The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-05

ton facilities to the shippers, but that
want of motive power and the ability
to pet cars as needed was the trouble
He printed out the hardships which
would come to the railroads by the pass
Ing OF a close and tight law and enter
ed fully into the railroad side OK the
matter.
Mr.. &. II. Ackert, of the Southern.
next spoke. lie told of the roads at
times being congested with cars and at
other times of the lack of these circum-
Gtances beyond control. lie said his
read was doing the best it could for
North Carolina and declared that pen
atty put on the road would not help
things. If the Commission passed a rule
he said that it would be alwaysin hot
water with railroads and shippers The
conditions now he said. We're abnormal
ard that the South was better take care
of by railroads than other sections, that
the roads had kept apace with the de-
velopment of the section. Lack of mo-
tive power and cars he gave as the trou-
Bile and said his road expected soon to
have 17j more locomotives. He urged that
it would not be fair to fine the roads
for not doing the impossible. The trou-
pers and a rule as requested would be-
come burdensome. In North Carolina
he feared the people were "bitter
against railroads"
e. S. Neil next said that railroadlng
was not an exact science and that the
rules proposed would hamper the bust
ness of the State and embarrass manu-
facturers He asked that the railroads
be not forced to be put in a position
where they could not aid in building
up the country and protecting shippers.
The railroads are against parties who
desire to blackmail them. They did
not desire to be put in a position to
give bills of lading only to the ends of
their rails.
Mr. j. r. Chamberlain next spoke for
the shippers and related the troubles of
the phosphate company here brought
about by lack of cars and delay. He
complained OF being compelled to pay
for holding cars while the roads could
delay without his having any recourse.
The delay by railroads he charged 10
their bad management. We are suffer
ers." said he, land we are tired of it"
Mr.. Barr again spoke. He said the
railroads did not have omnpotent power.
That he could not help it if there were
not engines enough, and that he could
not recommend to his road to buy more
unless the purchase would pay. He de-
clared that the roads are damned for
not doing what is impossible.
Mr.. Henry A. Page, of Aberdeen ask
ed If it was mandatory for the Commits
sion to pass rule and was informed
that it was. eff So" said he, pass a
rule and then exempt all the railroads
from it." He said that his road was a
small one and would be hurt, that he
was dependent on the Southern and the
Seaboard for cars. He spoke against
any rule being made, and cited examples
of the way in which shippers might hold
cars and thus annoy railroads.
Mr. Ackert spoke again and asked if
there was any time specified in which a
rule should be made. None" was the
reply of Chairman Mcneil. He asked
then that a time Of normal conditions
be reached, that this was not a good
time and that troubles would come land
the Commission would be 1.-The butting
post" between the shippers and the
railroads.
Mr.. NJ. K King told OF the hardships
the roads had and urged that a rule
passed would become an onerous tax.
Mr.. K. r. Smith spoke against the re-
quests for a rule about switching
and Mr.. N. d. Maher urged that a de-
cision in the matter be postponed and
that if a rule be made that the greatest
leeway possible be given the roads. He
also presented objections to the switch
ing or drayage rules requested.
The Commission took the matter I'M
der advisoment and announced that it !
would be some days before it came to
decision in the matter.