The news & observer., 1898-01-25
RATE QUESTION PUT OFF
ALL ROADS TO HAVE A HEAR
ING ON THURSDAY.
EXPRESS COMPANY TO TESTIFY FRIDAY
Must Tell Why the Governors Express is Sent
Free--Several Roads Appeal from the
New Fertilizer Rate-.TeIe-
phone Appeal.
phone Appeal

The Railroad Commission meets this
morning at 10 O'Clock and pretty lively
session is anticipated.
1t is the time set for the hearing of the
contempt oases against A. b. Andrews,
J. B. NIunson. r. L. Potts and Fl. w.
Miller for failure to answer questions
asked them by the Commission ut a
recent session. They are summoned to
appear and show cause why they should
not be ATTACHED for contempt.
The Code provides THAT punishment
for contempt shall zoe by fine or I'M
Ia.isonment, or both, in the discretion
of the court; the fine not to exceed sou,
and the imprisonment not to exceed 30
days.
To-day is also the time set for the
hearing cf the rate question. The Sea-
beard Air Line was summoned to ap-
pear to-day anu give it's reasons why
rates should not be reduced and to-
morrow the Atlantic Coast Line was to
have its say. But on account of an inn
poEtant railroad meeting at Norfolk, both
roads have been allowed to come before
the Commission Thursday and make
answer along with the Southern.
On Wednesday it is expected that the
exceptions filed by the railroads to the
new fertilizer rate and by the Bell Com
pyimy to the telephone rate will be heard.
Friday the Southern Express Company
is Sumomned TO tell why it has been
transporting Governor RusselPs express
free of charge.
altogether this promises to be the
most interesting and sensational meet
ing of the new Commission yet held.
1T now looks like the new Railroad
Commissioners will have appeals to
burn.
The Bell Telephone Company has filed
exceptions to the new rate, and will ap
peal unless the old rate is restored. And
the railroatls-at least the Southern, the
Seaboard, the Norfolk and Western, the
Norfolk and Southern, and the Hender-
son and Breyard-haye filed exceptions
to the new fertilizer rate and will also
appeal unless the old rate is restored.
1t will be remembered that at its last
meeting the Railroad Commission re-
duced the maximum freight rate on fer
tilizer (car load shipments) 16 2-3 per
cent.
The exceptions filed by the Southern
Railway set forth:
l. That the old rate is justrand reason
able.
,. That the new rate is unjust and
unreasonable, and will not yield rea-
sonahle return for the service rendered.
3. That fertilizer transportation con-
stitutes so large portion of the bust
ness of the company that the reduction
will result in a serious impairment of the
revenue of the company, and make it i'm
possible to earn a fair return upon the
investment made in the road by its
stockholders.
4. That the reduction of the present
rate on fertilizer would result in an es-
timated annual reduction of the revenue
of the Southern Railway Company in
North Carolina, amounting to more than
$4,000 and that it is not just and rea-
sonable to. so arbitrarily deprive the
company of its property without order
ing a compensatory increase in the rate
on some other commodity.
The exceptions filed by the Seaboard
are the same as those of the Southern.
word for word, except the fourth excep
ton, where thousands is substituted
for more than $4,000"