The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1907-08-22
Intarsst inN BATE Hearing.

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A Aspecial from New York City
to the Charlotte Observer says: The
dispute between the authorities OF
North Carolina and the Federal
Courts over the observance of a 2
l4-cent rate law reached another
stage, when former Judge MontgOm-
ery, of North Carolina, who was APP
pointed by Judge Pritchard, of the
Federal Court, as special master to
take dispositions, sat here and heard
the testimony of several witnesses.
General Counsel ALFRED p. 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 az
the days hearing included former
Judge James E. Shepherd, Walter E.
Daniels and F. A. Woodward, former
Gov. Charles Aycock, of North Car
DINA, and Speaker E. j. Justice of
the State House of Representatives,
were also present.
Vice President III. B. Spencer, of
the Southern, who is the son of form
er President Spencer, was a witness
He was questioned at length as to the
Southern Railway, its 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. M. 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
iy loaded MI. Barr said that a high
CT, rate was charged by railroads IN
this State for carrying local freight
than for through freight, but he dill
not believe the difference in price was
sufficient to equal the increased cost
Of lacol traffic.
Mr.. Barr said that he did not be-
lieve a fair profit from passenger
traffic was possible at present in that
State and that possibly there was on
profit whatever.
1t was brought out that passenger
traffic within the State was somewhat
mixed and that a number of ~so-called
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
fact it vas not possible to calculate
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, EEthat at one time
there existed what might be called
a gentleman's understanding to the
effect that the Seaboard Air Line
should refrain from extending its
lines until certain North Carolina ter
utory under fear of reprisals by the
Southern Railway"
"There IA no express understand
ing Mr.. Barr replied.
He was then asked whether be
knew that certain business houses in
the State had actually been driven
out to seek other fields for business
because the SouthernRa ilway 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 Sou
thern's supremacy in North Carolina
Mr. Barr in most instances pleaded
that he was not in possession of sufi-
cient actual facts to testify accurate.
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