The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-05
"Give Us Relief the Cry Of
Shippers.
RAILROAD FREIGHT WAR
The Cooperation Commission Hears from the
Railroads and Shippers Concerning Causes
Of Complaint About the Irant-
portaiio3 of Freight.
portation Of Freight.

were doing the best they could We're
heard by the Corporation Commission
yesterday.
The meeting came about primarily be-
cause the last Legislature had amended
the act creating the Commission, the
amendment reading thus: The Commits
sion is empowered and directed to make
rules, regulations and rates governing de-
murrage and storage charges by railroad
companies and other transportation com
panies. To make rules governing rail-
road companies in the placing of cars for
loading and unloading and in fixing time
limit for delivery OF freights after the
same have been received by the transpor-
tation companies for shipment"
At the meeting yesterday morning be-
fore the full Corporation Commission,
consisting of Messrs. Franklin Mcneil,
chairman, S. L. Rogers and f. c. Bed
dingfield, the shippers present We're:
Messrs. ]. r. Chamberlain, E. L. Harris,
and f. F. Ward. The transportation com
panies were represented by Messrs. A. b.
Andrews, First Vice. resident, Southern
Railway; ]. NJ. Barr, Vice-Presdent and
General Manager. Seaboard Air Line; r.
e. Smith, Assistant to General Manager,
Atlantic Coast Line; N. d. Maher Gen
eral Superintendent, Norfolk and West
ern Railway; NJ. X. King, General Man
ager, Norfolk and Southern; H. A. Page
Press dent Aberdeen and Asheboro: c. H
Ackert General Manager, Southern Rail
way; z. A. Mel, General Freight Agent
Southern Railway; e. r. Reid, Auditor
Carolina and Northwestern Railway; l.
T. Nichols, General Manager, Carolina
and Northwestern; p. r. Albright, Man
ager. n. c. Car Service Association; H
w. Miller, Assistant to First Vice Pres
ident, Southern Railway; f. NJ. Graham,
Train Master, Norfolk and Western: A.
w Towsley, superintendent, Seaboard
Air Line; G. G. Thompson. Division
Freight Agent, Southern Railway.
The relief asked for by the shippers
is that embodied in the request made by
the meeting OF shippers and business men
held in Charlotte on April 18th. concern
ing which the following delegation was
appointed to appear before the Corpora
ton Commission in Raleigh on April 20:
Messrs. s. s. McNnch, J. w. Lewis, w
r. Wearn, w. ]. Chambers, r. A. Dunn,
D. f. Allen, J. A. Fore, A. ]. Hagood,
NJ. c. Mayer, H. c. Clark, P L. McMa-
hon, e. A. Smith. j. H Wellington, J.
B. Ross, j. X. Wolfe. B. D. Springs, Jno.
w. Todd, r. NJ Miller, Jr., T. j. Davis.
At the session of the Commission on
April GOTH the request from the meeting
was presented, it being that relief should
be asked on the following points and on
practically the lines indicated:
First Delays in placing cars after ar
rival at destination Where cars are not
placed for delivery within the time al
lowed by the railroads for unloadin that
the railroads be required to pay con-
signees the same amount per day they col
lect from consgnee when not unloaded in
the prescribed time; in other words that
the rule work both ways.
2. Delays in Transit: That a penalty
be prescribed by the Corporation Com
mission to be paid by railroads to con-
signees when shipments are delayed in
transit or between stations longer than the
following, viz: Distances fifty miles and
under, two days, and one day be allowed
for transportation each additional fifty
miles or fraction thereof
8. Refusal to interchange cars: That
the railroads be required to furnish cars
for unloading; also accept from each
other cars loaded at warehouses or side
tracks on the road, for delivery at side
tracks or warehouses on the other road
in Charlotte, within distances OF two
miles, and that the charge for switching
be $3.50 for the whole service; and that
$500 be made the charge for switching
cars between any two points on one rail-
road within distance of two miles.
1t was agreed that the foregoing so far
as it refers to time does not apply to ice,
fruit and other perishables which, OF
course. are always given precedence and
quickest possible service.
At a session OF the Commission on
April goth, the petition was filed and
tie shippers were represented by the
committee. Other shippers from differ
cnt parts of the State were also pres
ent. The petitioners were represented
by Heriot GARRISON Esq, attorney at
law, Charlotte, n. C. The testimony of
the different shippers was taken and
various letters of complaint were filed.
The testimony and complaints filed re-
lated the serious trouble, annoyance and
expense shippers had been subjected to
on account of the failure of the railroad
companies to provide cars for the move
ment of freight, the delaying placing cars
for unloading after arrival, and the slow
transportation of cars between shipping
point and destination.
This matter was continued for further
consideration to yesterday and the |
transportation companies desiring to be
heard further were requested 10 lie on
this date, or be present If desired with
such suggestions that they might desire
to present as to what would De reas-
enable time limit for the placing OF cars
and the delivery of freight, and such |
reason if any. they might have as TO why
the petition should not be granted
The matter was called yesterday and
the petition was read. The chairman OF
the Commission stated that the amend
ment to the act creating the commission
and then the railroad men were heard
Mr.. ]. NJ. Barr, of the Seaboard, spoke
first. He stateA at the seaboard Air
Line was doiu n it's power to move
freight and oper transporta-