The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-06-19
STILL FIGHTING
ON RATE MAT TER /:
Commission Resumes, and Mr..
Braxton Questions Mr.. a. II.
Plant All Day.
MAY FINISH I TOMORROW MOI R \
TOMORROW
Body 70 Take Recess When Mr.,
Plants Testimony is
All in.

4 :s The rate Inquiry before the State Cor
s. grafton Commission was resumed yes
Il terday morning, and Mr.. A. II. Plant,
comptroller OF the Southern Railway
Company, was again taken in hand by
Mr.. Braxton, on cross-examinauon.
When It $50 o'clock. the commission adj
X journed until II o clock this morning, Mr..
Plant was still on the stand. and AIR.
4 Braxton said he hoped to set through
with him by to morrow night.
sr II 80, the commission will take a re-
cess at that time until next Tuesday.
All of yesterday was devoted by Mr..
Braxton to endeavoring to get out of
the witness the cost Of doing through
and intrastate business in Virginia, as
compared with that of other States. but
at the end of the afternoon session he
z had not secured Il great deal Of light
on the subject. @
Some of the information the witness
y said would be Forthcoming later, and
some OF it, he said, could not be Sc
cured except at great cost. MIR. Brax-
i: ton is still suffering from an attack
of acknowledgement, and has an inhaler
much resembling cigar-holder, con-
8 stanly in his mouth.
The end of the inquiry has not yet
T been sighted, and 1t may be that 1t will
i last for the remainder Of the year.
Mr.. Plant Again.
The commission came to order at lis.
4 with most OF the lawyers interested
present.
4 Mr.. Plant at once took the stand, and
AR. Braxton5 resumed questioning him
wi,ere he left off Thursday. Witness
was asked for good deal of data per-
Slaining to Interstate and intrastate bust
ness In various States, and. not having 1t
AT hand, he said he would file II with
his evidence later on.
I'm what States does the Southern
Railway operate where intrastate rates
are regulated by State authority
55..I cannot answer that definitely; ]
would prefer that you ask The traffic
rnzn.''
Witness. however, thought there was
State regulation in Kentucky. Moth
Carolina. GeaeEgls .an's, perhaps, other
States.
/ @..When did he Southern acquire the
hne from Washington 70 ElueInont?'
Il cannot say accurately at this time. :"
"Is II rot fact that the older and
less efficient engines and cars are used
on the branch lines, and the newer and
better ones on the main iines?"
This Is true 10 some extent, but on
our branch lines comparatively new and
g efficient engines are used.
5.It Is fact, however, that. as rule,
your smaller cars and engines are o!oer.
Z at not?''
4-Th,s is not always true OF cars, though
1t usually Is OF engines.
Witness said the average cost OF earn
4ng dollar from all sources by his
road for the year ended June 90 !sS.
was, approximately, IS cents.
Mr.. Braaton was trying hard to hem
the witness In on the question OF operat-
Ing expenses. etc.. but the latter would
e snbmit his answers In the most careful
manner. and often say, That is true 70
some extent" and then go on at length
10 qualify and explain.
Intrastate Business.
Mr.. Braaton asked the witness for the
cost Of doing through and intrastate
business in Virginia for the year ended
1une 80, 1905. and said II the company
Af the witness should decline to give this
information 1t would be impossible to
J AIRY out the purposes OF this inquiry.
M Mr. Thorn said the information sought
was not pertinent to the inquiry, and
that the task OF preparing 1t would be an
enormous one. and should not be put upon
the company.
n The opposing counsel kept their seats
and dictated their statements on the sub
iect for the record. to tho stenographer.
Here Mr.. Plant and Mr.. Braxton got
Tar apart as to what the former had said
& concerning the cost of doing business In
Virginia. and 1t took them some time to
get together.
Witness admitted, IN answer to ques-
& tions. that much OF his lntrastate busi.
q ness IN Virginia was hauled over two
operating divisions of the road. Thi.
was true OF freight between Richmond
and Danyille Richmond and Lynchburt
4 and other points.
He said the ,Bluemont division was
subdivision OF the Washington operating
division. and he named other brancl
lines In the State so situated
Taking four subdivisions In the State
witness was asked how, 1t was easier t,
gel at tho traffic expenses Of these brancl
Lines than OF the main lines, and he sal
& II was not easier. Ho said. however, tina
\ Ii WAS easier to ascertain the expens
of handling traffic on one division or sub
division than where the freight Wen
over seyeral divisions.
Mr. Branton asked for an est!mat,
or the cost OF doing the through train
businesB ia Virginia for the year endinl
juno N. 1905. but tbs witness said J.,
& Y ~ a. H.