The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-09
RAILROADS YIELD
II. PUBLIC DEMANDS
-----r-----------
Reduce Rates and Cases Filed
With Commission Are
Dismissed.
WILLING TO suBMlT5To LAW
Don't Shoot; I'll Conc Down
Is Attitude Of Roads in All
Sections.
WILLING TO SUBMIT TO LAW
~ WAITER ,sDwAnD HARRIS

tJSAAIDIho.
ny WALTER EDWARD HARRIS
WAsHINGTON,a u. c., Juncs. Don't
shoot; I'll come down lns been the
cry OF railroad companies 80 frequently
in tho case OF complaints made to thu,
Interstate Commerce Commission dur
ing the past few months that tho belief
is beginning to find expression that
eventually litigation before tho COM
mission will be very materially leAsen-
ed in quantity. II is n remarkable fact
that many cases brought before tho
commission have been dismissed or
4 late, owing to the railroads yielding to
tho demands OF complainnnts and
granting that which the commission
was asked to force.
In April two cases before tho com.
mission were dismissed, owing to the
railroads having yielded to the demands
OF tho shippers. and In May no less
than Blk cases Of this character werA
settled In tho snme manner.
Complaint was made in March TINT
the Southern Hallway, the Scaboard Air
Line. the Pennsylvania, the Richmond,
Fredericksburg and Potomac. and va
rioua steamship lines. charged high
or rate, proportionnlly. to McRae and
Helena. Ga. than to Cordcle and F,.x-
gerald. Ga. Tho case was set for hear
ing, but before hearing was had the
lines readjusted their tariffs. showing
considerable reduction In the ratcA
complained Of, and to tho satisfaction
Of Accomplishments. and on tho Sth OF April
the commission ordered the complainA
dismissed.
Cross-Tic l,r'c Reduced.
The llolcombe-Hayes Company COM
plains that the charges on shipment
Of cross-ties from Hopkinsyille, KY, to
iinois points were excessive The IL
linois Central. the road made defendant.
before the case came up. alleged that
the charge was due TO a clerical err
ror. and reduced the rate. Tho COM
plaintEwas dismissed.
The Hnle-Halsell Grocery Company.
doing business at McAlester, Darant
and Coalgate, !. T., as wholesale groc-
ers, complained that tho Missouri, Kan
Eas and Texas and the Texas and Pa
CHIC charged an unreasonable rata OF
IS cents per 100 pounds on sugar in
carloads from New Orleans to blcAlest-
cr. It was alleged that tho rate to Mus
kogee, q nearer point was only 35
cents But the railroads promptly re-
duced the rate to McAlcstcr TO 81
cents. and tho commission dismissed
the complaint.
Another Case Disrnlxsed.
The National Petroleum Association
complained that the Pennsylvania and
fourteen other transportation lines
charged rates on petroleum from Ger
tain points in Ohio to the Pacific Coast
that were unreasonable and discrimlna-
tory; that the charge OF 3l05 each for
the return OF empty cylinder oil cars
from Pacific coast terminals to Mis-
souri River points should he abrogated.
After answers We're filed and the case
set for hearing the defendants made
considerable reductions In rates and
the case was dismissed,
The National Petroleum Association
also complained TINT the rate charged
by the Pennsylvania and several other
companies on petroleum from OIL City
to Frecport, ILL.,. via Chicago, was 26 Ia
cents per 100 pounds, while the COM
bination rate on Chicago was only 23
cents. The railroads in their answers
signifcd their Willingness to reduce
the ratio to 23 cents. and actually put
this rate into effect. OF course, the
commission dismissed the complaint.
The Same Result Eisewhcre.
The Manufacturers Club. OF Terre
{ Haute, Ind, complained that the Louis
Vile and Nashville and the Glove
lana CINCINNATI, Chicago and st.
Louis had rate on coke from
ovens In Kentucky and Vir-
ginia to Terre Hauto which was un-
reasonable as compared with rates from
tho same points to Chicago. After
complaint was filed the railroad COM
panies gave Terre Haute the same rate
given Chicago. and on the motion OF
the complainant the complaint was dis
missed.
il. NJ. Wilhoit complained that the
rates on oil from Pittsburg over the
Missouri Pacific and st. Louis and San
Francisco roads to Joplin. Mo, were ur-
reasonable and discriminatory az com.
pared with rates on oil from st Louis
that y, oil originating there. The roads
made the rate all right and the COM
plant was dismissed
Tho koinmazoU Tank and Sio Com.
pany complained that the rate on silos
carload lots, over the Michigan Contra
and other roads from Kalamazoo tt
I1lkhart, wis. was 28 cents per 100
pounds, and unreasonable and discrim
1natory as compared with the rate OF
II cents per 100 pounds from Kalama
zoo to Chicago. The defendants, afte
complaint was made, actually reduced
tho rate to Elkhorn. Wis. to 1G cent
per 100 pounds. instead OF % cents, tn
rate which had been charged for years
The commissioners dismissed the com
plant, of course. but 1t would seen
rs though It would have been peril
nent to inquire whether the railron,