The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-06-09
DULL DAY IN THE
RATE INQUIRY
No Session To-day, But Matter
Will be Resumed at II O'clock
on Monday.
Mr.. A. H. PLANT ON THE STAND
Comptroller Of Southern Tells Q
the Operating Expenses Of
His Road.

before tho Corporation Commission was
featureless. save for the further cross
examination OF General Manager H. B..
Spencer by Mr.. Braxton. Tho witness
| was kept on the stand for more than an
hour, and then Mr.. A. II. Plant comp
troller OF tho Gnuthern, was put on.
Meanwhile Comptroller Coke OF the
Norfolk and Western, was recalled and
| verified statement formerly made con-
| corning whether or not the Valley Rail-
| road had ever been In the hands OF o
receiver.
Mr.. Spencer was closely cross exam
ined by Mr.. Braxton, and tho line OF his
| questioning was in pursuance OF that
heretofore laid down.
Mr.. Plant was q most helpful and In
telligent witness for his company, and
he submitted a great many carefully.
Compiled statistics. designed to show
that his road was not In position to
stand cutting off OF any part OF It's
revenues through rate reductions Mr.,
Plant Is regarded as one OF the ablcst
railroad men In the country, and he had
his facts and figures at his fingers ends.
Iherc wore no sharp passages between
counsel. md few. II any. objections were
! nled against the admission OF testimony.
Heat Excessive.
The heat In the hall of the House was
almost intolerablc In the absence OF fans.
| and the day was trying one on ali
| concerned.
The commission adjourned at 4:3O In
| order to allow -of-town lawyers to
| m frh or11, fr1Ip For MT, y ry7N-
| will be no session to-day and Judge
! Crump announced that the body would
| adjourn next Thursday afternoon until
| the following Monday, In order TO allow
| Mr.. Braxton to keep an important en-
| gagemenr.
The next session will begin at II O'Clock
| Monday.
| day contained nothing especially strK-
| Ing, and 1t was for the most part along
| the line OF his answers to Mr.. Braxton
| on the previous day.
When Mr.. Plant was put on. he was
| questioned by Mr.. Thorn. and he read
| the major part of this answers from
carefully prepared manuscript.
Corroborates Mr.. Spencer.
| How long have you been in the rail-
| road buslncss?"
"Snce July !. 1871.
Were all the figures and statistics
| given by Mr. Spencer compiled under
| your supervision, and are they correct?'
| Yes"
What is, the capital stock Of the
Southern Railway Company"
| Zone hundred and eighty million dol
lars. Preferred stock, s6o.0oo.0Oo; common
stock, sl20o0O,0o0"
What Is the mileage in Virginia."
-'4a5225 miles,
over how much road does your COM
pany operate in Virginia."
"7,195.@ miles
What is the apportionment OF capital
| stock to road owned In Virginia."
"$22, ISL .4s3,G9.
What is superintendent Of capital
stock to nil roads operated or used by
your company In Vrginia?'
1924. al 1896 05,"
'How are maintenance and way cx.
pcnses proportional 2"
Eve know the location OF each ex-
| penditurc, as they are specific"
| tAs to marine expenses
) "They nro charged to division in which
they are located"
"As to stationery and printing"
| "Also on engine mileage
'What were net earnings for Virginia
from all Virginia business. after paying
taxes for the year ending june 80, 1902
| Y
Net Results Better.
"Have there been any better results
since the organization Of the road?"
( 1.-THE net results for 1850, 1901 and 1907
| were better,'
I HAS the road ever been able to pay
| any dividends apportlonable to Virginia
! out of Its net earnings in Virginia.
I'm 1909 Virginia contributed out of Its
! net earnings to dividend of per cent
| Vtrgina's portion was s2,293,3S2 So +"
! ''Was this on all stock?''
mo; only on preferred stock"
HAS the road ever paid anything on
It's common soclS?"
"No." Ii
HAS ii ever been able to nay, after
everything had been considered?'
Me-
Witness was required to file table
slowing)the MILEAGE of the road during
all wears in which dividends wore paid.
Have the net earnings ever amounted
| TO the capital stock with G per cent.
| added thereon?" s
! ''rhey have not"
/ WAS the business of the company for
| the year 1908 a typical year,"
| ''Yos, perhaps q little better than the
| average"
!; 'SNould the proposed rates If applied
| TO that year show corresponding changes
| through other years?"
| "They would"