The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-11-29
RATE DISCRIMINATION

or the chesapeake 4 ohlo RaIroid
AgainSt West VirglnlA Cohl Companies
BsinE InVaatIgatSd by ths IntaEsStaio
Commerce Commission.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 2s.-The
Interstate commerce commission to-
day began an important hearing Of
charges died on behalf of c. g. Blake. a
Cincinnati coal operator, and Others, a.
lesing discrimination in freight rates
by the Chesapeake and other railroad
companies from mines in the New RiT-
er and Kanawha West Virginia dis
tricts, to Cincinnati and also dicrimi-
nation in transportation facilities in
favor Of the Chesapeake & Ohio.
Some discussion arose as TO whether
the complainant should be allowed to
Introduce testimony bearing on alleged
determinations on shipments OF coal
and coke from places on the road to
other points than Cincinnati The rail-
roads attorneys demurred to this ana
the commission directed that for the
present at least the inquiry be confined
to the traffic set out In the scope OF the
complaint. Attorney Ramsey thereupon
asked the witness, Benjamin, regard-
ing the rates on coal from the Kama
wha and the New River districts 10
Cincinnati, given to shippers during the
mast year and previously for the pur-
pose OF showing the alleged discrimi-
nation complained OF and also intro
duced documents to prove that the
company had discrlmlnated against his
client In the provision Of facilities Tor
Transportation on coal. Witness Ben1a-
mn denied that any word had passed
between him and the representatives OF
the Chesapeake & Ohio Fuel Company.
regarding rebates on shipments OF coal
at the published rates. Responding to
questions by the commission, he ad-
mItted that before the present proceed
ings had been instituted It was the
practice for consignees to pay full eX-
press charges on shipments and they
were afterwards given rebates. Since
the proceedings had been Instituted no
rebates had been given.
on crosS.examination the witness
said the business OF the KanatEha and
New River fields was with the excep-
tlon OF few colllerles handled by the
Fuel company, and ]. A. Renahan, re-
spectlvely.
The rates were reduced from the pub
llshed tariff schedules because this was
necessary under the conditions existing.
1t was done to meet conditions brought
on by river competition and that OF rail
from other districts. The schedule rate
had not been changed where the incre-
ment from the business was sufficient to
give living wages to the laborer ana q
profit to the producer.
Just before leaving the stand Com-
missioner Clements asked the witness
some questions regarding the practice
OF railroad companies OF filing with the
commission certain tariff schedules and
then falling to comply with them and
giving lower rates.
Mr.. Benjamin said that It was abso-
lutely essential to have an elastic rate,
that his company otherwise would be
unable to obtain business. The prac-
tice Of his road was similar to that done
by others.
"welntendedto try to comply with the
law" said the witness, "but conditions
exist and have existed for two years
that would compel the company 70 60
out OF business II Strlct attention was
paid to the tariff rates"
Commissioner Clements suggested
that then the chief office OF the tartf
schedule seemed to be to conceal the
actual rates and confuse competitors. TO
which the witness replied that It would
appear that way, but such really waa
not the intent. His road was as anEiouG
to get good rates a. any one. Better
times were looked for from day to day
and when they came rates would be re-
stored.
The hearing then adjourned for the
day.