The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-04-27

Washington, april 24.-When the
hearing bet0re the interstate COM
merce commission under the TiIman-
Gillespie resolution was resumed TO-
day 7. S. Davant, freight traffic mana
ger for the Norfolk and Western was
called as a witness.
He was asked by lIr. Glasgow, Of
counsel for the commission, if he knew
OF any arrangement between the Nor
folk and Western and the Chesapeake
and Ohio by which the former was not
to SEND coal into Washington. He
said he Gid not; that - ~0ao sought
at one time to send coal into Washing
ton but could not find terminal facilI
ties. Replying 10 counsel he said they
had not undertaken to carry coal into
Washington by water because it was
lmpracticable. He was then as ed il
there had been any conversation with
Pennsylvania railway officials on that
proposition. He said he had a talk
with Mr.. Searles, the BAL freight agent
OF the Pennsylvania. Asked as to
what was said at that time, the witness
stated it was the idea that if the Nor
folk and Western undertook to 90 into
Washington the Pennsylvania would
90 into the Norfolk a 10 Western terri
tory.
Mr.. Glasgow asked if there was ANY
understanding. O. that point when MI.
Davant replied that it might be so son
sIdered. In the course of mis- testi-
L@Ony LIr. DE- Tannt said that at one
time the Chesapeake and Ohio, Ralti-
more and Ohio, and Pennsylvania gave
the Norfolk and Western to understand
that if the Norfolk and Western went
into Washington they would go into
the Nrofolk and Western territory.
Mr.. Davant replying to Mr.. Glasgow
said the Pennsylvania did not control
the Norfolk and Western and Chesa.
peak and Ohio. He was asked il ne
had ever attended a conference between
the Tidewater and all-rail line repre-
s~entatives on New England rates. He
said he had attended a meeting some
time before April 1st, 1905, when there
were present: Mr.. Newman, of the New
York Central; Mr.. Murray, OF the Bal
Jimore and Ohio; Mr.. Provost of the
I S1IASS lNdLId, NIL CESfSHS, VI III
Chesapeake and Ohio and Mr.. Johnson,
OF the Norfolk and Western. He said
the relative adjustment of rates of all
rail lines and tide-water lines to New
England were discussed. Replying to
Mr.. Glasgow's inquiries he said the all
rail lines were under the impression
that the tidewater lines were getting
TOO much of the business and wanted
+.,o., - -~S~1I krfy1l 81 ~ "oc
proposed that the all-rail lines would
lower their rates, if the tidewater lines
did not raise theirs the witness said
there was an intimation 70 that effect.
The New York Central, he said, pro-
posed a raise ip the rate OF the tide
wafer lines; the Pennsylvania and Bal
timOTe and Ohio and Norfolk and
Western opposed any change in rate.
He added hat subsequently he re-
ceived word from his executive officers
that the existing rates would be con-
tinued.
The commercial and trade cOndl
tons of this country" declared Nj
Dayant. cannot be carried on unless
there is some sort of understanding
between the railroads as to the rates.
Replying to Mr.. Prouty, the. witness
stated that he did not regard the rate
of S1.35 from the PocahOntas district
TO Norfolk as proper compensation to
the Norfolk and Western. He said
that the rate could not be raised be-
cause of the conditions surrounding
the bituminOus coal trade. MI. elias
gov in his Interrogation of the witness
stated that the increase in earnings
of the Pennsylvania, Baltimore and
Ohio, Chesapeake and Ohio and o
folk and Western for the years 1899
and 1901 to be over $21, 100000 a year.
Mr.. Glasgow then took up the ques-
ton of the withdrawal of the Norfolk
and Western from the coal carrying
trade to New York harbcr. Mr.. Davant
said his road went out OF the coal
carrying trade to New York because it
could not afford to stay there.
Mr.. Glasgow asked if the reason
that rates on coal to New York were
not adjusted so the Norfolk and West
ern could afford to stay there was De-
cause the Norfolk and Western could
not help itself. Mr.. Davant assented
10 that.
At the afternoon session Mr.. Da-
want said the rate and price conditions
and general trade in bituminous coal
were better than ever.
Mr.. Davant was asked by Judge Holt
of counsel for the Norfolk and West
ern, if the latter road has any agree
ment with the New York Central, the