Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-12
ONE LINE CUTTING
Slight Disturbance in Southern Rate
Situation.
NO SPREAD OF THE SLhSHING
Officials inform the Interstate Com
merce Commission.
THE THIRD CONFERENCE

One railroad Is disturbing the serenity OF
the freight and passenger tariff situation IN
the south.
Proof upon this point was given TO the
interstate commerce commission today at
the third of its series of conferences with
representative transportation men,
The territory represented embraces all
that south of the Ohio and east OF the
Mississippi and it is regarded as the most
active and popuIous of the southern area
II is web of lines and there is very great
competition among them for the business
The Representatives.
The gentlemen present were: L. Harry
Richards, president Potomac, Fredericks-
burg and Piedmont railroad; T II. Noonon,
general manager Continental Line; X e.
Erwin vice president; d. +. jack 1relsht
traffic manager; James Menzies. e. +. A.
Plant system; Samuel A. Emerson traffic
manager. :. c. and G. railway; X. "A camp
hell q; r and P A, l. E. and ST L. cons
r. r.; Stuart r. Knott. V. p: G. b. Comp
ton. G F. A. Louisville and Nashville X
R: J. b. Thayer, jr-, G. +. A, Pennsyivan u
r RI NJ Barr, V. P. and G. NJ; T. $.
Dayant G. F. A. y. and W. Ry. Co.: s.
NJ. Provost, V. P. Pennsylvania X; X. n.
Walters, president, Atlantic Coast Line; l.
NJ Emerson. T. NJ, Atlantic Coast Line;
Geo. H Fuller. G.. F. A. G. F. and s r. R-
Julian R. LAM. general manager, Macon
and Birmingham railway; Jno. M cutter
G. F. A. G. B. and r. KY j. 1. roe, gen
eraI traffic manager; z. L. Russell, presi-
dent and c. w. Gibson, general agent. M
and o. r. K. Co: C. l. Bretz. general man
agsr: II. G.. Davis. president. and C. NJ
Hendley, assistant to president. W. Va
Cent and Pitts Ry Co.; VIM. Randall, G. F.
hnd P. agent, Bay Line steamers; W. l.. Gull
iaudou. president. Old Dominion Steamship
CCmpany; Charles Schuessler. V. r, La
D. ~ fraf n
manager, Seaboard Air Line; George L..
Saxton, G. NJ. Suffolk and Carolina Ry. .;
s. T Parrott, chairman, southwestern
Freight Association; Chas. B. Caps, G.. F.
A. Seaboard Air Line; R. c. Hoffman of
executive committee. Baltimore Steam
Packet Company: John SHELTON Williams,
president Georgia and Alabama railway,
also of Seaboard Air Line; j. NJ. Moore.
Carolina and Northwestern railway; W. B.
Emmert. @. F. A. Virginia and Southwest
ern railway; De Los Thomas, D. F. A. n.
and w railway. T. F. Steele G. F. A, New
Orleans and Northeastern railroad, c. c.
Harvey, p. and G. NJ: r. E. LutZ. 7. NJ.
Atlanta and West Point railroad, the West
ern railway of Alabama: G. P. Biles, c. F.
A. Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pa
cific Railway Company; H. F. Smith Traf.
Manager, Nashville. Chattanooga and St.
Louis railway; r. II. Hinton. T. NJ. Cen
trail of Georgia; Thos. X. Scott. Gen. Mngr..
Georgia railroad: John NJ. Egan vice pres
ident, Central of Georgia; Edward s. Wash
burn president; Jas. J. Fletcher, Traf.
tary. Kansas Central, Fort Scott and Mem
phis: J. Robinson. receiver. Baltimore and
Ohio s W; s. NJ. FELTON,. receiver. c. n. O..
ard T P. Railway Company: s. T. Nc
Iaughlln, G. F A. Baltimore and Ohio
Southwestern Railway Company: c. s.
Wight. Mgr, Fri Trf.; Oscar G. Murray.
receiver. J h Ccwen, receiver, Baltimore
and Ohio, Warren G.. Elliott, Wilmington
and Weldon railway. and ]. E. W. Fields,
Trf. Mngr-. Atlanta. Knoxville and North
ern railway.
The Morning Session.
The conference began at II o'clock and
there was a short recess at 1 O'Clock
Among those who submitted their opinions
were the representatives of the Illinois Cen
trail. the Louisville and Nashville. the Fort
Scott. Memphis and Kansas City the At
lantic Coast Line and ths Plant system
They stated that one line is not adhering
10 the published rates covering southeast
territory, reached from St. Louis points and
points north of the Ohio river. The name
was not given and the commission did not
then press for it. In other respects 1t was
the unanimous opinion that the railroads
are adhering to the published tariff and
they viii continue to do SO, despite the in
roads Of the offending line Upon this point
the representatives. declared that there Will
b. no other offenders and no retaliatOry
measures will be taken.
The commission, even il informed Of the
recaIcitrant line, would have no power to
enforce any remedial punitive action
against IT. II is only empowered to see
that just and reasonable rates are
maintained, and that these are published
TO this condition the commission has beer
brought through the imperfections in the
act creating it Orders from ii to the rail
roads are. however, very generally obeye6
By the latter. as there is fear on their part
that Congress may be persuaded or induced
to enact additional legislation giving the
commission the control originally planned
and intended. Therefore, under existine
conditions. the commission cannot do more
In the southern matter than hear and Civ,
publicity TO the complaints Of the line.
suffering from the inharmonious action Of
this single competitor. AT the Afternoon
session the other officials will be called
upon for their views.
The Export Rates.
The feature Of the present rate situation
most discouragtng to the commission is tn,
matter of export rates, which are now de
moralized. Most of the transcontinenta
lines contend that the commission has n,
authority to require them to publish thei
rates for the export business They hoIt
that the sixth section of the interstat.
commerce act regarding publication doe
not apply to these rates.
The commission, however, proposes Ct
contest this assertion and will make ;
thorough inquiry with a view to remedyini
the generalization OF rates in which al
the transcontinentaI lines figure. IN
trouble Is an old one and is due to the com
petition for business among the agents n
the roads who sell the tickets on commits
sion The rates in some cases are cut >
and - per cent below domestic rates
1t Is certain that the commission will is
sue an order requiring publication and the
depend upon moral suasiOn or legal actfo
to enforce. An Investigation with this /
view viii he started by the commission 4
New York next Monday.