners also
allege that shippers OF grain 10 Boston
are given the advantage OF the same rate
as is charged TO New York. and in addi-
ton. the shippers are granted certain
privileges In the way Of terminal facilities
at Boston for grain shipped for export.
All the members OF the Interstate Com
merce Commission were present at the
hearing to-day.
The Produce Exchange OF New York
was represented by Assistant Superintend-
ent A. NJ. Mcknight and Mr.. John va
liant. with their counsel. J. d. Herman.
The railroad companies represented by
counsel were the Pennsylvania, by John
g. Johnson; the New York Central, by
Frank b. LOOMS: the Boston and Albany,
by Sherman Hoar; the West Shore. by
Ashbel Green; the Baltimore and Ohio,
by ex-Judge Bond; the Chesapeake and
Ohio. by Henry :. Drinker, and the Lee
high Valley. by Francis l. Gowen.
The business interests of Baltimore
were looked after by ex-Judge William a.
Fisher. Of the Baltimore Chamber OF
Commerce.
Owing to the laAe arrival of some Of the
Out-of-town attorneys, the meeting was
rot called TO order until u o'clock. Tine
mere announcement OF the OBJECT OF the
meeting of the commission was made. and
an adjournment was taken until l. O'Clock.
The commission recOnvened at Y o'clock,
whereupon Mr.. Herman. representing the
New York Produce Exchange presented
VOlumirOus statistical tables in reference
10 railroad freight traffic and the export
trade. in support OF his argument that the
existing differentials Disseminated against
New York.
slas w. Petit. who represented the
Philadelphia commercial bodies followed
Mr.. Herman in an argument. in which he
contended that the dfferential rates have
been really in existence for over thirty
wears and are simply the natural result
Of business PRINCIPLES and business COM
EDITION. He said the railroad compsnies(
mad experienced considerable difficulty in
settling up at satisfactory rates. and
there had been several quarrels among
the COMPARES over the subject and two
or three long ra.c-wars but that settle
ments of the troubles always brought
about what was naturally correct, an
agreement OF the parties on the basis Of
the diiferential rates on grain and other
freight from the West TO the seaboard
cities.
Ex-Judge Fisher. of Baltimore. also
took exception TO the statistics presented
by Mr. Herman. He argued that the sta
tistics did not show that the diHerentlai
freight rates were at all responsible Tor
the decreased business at New York, or
the increase Of business at the other
points. lie said there were various causes
which affected trade of all KINDS at dif-
ferent times and in varying manner.
He claimed that no human mind could
figure to an absolute certainty as 10 what
results certain commercial changes
brought about. He argued That COM
parison of the figures Of 1896 with those
of 1885 did not in any degree cover the
question nor. he claimed, could the fig
ures of any other two years fully show
the effect of diferentlal freight rates on
the volume of business at the several
seaboard cities. He said the figures or
other years would show that the traffic
into Baltimore had decreased consider
ably in relative comparison 10 that OF
New York, and he also claimed that in
certain commodies there had been de-
cided falling off In Baltimore In the year
1886. These decreases, he claimed. were
from causes entirely foreign TO that of
diferential rates He. too. argued that
the business of Norfolk. Newport News,
Galveston, and other southern points had
grown enormously in the last fifteen
years. and that this alone would have its
effect on the trade Of New York. This
increase in the export trade and the
freight carrying business at these south
ern ports. ne claimed. resulted from in
creased railroad facilities, and other com
mercial business reasons.
The only witness examined to-day was
= b. Kelly, freight commissioner Of the
Philadelphia Trades League, who was
asked innumerable questions as TO eleva-
tor and storage charges, the number OF
vessels carrying grain from this port, the
names of local exporters, etc.
Very little information OF general i'm
portance was presented. The commission
then adjourned until morning.