The news & observer., 1905-10-22
THE CAR LINE CASE
Further Hearing Post
poned Till November.
Epigram by Prouty: "Then it is Sell
fishness of Armour Lines by Grace
of Southern On Which Ship
pers Depend
lRv tho Associated Press.l }

Washington, Oct, 21.-The Inter
State Commerce Commission was un-
able to conclude it's hearing of the
private car line case today although
it was announced that the list of wit
nesses had been exhausted. Counsel
for the Armour Car Lines endeavored
to get an order closing the cases, in
which hearings have been had, but
Chairman Knapp said the Cimmission
might require additional testimony
All of the cases were postponed there
fore. until November /, the date fixed
for the hearings in the cases of the
two ns-continental lines named in
the proceedings.
Lincoln Green, of the Southern
Railway, testified that his contract
with the Armour Car Lines for refrig-
Grafton prescribes that the charges
must be reasonable and no higher than
charges for like service for other lines
I'm my opinion" he said, 1.-The pres
ent rates are lower than could be
made by the carriers themselves We
have no complaints from shippers
1t was brought out that the Armour
Car Lines arc able to handle the BUS
mess economically for the reason that
they have 1t all and are able to pre-
pare for it. Commissioner Clements
asked Mr.. Green if he did not think
the shipper should receive some of the
benefits from this economical service
Attorney NOrthrup, for the Southern
Railway, objected to the witness an
swering on the ground that the ques-
ton was not one of railroad opera
ton but purely legal. While discuss
ing this from q legal point of view
Attorney Reichman said the selfish
ness of tho Armour Car Line would in
ducc il to maintain Il reasonable rate
Mr. NOrthrup added that the South
ern Railway insists also upon reason
able rates. Commissioner Prouty in
terrupted to say:
i hen It is the selfischness of the Ar
mour line by grace of the Southern
Railway on which the shippers de-
pends."
Protesting that the Commissioner
had stated the matter in an ungraci-
Gus manner and unfairly MIR. North
up declared that Intelligence and bu-
siness interests had built up the re-
frigerator business. that it was not a
matter of grace. He said the South
ern railway is proud of its record
in building up traffic of every charac-
ter in it's territory and with the sat
isfaction given it's shippers.
On redirect examination Mr.. Green
~aid that the freight rate on ice, if
7
was reduced IN 1904 from $1.50 to so
cents a ton. and he admitted TO At
torney Barry. for the commission, that
under the exclusive contract the Ar
mOur Car Line was the only concern
that could get the benefit of this rate
T. w Hazlehurst of Macon. Ca
secretary of the Georgia Peach-Gr
ers Association. testified in regard to
/ the cost of producing peaches
Ill, no L
! f"ct hat there is no profit in RAISING
peaches and marketing them under
| the present TRANSFORMATION charges.
He said shippers think the total rate
rate Of transport2]s~.l is unreasonapl ple
and the cost of refrigerat on could pe
/ redrced The witness estimated thar
il cost 1870 to send car OF peaches
f~"m Georgia to New York, or about
- cents a crate. AS an organization
tho witness said his association mao
~ot made any complaint against the
! refrigerator charges.