The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-08-20
Sitting IN new YORK
He Was Appointed Special Mas.
Ter by Judge Pritchard
Several Witnesses were Examined
neutrality-suspicious. Taken Be-
hind Closed Doors at Office OF the
Southern Railway-CounselR Repre-
senting \. c. Corporation Com
mission We're Present.

New York, August 15.-The dispute
between the authorities of North Car
| olina and the federal courts over the
| observance of the IA cent rate law
reached another stage today when for
| mer Judge Montgomery, of North
! Carolina who was appointed by Judge
Pritchard, of the federal court, as
special master, sat here today and
| heard the testimony of several wit
| nesses. General Counsel Alfred
| Thorn, of the Southern railway, OF
Washington, represented his company
at the session. The testimony was
| taken behind closed doors at the Of
| flee of the Southern railway in this
city
Counsel representing the North Car
olina corporation commission at to-
days session included former Judge
James Shepherd, Walter Daniel
and F. A. Woodard, former Governor
Charles B. Aycock, of North Carolina,
and Speaker E. J. Justice, of the
states house ut representatives were
also present.
Vice President H. B. Spencer of the
Southern railway, who is the son of
former President Spencer, was a wit
ness today He was questioned at
length as to the Southern railway.
it's cost and equipment and many
minor details. Dispositions will be
taken in Washington and other cities
after The, hearings here have been
concluded.
], NJ. Barr, formerly president of the
SeabOard Air Line. now number
merchant of North Cr Id end WHO
was called as an expert on railway
operation testified that in his opinion
! the carrying of local freight in North
Carolina costs three times as much
as to operate through trains and the
local trains are frequently only partly
loaded. Mr.. Barr said that a higher
rate was charged by railroads in the
state and that possibly there was no
| through freight, but he did not be-
| lieve~the difference in price was SUI
ficient to equal the increased cost OF
local freight traffic.
Mr.. Barr, said that he did not be-
lieve a fair profit from passenger traf
fic was possible at present in that
and that possibly the rate was no
profit whatever
1t was brought out that passenger
traffic within the state was somewhat
mixed and that number of so-called
through trains on the Southern rail-
way between Washington and Atlanta
made stops at towns and way stations
in the state, so that as a matter of
fact it was not possible to calculate
with exactness the cost of carrying
passengers ON these trains as distinct
and apart from through passengers.
Following his examination by coun-
sci, Mr.. Barr was interrogated b
Speaker Justice.
do you know" said the latter,
''that at one time there existed what
might be calleed a gentlemen's un-
derstanding TO the effect that the
Seaboard Air Line should refrain
from extending it's lines into certain
North Carolina territory under fear
of reprisals by the Southern railway?"|
There was no express understand
ing" Mr.. Barr replied. He was then
asked whether he knew that certain
business houses in the state had act
I ually been driven out to seek other
fields of business because the South
era railway had built UP a monopoly
in various parts of North Carolina
The witness said that he did not
know that to be a fact. To other
questions intended to show the South
ern's supremacy in North Carolina,
Mr.. Barr in most instances pleaded
that he was not in possession OF suf-
file actual facts to testify accuratei.
regarding them.
Mr. Barr was on the stand until late
in the afternoon and his testimony
covered mass of details as TO rail-
road management and operation in
North Carolina.
He,:ring adjourned until tomorrow
mo, mag. n