The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-07
MERCHANTS ASK
BETTER SERVICE
Livestock Dealers Testify as to
Slow Movement OF
Cars.
--------
SHARP coLLoQuY ENGAGED IN
observation-disclosures c+,,r+. Da,,;,,J 6
SHARP coLL0oUY ENGAGED IN
Commissioner Stuart Reminds
Attorneys Of Agreement They
Had Forgotten.

Better freight car and Transports
ton service for the merchants and
shippers in and around Richmond is a
striking issue before the State Corpo-
ration Commission at this time, and
complaints are being lodged right and
left against various railroads coming
into this city.
The commission completed the case
involving the movement Of wood and
lumber over the Underwater and West
ern and Southern and Coast Line yes
terday, and then took UP and finished
the hearing Of complaints by the Union
Stock Yards against the Southern, the
Seaboard and the Richmond, Fred
ericksburg and Potomac.
General Superintendent f. II. Coap-
man, of the Southern. and Division
Superintendent Phennegar, of the Coast
Line, were the only witnesses yester-
day in the former case. They both
testified to the scarcity of cars on their
lines. and said they were doing all they
could to meet the heavy demands OF
the shippers.
This case, along with the stock
yards matter was taken under advise
ment by the commission, and orders
are expected shortly in both.
Stock Yards Order.
1t was under the following order
OF the commission that the stock yardi
matter was up yesterday:
TT being brought to the attention of
| the State Corporation Commission that
tho Southern Railway Company is in
| the habit of running a freight
(, train on one or more days In each
week for the purpose of receiving live
| stock from the various stations along
| the division, for transportation and de-
| livery at the Union Stock Yards
! and that the cars of - live stock
are delivered In the morning of the
| day succeeding the day upon which
| said live stock Is received and
| complaints having been made of SLOW
delivery and transfers, IT Is
! ordered that proper rules and regula-
] lions be prescribed, regulating the de.
| livery of said live stock, and 1t Is
| further ordered that these mat.
| tiers be heard by the State
| Corporation Commission Marcel
4th.
/, A Fiery Colloquy.
Before the hearing had proceeded
| far Commissioner Stuart asked the at
J torneys for the roads II they recalled
: the terms of an agreement entered
between their companies before TIL,
commission in July. 1904, In which
they agreed to furnish better service
and the latter declared that they knew
nothing of 1t.
II would regret to find that the
railroads knew nothing of this agree
4 ment," observed Mr.. Stuart,
I ao1y md ffr
tor w. b. McIlwaine, representing re
spectfully the Richmond, Fredericks
burg and Potomac and Coast Line, di,
rot wish this statement to 60 into TIL
record, and strenuously objected t
Its admission.
what said, / mean," retorted TIL
commissioner, and / think 1t Is du
to the dignity of this body that tn
statement go into the record as | hay
made 1t,
"At that time, in 1904, as / recal
1t. the railroads importuned the com
mission not to enter a formal orde
against them; that they would abid
by the informal agreement conscien
tiously, II now appears from the ties
! timony of reputable witnesses her
that the roads have not lived UP I
that agreement. ] regret very mucl
| gentlemen, regret II with all m
heart. that the commission did not the
enter formal order against YOU"
Mr.. Tunstall Recalled.
Mr.. r. b. Tunstall, representing til
Southern, now recalled that Hon. 4
| p, Thorn, who represented the compan
on that occasion, had recently mentor
cd such an agreement to him. He Wa
willing to accept any statement as I
its terms made by Commissioner Rtuar
Judge Leake and Mr., McIlwalne co,
Cured in this sentiment. and the i,
cident, which was fiery for H., Will
came to an end and the hearing WE
resumed,
Mr.. Munro Levy, of the firm of Lee
pold Levy s. Son, who was on ii
stand when the colloauy commence
now continued to tell the commission,
his story. He said the agreement he
been observed for a while, but gradua
W the companies had failed to obser,
1t, until now dealers did not know whe
to expect live stock shipments
Other witnesses testified along Il
same 'lnc, and the commission toe
the rose under adyisement