The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-12-14
TIE Rail Roals VIM FIGHT
10 LOWER FREIeHT RATES.
The Railroad couraission Renders
Decision Adverse TO The
contsnfion Of ths Charles
Ton Freight Bureau.
81 Il mccaw.

q tha railroad commission, made public
today. in the case of the Charleston
fright bureau and other commeFcial
s bodies of tha State against she South
ern. Seaboard ana Coast Lime railroads
icr reduction on State or Local
freight rates on she groEnd fhas these
! rates are excessiYe By comparison with
: fhs rates prevailing in North Carolina
and Virginia and give Virginia cities
undue advantage In this terrlory over
Charleston aud osher Soush Carolina
distributing points, pracsIcailiy DIS
misses the petielon The only
changes conceded is in the standard coz
ton wGsSe "a straight eenss
rats Is made for Instance up so ~
miles as against rates ranging from 81
canss TO al cents: in the standard fer
silizer tariff, which is amended so as
tn rednce the ten miles and under haul
frasn 81 80 50 cents and make
sJra;ehs rate of $2.f5 for hauls or zoe
miles and over as against rates ranging
between S.. Is andS3e e05; and in the rate
on four in barrels, in which there ls
naraliei reduction OF two cents for
each OF the ten mile hauls up to 40
miles.
The decision viii be received with
surprise throughout the State, as ex-
pressions from members OF the com
mission from time TO time have indl-
catad that q general reduction would
] be demanded on the part OF sEse com.
mission. The decision will greatly
f3issppoint Charleston and the attor-
neya who have been fighting SO zeal
ousIv for the reductions. MIR. j. =.
Kennedy Bryan, who was here on
Thursday, spoke as il he confidently
expected a complete victory. He said
he did not at all doubt a favorable
decision, shat IN his opinion the rsil-
roads Themselves recognized that 1t
would not be wise to further resist q
reduction IN these very oppressive
rates.
Here are the findings as set forth in
the decision :.
- We fnd therefore this situation in
South Carolina
The average freight moves in
South Carolina at a. less rate per 100
pounds than in the State OF Virginia
and does not much exceed the rate In
NpTth Carolina.
Passenger rates in South Carolina
are less than Id North Carolina.
Joint rates are 20 per cent. less than
IN Virginia and 10 per cent. less than
in North Carolina. The South Caro-
lima rates appearing higher than
North Carolina rates are not supple
mented By increases for branch lines
as IS the casa in North Carolina. The
earnings in tnis State are not so much
as in Virginia or North Carolina.
Tie net income of the roads is not an
unreasonable return upon fair Ealu-
asion. We find a free Interchange OF
commodities among distributing
spcinss. We Sad no discrimination
except upoa western products through
Virginia ports 30 South Carolina ter
ritory. We cannot find that any line
touching South -Carolina is response
.hle for the conditions at trunk line
termini. We iad that thers is q Just
demand throughout the State for
mora and Better trainsesviee. better
stations and better accommodation
Bridges, sresties and track-i1 condi-
sion below the standard that would be
adapted for the. .q1ick aud safe dis
pstch of the business SeEdefeds We
deem it the Sentiment Of the people,
and q fulGlmens of ths law, thato
hrst care shonid be- for the safety and
ordinary convenience of passengers.
In view therefore Of all the foregoing
statement OF findings We can Gud no
justification For q general or meserIal
seduction Of eaEfread rates IL sthis
State save that Ehe tariffs Of the State
be amended az exhibited below. be-
yond which tie petition is dismiss
sd. ,, Az