The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-18

that Mr.. Erwin was not prejudiced ant
only wanted what is fair He admitted
that there have been serious delays il
the settlement of claims and the rapit
transportation of freight. If there are
gross evils, they should be corrected
without hardships upon the people Oh
corporations. He asked Mr.. Erwin ques.
tons as to shipment, and then said Mr.
Erwin presents only two cases where he
has been injured. Here Mr. Erwin in
terrupted by saying that claims
had been filed of overcharges in at least
twenty cases Mr.. Erwin said the
mistakes and overcharges were not over
one per cent. He said the bill opened
the door wide for rate manipulation and
discrimination. The railroads can charge
Only what the Corporation Commission
prescribes. If they vary. the penalty is
in your commission laws-greater than in
this bill. This puts us under heavy pen
atty for mistakes in any railroad agent.
There was a rapid cross-firing of ques-
lions here between Mr.. Erwin and Mr..
Emerson. MI Emerson said that rail-
read agents had no authority to name any
tate except such as prescribed by the
Corporation Commission. The laws give
YOU authority to sue a railroad a a pri-
vate party. 1t is a serious matter when
you try to protect bill of ladipg con-
tract rates, and it opens the dor for Sc
r,ous discrimination.
A penalty law, one-half to go to the
parting informing and one-half to the
State, is a nasty law. In cases where
ha mo hold
the claim. The company may not know it
for months and the penalty would be pill
ing up on us If you must do something
coufine it to Corporation Commission
rates and give some limit as to time of
e'1t Otherwise the railroads will be
dealt with unju@tly.
We generally have from 4,500 to 5000
cars off of the line of our road to ac-
ccmmodate shippers to the foreign mar
kets. The TRANSPORTATION lines are doing
all they can to furnish prompt transpor-
tation Long delays are exception. not
the rule.
Mr.. Erwin asked: do you not have
as many cars of other roads as they have
of yours?"
mo. l will tell you why" said Mr.
IAiutI SUI" he llON tllleHt ouI VI IH6
State is far in excess of the stuff that
comes in, and our cars often come back
empty. A penalty would injure our State
manufacturers. L railroads should happen
TO be without caes the penalty would be
too severe. Don't handicap us. Give US
a chance.
AS to the seizure of COAL the man who
Owls the coal should be paid for it. Rail-
roads take coal Afor the convenience of
the public and for no other reason. Of
ten we help out manufacturers by letting
them have some IF our coal. No railroad
wants to stop a olant. 1t is loss to the
railroads to see q factory on it's line close
down
Mr. Emerson said that there were many
undercharges as we'll as overcharges,
ard the railroads have not been able to
collect an undercharge. We want to set
tie all claims. We settle 800 a day and
fix them up just as soon as we possibly
can. We do not want to keep the money.
We want to pay:it.
Mr. Erwin: How soon after presenta-
ton do you pay claims made for over
CHARGE"
EFF l had the noney I would pay you
right now if you had a claim. Haugh-
tcr).
Mr.. Erwin: Eyes, l think you would
do that to preeEnt the passage of this
bill"
If you legalize a contract that may be
made by our agent. in conflict with Cor
poration rates. you open the door for dis
elimination in ratcs-the very thing the
State forbids.
Mr.. Erwin: Sometimes railroads
make special rates, giving to one man a
Better rate than another.
Mr.. Emerson: I'VE cannot charge one
rate to one man and one to another. We
are bound by the Corporation Commits
sion rates.
Mr. Erwin at is done-not by the
little agents, but by the big dogs-and
l can prove it,"
Mr.. Emerson: ct is illegal. Have you
rot for years by law sought to pr9rcnt
discrimina tion?'
Mr.. Erwin: when you make a rate
to carry certain goods at a certain rate
you ought to be forced to keep your
contract you have made through your
agent"
Mr.. White, of Halifax: eff the local
railroad agent makes a mistake in the
rate, ought the road to be punished? |
always get the rate before ! ship. | have
had the railroad to make payments back.
TI,o CT IN, To- inns,