The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-28

competition DN iHt AHIH' rear dHu l du-
kan Valley, and other roads"
Encouraged by this CLEAN of informa-
tton, Mr.. Pearson, who was conducting
the examination, continued:
Has there not been constant in
crease in the gross earnings of the North
Carolina Railroad during the past five
years.
Now really I couldn't say"
"Can yOu tell us what official of your
road could answer that question:"
II cannot The policy only of the pas
Scnger traffic comes under my superyl-
sion The details of it are in Mr.. Turks
charge"
Have the net earnings heen increased
in proportion to the increase in gross
carnngsY
''I'm sorry I don't know"
If the look on the faces of the Com
mission was any Indication they were sor-
ry too. But they plucked mp enough
courage to continue:
HAS there been any increase in the
wages of yOur employees in the past five
years."
"The third vice-president, Mr.. Gan
non, can answer that question. He has
charge Of the operation Of the road"
Here the Commission threw mp the
was able to give information only in re-
gard to the part of the Southern Rail
way in North Carolina, operated as a
whole; that he could not testify in re-
gard to the separate lines; that he did
not have the statistics touching the diff.
ferent divisions. The road. he said. was
operated as a whole and the rates were
made on that basis.
HAS the auditor of your road n full
and complete record of all the passen-
gers carried over the North Carolina
Railroad-paid and dead head?'
Il do not know. The auditor keeps
the records"
"WhO is yOur auditor"
"Snce January 1st, it has been Mr..
A. II. Plant. Before that date it was
Mr. George s. Hobbs, who is now with
the Maine Central Railroad. If you
will furnish me with a memorandum Of
the questions you've asked, III he glad
to try to obtain the information AMI fur
nish it to the Commission"
In despair Chairman Caldwell inquired
whether or not there was any official Of
the Southern present who did know
something about the road SomChLdy
suggested Mr. Turk. and he was called
to the stand.
Turk as were asked Mr.. Finley and he
gave practically the same answer.
Mr.. Caldwell-"How are YOU paid?
Mr.. Turk-"By the treasurer
What part of your salary does the
North Carolina Railroad pay:"
Il have no idea"
HAS there been any reduction Of rates
on the North Carolina Railroad since the
establishment of the Railroad Commits
sion!'
Il think there has been, but can't
say positively without reference to iny
records
"Do your records show the dead head
passengers transported over your lineF'
"They do not. / issue no dead head
tickets and know nothing of them"
HAS there recently heen any reduction
in passenger fares in other States"
"In South Carolina the rates have
been reduced to the same as in North
Carolina"
What is the rate from New York to
Atlanta?"
about 2A cents mile"
care there any passengers carried
over the North Carolina Railroad as
low as one cent Il mile?
Possibly in transportation of United
States troops; no OthenS. The North
Carolina Railroad always receives its
pro rate that is TO say the Southern
Railway receives its pro rate.
Can You tell the cost of the opera
ton Of passenger car per mleE
I'm not familiar with the car mileage
or other operation.
''If the company can carry man for
2lb cents on II thousand mile ticket,
couldn't it carry man on straight
ticket at that ratc|
'They can as long as their money
holds out-that wouldn't be long"
'"Fhen your idea is that the South
ern depends for it's sustenance on the
fellow that can only buy one ticket Mt
timeY
81 have no idea about it,"
''Don't you think lower rates would
increase businessY
Not in such a sparsely settled cOun-
try as North Carolina"
Il suppose you have no information in
regard to the number of lawyers en-
ployed by the Southern in North Caro-
lina and how they are paid"
Il have not"
Mr.. Finley recalled to the stand, said
no record was kept of the mileage
made on passes.
''DO you know it to be a fact that
since the order in regard to free passes
was made by the Commission the con-
ductors on the Southern decline TO look
at the passes or if looked at to make n
record of the pass?'
81 do not"
AS to argument, Col. Henderson said
he didn't think this time for argu-
ment. "Other roads are summoned here
to make answer similar to ours. We
want to hear from them. This is com
mon cause in which we are all interest
ed. | object to being separated from
my brethren. l don't want any retail
business"
DIR. Abbott-"There is no competition
noww
Col. Henderson-"Then there ought
never to have been"
Judge Watts (of the SeaboarD-
"Amen."
This completed the Southern's case,
and the Seaboard was called to answer
the notice served on it. It's answer was
read by Vice President st. John, and
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