Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-17
STATE COMBATS SOUTHERN
HAS RATHER THE BEST OF THE
NEW YORK HEARING.
Railroad Man Who Appeared as an
Expert Later Wanted to With
draw His Claim.

NEW YORK. August 17.-In the struggle
begun by the Southern railway to have the
new North Carolina passenger rate law de-
clared confscatory. the officials Of the state
felt that they had won two great victories
when the second session of the hearing be-
fore w. A. Montgomery Of North Caro-
lima. sitting special master, closed yes
terday in the railroad s Office at 80 Broad
way
In the case of one witness, who had quail
fled as an expert question from the
states attorney was Of such a nature that
he could not answer 1t because he did not
want to sit there as an expert" Again.
the state produced book Of figures which
purported to prove beyond doubt that the
railway can be operated profitably with the
passenger rate at 2A cents a mile. The
contrary Is the basis Of the companys long
and bitter fight in Judge Pritchards court
George F. Evans, fourth division super
intendent of the Louisville and Nashville
railway, the first witness of the day, testi-
fed that he began his railroad career as a
telegraph operator and advanced himself
through thirty-six years of hard work to
his present position. The Southern's gen.
eral counsel. Capt. Thorn. asked Mr.. Evans
whether he could testify to the cost of
operating a railroad interstate as well
ntrastate. and also through-state line.
Mr.. Evans nodded in the affirmative. but
James F. Shepherd, who appears in the in
terests of Gov. Glenn and the state authori-
ties. objected
The witness, | believe has not yet
qualified an expert" said Mr.. Shepherd,
and want that answer stricken from the
record.
The special master decided against the
state letting the answer go in. to the evil
dent satisfaction Of the Southerns attor-
neys.
Says Road Couldn't Operate.
IF. Evans then said that VIII. the en-
forcement Of the 2A-cent-a-miie rate a
road constructed SO peculiarly as the South
ern in North Carolina would practically
have to give up operations. The witness
said 1t costs more for local traffic than to
carry through traffic. corroboratlng the tes-
timony Of Mr.. Barr, the North Carolina
lumber merchant who at one time was
president o fthe Seaboard Air Line.
Asked on what he based his objections to
the following out Of the law regulating
cents mile. Mr.. Evans answered.:
'On information I have received
BE specific and tell US on what informa-
tion," said e: J. Justice. who is speaker of
the house Of representatives OF the state,
and the witness frankly admitted that he
could not say. Neither could he give any
detailed facts as to the amount of business
carried on by the Southern railway.
Don't you known asked Mr.. Justice,
that the gross earnings Of the Southern
railway last year from operating trains on
all lines In North Carolina were S1.98 mile,
and don't you know that the gross operat-
ing expenses were $1.14 per train a mile
and don't you know that the total earnings
on all its lines in all states when operat-
ing. were $1.5S per train a mile. and don't
you know that the total expense on all its
lines was ST. IL per train a miller"
Mr.. Evans appeared to be dumbfounded
and Capt. Thorn jumped to his feet.
'cWhere does the counselor get the facts?
I want that book" said Mr.. Thorn.
you can't have it," said Mr.. Justice,
land I will not be catechtsed by YOU"
Admitted He Would Be Mistaken.
Mr.. Evans said II the statement by Mr.
Justice was correct, then he himself was
wrong earlier in the day when he said that
a 2A-cent rate would bankrupt the South
ern railway.
your experience entities you to give an ex-
pert opinion on all matters pertaining to
railroading and to the Southern Railway
Company in particular?'
d. was the reply.
Then tell US why, II l should ship hard
ware to Greensboro N. c.. the last la miles
of the journey should not be cheaper than
the first LA miles OF this same journey. IT,
as you say. longer hauls with full cars are
cheaper in operating than empty cars on
short runs?"
Il can't answer that question. for don't
want to sit here as an expert"
At this the members Of the state commit
tee. with Mr.. Justice. smiled. and the special
master asked the witness II he did not want
to Withdraw his earlier statement Of being
an expert, and Mr.. Evans said, mo: let 1t
stand"
Cross-examined by State Senator Walter
3. Daniels on behalf Of the state. Mr.. Evans
was asked:
"You have said that local trafio service
traffic. Il that so1'
eyes," was the reply: '.and I mean It
costs more to stop q train at every station
thAsn dosa 70 make run. say. Of 100
IFsWs1 y you didn't stop yQgr trains at
"a WY Eta3teha Yo9 Wpu!a !6s4 patronage
both tom thA bfaESogjS IND 1relght traf-