The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-04-26
Freight Discrimination.

the Uoitea States Interstate Railway
Com mission 30 secure relief from
discrimination 10 sfreighs rates from
western poio,s to " iluingson in favor
OF Norfolk aud Ricbuoad. aad judges
J. G. Clements aud James D. Yeonaos,
Of The allowed canned commission, came
TO Wilmington aud began taking
testimony in tie matter on last
Thursday. Abe legal counsel io' both
sides were in attendance, and besides
he Atlantic Coast LiDe about forty
o:her railroads Interested in traffic to
Wilmington from ST LouIs, Kansas
City. Chicago, Louisville, Cinciaaati,
New Orleans and other points, were
represented.
From the report OF the first days
proceeding. published ir the Messenger,
it appears that Judge Clements intends
to make thorough Investigation, as he
announced, when letters and kilograms
we're presented from witnesses giving
excuses for non-appearauce. that it may
as we'll be understood that witnesses
would be compelled to obey tie
sum mons OF the court and stated that
tbis matter would be taken up later
The first witness called by the
complainant was Mr. Geo. D. Shore, of
Szmter, S. C. He testified upon
examination by Judge Day that be is a
merchandise broker at Sumter, 149
miles from Wilmington, aud handles
heavy groceries. provisions, etc.
Formerly he sold the products Of the
mills Of Boney & Harper, of Whining
on-gsiss, meal and corn. He
handled their goods for several years,
but not for the past two or three yesrs.
lie handles goods Of the same class
from other shipping points, but none
from Wilmington uow He testified,
however, that he had occasional
demands for Boney & Harper's
products. but could rot supply them,
because they could not meet the prices
fcom Other points, as be vas Informed
BY Messrs. B0uey & Harper. He
b pd!ed goods fer them a while, bus
fnaIiy they could DOT get satisfactory
/. eight ra'es to Somter, and they had
to Withdraw tbe;r trade from Sumter.
Tue reason Nss because R;cbnond aOd
Narfolk made lover prices and they
could cos meet the rates. He said be
ctu d still sell their goods if they could
get rates. His customers we're Satisfied
with their goods aad preferred to bay
10 Wilmington because it Has nearer
to them and they could get shair ship.
meoss quicker and they could thus
afford to :uo their stocks lover. Mr.
Shore testified thas be sells meat. lard,
grain, hay, etc and coal Re tried to
get satisfactory rate 90 coal from
Wilmington, hut could not Go So I'm.
der cross examination by Mr.. Davis, be
said be COW sells these goods from
Nashville, Richmood aad Baltimore
hlr. T. III Emerson, traffic manager
OF the Atlantic Coast Line, was the
rexs witness He explained that there
vas no sach corporation as the At
!aptic Coast Line, hus it vas a trade
ozark used for advertising several rail.
roads cooperating together as line
There aas 90 parent line, 70 Els know!
edge He named the various terminals
of whas is klewn as the Atlabtic Coast
L;ne, and stated that as Esar ss he
tecollec:ed the system contained about
500 mites OF track. Messrs. Day aad
Meares both examined Mr. Emerson as
to the Coast Line and its traffic ar
raogement. He said be was the au-
,borisy for tte system as to freight
rates and be reports aud ccnmeuds to
the president. To interrogations, he
answered that his line does Tot 6x rates
from western points. Rates from wes-
tern points are made to Richmond aod
Norfolk and mileage and proportional
rates and added on by The Cos: Line on
goods shipped into its territory from
the west he explained that through
rates are made up by the various
connectirg railways who would
have to come to 40 agreement On the
basis of rates ns testified to ques-
tons by Judge Day, that there are
organizations of the traffic managers 10.
the south. oue knowo as the Southeast
erp Tariff Asoeiastion and oae as the
Southern States Freight As:oclstl tloo.
He stated that he was member of the
later, and it's purpose wss to nee; and
discuss and reconcile freight matters.
He explained that when i: is desired to
change rate, notice is given to the
president Of the association, and
ali the Interested traffic managers take
up the proposition for chance Of rates,
either fsvoripg it or urging reasons
agains: change Uuless the chaoge
of rasss is agreed to it caaDot be put
into efFacs. He said be he'd never
placed 5cto,e the association propo-