Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-05-13
RATE WAR IMMINENT
ingalls, Lines Make Cheap Rates
to Newport News.
VIII Seriously AGgrnvnte Prcnent
Strained situation nud Hasten
Inauguration OF Ficrco Rate
Fight TO virginia Ports.
Especial to Virginian- Pilot.)

NpPSSidi ~ liOtl
New York. May 12.-It was reported
to-day that the ingalls, lines had made
rate of nine cents from East St.
Louis to Newport News.
This will seriously aggravate the sit
uation that is already strained and
hasten the threatened cutting of rates
on all other classes of freight. 1t needs
but brief continuation of the tactics
SO far employed in the movement of
grain to cause Il fierce rate fight to Vir-
GINA ports.
IMPORTANT CONFERENCE.
Washington. May ia conference
OF railway officials with the Inter State
Commerce Commission began here to-
day. the subject this time being the
rate situation i'll the South. About %
roads were represented. covering the
territory south OF the Ohio and east of
the mississippi, among the principal
roads being the Southern. the Louisville
and Nashville, Atlantic Coast Line H.
inois Central, Seaboard Air Line and
the Plant System.
The published rates in the South are
stated here to be better maintained
than in most sections. but there have
been complaints of Determinations in
some cases in favor of the larger cities
ana towns, Il discrimination prac;iced,
IL IS ailesed, ny many of the roads as
indicated by the published tariffs
TESTIMONY OF OFFICIALS.
Testimony of the officials to-day was
quite satisfactory to the Interstate
Commerce Commissioners, who an
nounced their conviction that the rates
in the South We're maintained better
than anywhere else in the country en-
cept New England. There was. how
ever complaint of secret rate practices
on domestic traffic in certain quarters.
With this exception there ~ 4
hcation ut the showing made. The in
stance of rate cutting cited. in the abb
sence of direct proof or Il specific nam
ing OF the road, is not regarded as an
unusually disturbing factor. though
some cognizancc likely will be taken of
1t.
EXPORT TRAFFIC..
The practices of the xarious roads In
their export traffic We're threshed over.
The principal export business of these
roads is in cotton and the rates COW
erinS it fluctuate from day TO day. The
roads are not complying with the COM
missions requirement to file ten days
advance notice of all tariff changes.
both because of the constant changes
and because they claim the require
ment lacks legal justification. but they
are understood to stand together on
the changes and file notices with the
commission as the changes are made.
The chief executives of the more i'm
portant lines were questioned infinitely
about their methods, their competitors
and whether they suspected any rate
Irregularities.
COMPLAINT OF NON-CONFORMITY
Throughout the session which lasted
until late this afternoon. the only i'm
portant development was the complaint
of non conformity with published tariffs
on the part OF the road which. though
not named. was SO pointedly described
to call for n disclaimer from it's presi-
dent. Tho latter said If the statements
We're intended for his road they could
be easily explained. and his explanation
WAS accepted as sufficient. He pledged
himself that the published tariff should
be rigidly adhered to- All the other
lines represented made similar pledges.
| ana the moral effect of the conference
was understood to be cminently sat
isfactory. the export rate feature being
the only discouraging factor.