The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-11-09
The FREIGHT RATE CASE.
me Long Contest Before the Rail-
rcad Commission Nearing a
Close.

read Commission Nearing a
Close.
sss Columbia, Nov. 5.-The railroad
cemnnissi0n will next Tuesday take up
She record In the interstate freight
rase case, and though there are several
hunared pages Of typewriter evidence
ir addition TO over fifty exhibits OF va
riousg kinds, including several books
nf complicated tables OF figures, the
commission hopes to conc to decss-
ion within q week. The case has been
hanging fire new since the evidence
beraB to be taken last January, and
sss ariSasion has been going on near
ttgp yaags. nearly eighteen months
HAVING saapsed since Charleston sue
ceeded In interesting Greenyills, Ander-
son, Greenwood, Spartanburg and Co
lumbia to Join in the petition which
Manager jackson Of the Charleston
freight bureau aud the attorneys for
that organization formulated against
the railroads before the railroad COM
mission.
the further this case has progressed
Ehe more confident the roads have be-
come of victory and the more wide,
snread has the feeling become among
these directly interested IN the case
chat the commercial bodies we're out
classed by the splendid experts the
railroads have marshalled to demon
ssraSe the logic and the philosophy
and the necessity OF the. present sys-
Yemof rates. AT the final heaiing III
the case this week the only arguments
made before the commission on the
mart OF the petitioners were those Of
The Charleston attorneys, Messrs. ".
Miller and ]. P. x. Bryan, Col.
e. N. Shanud, representing Columbia
and MI. ". ID. Jones appearing for
Spartanburg declining to make
speeches.
But those Chasisssol attorneys
spoke with an earnesssloGnence born
OF close study Of the situation and
conviction that their town is being
Wroaged by the present system OF
rates which allows competing N1r.
zinia cities to reach Selth Carolina
sarrlsory cheaper than Charleston.
There is no room for doubling that
Eharleston business and professional
men are conyiced that Charleston is
being bottled by the Southern railway.
Tisefe are some strong indications,
although the members of the commits
sion have not said what their co1clu
3sions will be, that the railroad men
who haze SO confidently been banking
oa so certain and complete q victory
are liable to be rudely shocked when
the decision is announced and that
pleasant surprise is In store for those
Who have become resigned to the con-
causion that there was no use contend
ing against the array Of talent which
the railroads brought out for this
occasion. There are evidences that
the Charleston lawyers made q deep
impression on a majority of the COM
mission and that Charleston is going
60 get the relief at thu hands of the
commission which that city was con-
tending for with the freight depart
zaent Of the Southern at the time this
complaint WAS brought. OF course it
IS not likely that the commission will
psaar q rase out o. Charleston which
wilt give she seaport ;ir undue adyan.
tGge In the up country over op coun-
try jobbers and wholesalers, but 1t IS
probable, that Charleston will be
given the relief which Freight Traffic
Manaser, T. C.. Powell indicated in a
telegram to the Charleston people
when he admitted that there should be
some adjustment Of the rates as to
Charles ton. OF course whatever
change is orGered the freight situa-
sion throughout the State will be
more or less affected and the decision
Miu ie looked forward t. with the
greatest intere.t.
Bnt whether the roads " III accept
the change the commission makes is
D matter of grave doubt The roads
are not likely to acqui.sce it Mr..
Powell was in earnest W hen he took
the position throughout the bearing
that any change would throw out the
whole system. One course open to
the roads, the lawyers say, would be
20 have the case reviewed in the
State courts On writ OF cer'iorari.
Is is pointed out also that iDas'uuch as
q change would disturb the status
Of the North Carolina and Georgia
freight situation as regards their re|a
fions to this territory that federal
question Of Interstate commerce would
30 involved and that therefore the
case might be taken into the federal
courts.
zt is not probable that the prayer
of the petition that there be reduc-
tion of some Is per cent. IN Interstate
rates will be granted.
= ". II. NJ.
Rock Hill, Nov. Frank Carter,