The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-07-11
raised
furnlahlnn sMItehes.


Furnisbine switebes-
The second amendment Secured 1y
4 the senior West Virginia Senator
was inc one requiring tailroa p
sptoyide shippers oi CON;
merre With proper sygit ching tacii #
ties when their business stiles II
/ iss another gery important nt q e n
\ to The rate bill Through " here can
i5be no more denial to shippers Of the
privilege Of shipping their prodnctts,
land refusing them the privilege 81
constructing connecting switches.
This win give every shipper an equal
show. ii IS felt by all who know any
timing about the matter that this is
another important step IN the right
direction.
When the rate bill went to confer;
ence Senator Elitins succeeded in hay.
ling the provision SO amended as to
Include the lateral and branch lines.
HE had sought without success to
.hhaye them included in the Bill In the
4senate in the arst instance. He thinks
this to be a very necessary amend
ment, and his broad experience as q
railroad builder has demonstrated It
\ to be such. He says that It is to the
men who are able to build small roads
Ito some trunk line so as to develop
hitherto undeyeloped territories, that
J! the state OF West Virginia viii have
to look for her future progress IN
railroad building. He says that the
trunk lines have all they care to han:
die now, and that II West Virginia
should have to wait on them to con
struct short lines into new territory
lat would have to wait many year.
HE points out that the development
Of the state along these lines lies In
making 1t possible for small capital
lists to build short pieces Of road into
new territory, with the assurance that
when they reach the trunk lines they
| viii not be frozen out by q refusal to
give connection. The many short
lines he and his associates have built
have attested the importance Of the
lshort line and the difficulty OF get
ting proper connection.
Lateral Tine Amendment.
This amendment, as 1t stands in the
Flaw is as follows:
AMY common carrier subject to the
provisions OF this Act, upon appllca-
ton OF any lateral, branch line of rail-
road, or OF any shipper rendering inter;
state traffic for transportation, shall
construct, maintain, and operate upon
1 reasonable terms switch connection
with any such lateral, branch line OF
railroad. or private side track which
may be constructed to connect with
its railroad, where such connection Is
reasonably practicable and can be
5Eput in with safety and will furnish
sufficient business to Justify the con,
struction and maintenance Of the
I. same: and shall furnish cars for the
movement OF such traffic to the best
LOT it's ability without discrimination
in favor Of or against any such ship
per. II any common carrier shall fall
Ito install and operate any such switch
or connection as aforesaid. or apltca'
ton therefor in writing by any such
shipper such shipper may make com
5lplaint to the Commission, as provided
lin section 10 of this Act, and the
4 Commission shall hear and investi'
gate and determine as to the safety
and practicabflity thereof and JUS
LITIGATION and reasonable compensa'
4 ton therefor and the Commission may
make and order as provided in sec
ton is of this Act, directing the com
.tmon carrier to comply with the proyt
Lions OF this section in accordance with
-Esuch order. and such order shall be
5inforced as hereinafter provided for
the enforcement OF all other orders
of the Commission. other than orders
for the payment of money"
4 The oil Fight.
\ The amendments are thought to be
OF the utmost Importance by impair
ltial Judges, as is also the case with
i the provision eliminating the oil pipe
lines from the commodity amendment
lsenator Elkins was petitioned by
practically every independent oil man
I in West Virginia to prevent the pipe
lines from being included. And it was
his vote that saved the day. Senator
Tillman criticised him for his posi-
ton in the Senate. to9which Mr.. Ell
kins replied that il the South Caroline
Senator knew more about the Oh
business than the Oil operators them
selves did he would give up the fight
tTillman had to admit that such was
the case, and SO the Senate voted tt
eliminate the pipe lines. 1t was a. big
victory for Senator Elkfns.