The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-06
THE DECISION RESERVED
It Will Probably Be Adopted With an
Exception Sheet.
OBJECTIONS SHOULD BE FILED AT ONCE
The Railroad Officials Acknowledge That the
Classification Is Not Perfect But Say
That They Hope Soon to
Make It So.

Southern Freight Classification, No.
81, was the principal matter consid-
cred oy the Corporation Commission
at its meeting yesterday.
After hearing argument by the
traffic managers of the three princi-
pal railroad systems in the State, it
was decided to continue the question
of the adoption of the classification
till the next meeting, on Wednesday,
October 3. -, III Ls
In the meantime notice is given all
the boards of trade in the State, all
shippers and others that the matter
is pending and all objections to the
new classification should be filed at
once.
The probability is that the classifi-
cation WILL at the next meeting, De
adopted with an exception sheet.
The discussion before the Commits
sion on adoption of the new classlfr-
cation consumed an hour and half.
The Southern Railway was repre-
scented Nv General Freight Agent f..
A. Neil, of Washington, and Assist
ant General Freight Agent ). IL.
Drake, of Richmond; the Atlantic
Coast Line by General Freight Agent
III. NJ Emerson, OF Wilmington, ana
The Seaboard Air Line by Traffic
Manager II. W. b. Glover, OF Ports
mouth.
Mr.. j. L. Borden, of Goldsboro, rep
resenti,lg the chair and furniture
manufacturers, who hal complained
of the new classification, was also
present. He stated, however, that IN
consideration of the fact that the
railroads have, since the filing OF the
complaint, changed the classification
of chairs and promised a commodlty
rate on furniture in Georgia ana
South Carolina, he would Withdraw
his complaint
Mr.. Borden explained that chairs
were, when he complained, rated at
~, whereas they had heretofore been
in class three. The railroads have
now agreed to put them in class two.
He added: :,
I'VE are satisfied with this classlfl-
cation in North Carolina it we can get
a commodity rate outside the State, as
our trade is as much outside as IN
side the State. We can get along with
a second class rate in North Carolina,
but we can't in Georgia. We are sat
isfied to pay higher rate in North
Carolina II we can get lower rate
outside"
The ether complainants-S. l..
Davis, & furniture manufacturer at
Mt. Airy; the High Point chair fac
tory: the Charlotte Grocery Company;
the Merchants Association of New
York. and the Bureau of Freight and
TRANSFORMATION at Charleston-were
not represented, but their complaints
were read.
Representative of the railroads
then took the stand to preach the
beauties of the new classification
No. 27. Mr.. Emerson, of the Atlantic
Coast Line, lead off in a clear state
ment of the purpose and intent of the
revised classification, and a candid adj
mission of it's faults and imperfec-
tions. lie said:
"We don't claim that it is perfect.
Tn fact we know it is not, but we are
trying to, make it SO. Already we
have issued one supplement correct
ing errcrs and Inconsistencies and an
other is now in press. Its object is
to secure a uniform Southern classi-
fication, Just alike to shipper and rail
road, and to do this we have simply
taken Classification No. 81 as a basis
to work on. We know it has faults
and we are correcting them as fast
as we find them. For instance we