The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1907-08-22
Interez. In Rate Hearing.

A Aspecial from New York City
10 the Charlotte Observer says: The
dispute between the authorities OF
North Carolina and the Federal
Courts over the observance Of :
I-4-eent rate Law reached another
stage, when former Judge Montgom-
cry, OF North Carolina, who was APP
pointed By Judge Pritchard, OF the
Federal Court, as special master 10
take dispositions, sat here and heard
the testimony Of several witnesses.
General Counsel Alfred +. Thorn,
of the Southern Railway Company OF
Washington, represented his COM
pany's interests at the session. The
testimony was taken behind closed
doors at the Office of the Southern
Railway in this city.
Counsel representing the North
| Carolina corporation commission ~
the days hearing included former
Judge James Z. Shepherd, Walter +.
Daniels and F. A. Woodward, forno (
Gov. Charles Aycoct, of North Car
DINA, and Speaker +. J. Justice of
the State House of Representatives,
were also present.
Vice President II. b. Spencer, Of
| the Southern, who Is the son of form
or President Spencer, was a witness
He was questioned at length as to the
Southern Railway, It's cost and equip
ment and many minor details, Dep
ositions will be taken in Washington
and other cities after the hearings
| here have concluded.
j. NJ Barr, formerly president of
the Seaboard Air Line, now a lumber
merchant of North Carolina, and who
was called as an expert on railway
| operations, testified that in his opinion
the carrying of local freight in North
! Carolina costs three times as much
to operate as through trains and the
local trains were frequently only part
! ly loaded Mr. Barr said that a high
er rate was charged by railroads IN
this State for carrying local freight
than for through freight, but he did
not believe the difference III price was
sufficient to equal the increased cost
of lacol traffic.
Mr.. Barr said that he did not be-
lieve fair profit from passenger
traffic was possible at present in that
State and that possibly there was Oh
profit whatever.
1t was brought out that passenger
traffic within the State was somewhat
mixed and that a number of so-calleG
| through trains on the Southern Rail
way between Washington and Atlanta
made stops at towns and way points
In the State, so that as a matter Of
with exactness the cost of carrying
local passengers on these trains as
distinct and apart from through pas
sengers.
Following his examination by coun.
sci, Mr.. Barr was Intercepted BY
Speaker Justice. "Do you know, ,
said the latter, "that at one time
there existed what might be called
a gentleman's understanding to tho
effect that the Seaboard Air Line
should refrain from extending its
lines until certain North Carolina ter.
ritory 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 ii
the State had actually been driver
out to seek other fields for business
because the SouthernRa ilway haC
built up 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 Sou
thern's supremacy in North Caroline
Mr.. Barr in most instances pleaded
that he was not in possession of sufIi.
clent actual facts to testify accurate
ly regarding them.