The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-19
RICH E0US ANDJUST BILL
To Compel Railroads to Transport
Freight Promptly Under Penalty.
CHARLOTTE MERCHANTS WIN THE FIGHT
The Senate Committee on Railroads viii Favo.
ably Report the Excellent Bill In
troduced by Senator
Brown.

and heard an interesting discussion by
prominent business men on Senator
Pharr's BILL which ought to be entitled
IAN Act Prescribing That Sauce For The
Goose Shall be Sauce For The Gander.
1t was bill that added two sections to
the Corporation Commission act as fol-
lows:
Sec. %. ITO make rules and regula-
lions governing demurrage and storage
charges by railroad companies and other
transportation companies.
Sec 26. ITO make rules governing
railroad companies in placing of cars for
loading and unloading and in fixing time
limit for delivery of freight after the
same has been received by the trans
portation companies for shipment"
Mr.. Heriot Clarkson. Ext Mayor We'd
dington, S. S, McNinch, w. b. Wearn, w.
j. Chambers, j w. Lewis. J. x. Wolff
and other prominent business men of
Charlotte appeared before the committee
in favor of the bill Senator Aaron. of
Wayne. also spoke in favor of it,
Mr.. r. M Emerson. of the Atlantic
y
Southern. (Henroe is never absent I'M
less providentially kept ayaw) Ex-Judge
Womack for the Seahoard and Mr.. p.
r. Albright. head of the n. G. Car Ser
vice Association, appeared against the
bill
After long discussion, participated in
by some of the above named gentlemen
and the members of the committee. on
motion of Senator Brown the bill was
favorably reported to the Senate 1t is a
righteous and just measure and will
doubtless become law.
Mr.. Clarkson opened in favor of the
bill by saying that application had been
made to the Corporation Commission to
grant the relief prayed for by the bust
ness men and manufacturers of the State;
that the Commission said it lacked the
power to give the relief demanded by
the shippers in North Carolina; that in
Georgia and South Carolina there were
statutes similar to the one
under discussion; that it fed the shipper
and the railroad out of the same spoon:
that it was just and reasonable and
ought to become a law"
Mr.. S. S. McNinch, of Charlotte. a large
dealer in fertilizers, farm implements,
etc, said that goods in transit are often
delayed one week three weeks. probably
one month. No dependence unon when
you may get gods. Once we had cars on
the tracks at Charlotte ten davs and
could not get goods. Cars with fertilizer
remained around Spencer 50 long that Or
dcrs were countermanded. Business sup
pied fully one half. Customers couldn'
get ears for two weeks.
Mr. Miller: "Were not these condi-
tions under abnormal circumstances?
mo, the habit of railroads is to accumu-
late cars to make long haul"
Mr. Miller: 'Where do you get in
formation that railroads hold cars to
make up train?"
Mr.. McNinch: Il got it from an off
cial of the State of North Carolina and
from other sources"
Mr.. Emerson said that such a rule did
not exist on the Atlantic Coast Line
Mr. Miller: Did you ever appeal to
the commission"
Mr. McNinch; I'VE made our com
plants to the Commission and they said
they did not have the powers to regulate.
That is the reason for the bill. We are
working upon demurrage laws made
by the railroad and not by the Commits
sion. The Commission has said they
could regulate this only il authorized by
law"
Senator Aaron, of Wayne: Il live on
the Atlantic Coast Line, and have no
complaint of that line Some Of my
neighbors complain of slowness over the
q,
weeks TO get a car load of furniture
from High Point. 1t takes len Gays to
get freight from Raleigh to MI Olive.
We get good service en- the Atlantic
Coast Line. Our service over the South
ern is very bad. 1t is only 81 miles to
Raleigh. shipments come from Viii
mington within two days. 1t takes tea
days from Raleigh. Delays have beer
very troublesome. Agent at Goldsboro
says goods are not there"
Mr.. Miller: This is because OF the
transfer"
Mir. Emerson: Il think nobody is here
TO attack railroads, but to remedy evils.
I he first and second sections Of the bin
seem to be covered by the Corporation
Commission laws already IN effect TIE
Commission already has necessary au-
thority. The Commission has unlimited
powers along the line now asked. lie
gave instances Of how this law might
njuriously affect the railroads. As 10
delays in transit, he didn't see how any
set OF rules will ever fix it,"
Senator Prtchard: Suppose shipper
deposits goods and they lie there, what
remedy has her"
Emerson: He can sue for damages"
Prtchard: Il know how it works one
way but have never seen it on the otheI
SIDE The rule ought to work both
ways.
Mir. Emerson. When we have q car
loaded we move it on the first freight
that passes. We do not wish to hold a