The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-28

noke wholesalers could ship products
in from the West and ship them again
TO North Carolina more cheaply than
they could come here direct from the
West.
Change Would Mean Discrimination.
Mr. Davis laid much stress on the
fact during the cross examination of
witnesses that II the Carolina rate was
reduced without changing the Roanoke
tariff, it would put that city out of
business.
He likewise developed the point that
1t would be a discrimination against
Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro. IN
asmuch as they could not compate with
their State neighbors a few miles away.
He did not exactly succeed, however, in
securing the admission that the reduc-
tion would be absorbed by the whole
sale and retail dealers without benefit
to the consumer.
Some idea of the feeling in North
| Carolina was given by ]. B. Vaughan,
a wholesaler of Winston Salem. DO
| you think he was asked. that Ra-
! leigh Is entitled to a rate equal TO that
| of Winston-Sal
| If lived in Raleigh" he said, II
might think SO. But 1 am not here
! to fight for Raleigh. We got in the
| band wagon first, and If our neigh
bors want to do the same they must
/ join in this suit"
Mr.. Moore suggested that the Cor
poration Commission was representing
! the whole State, which was accepted to
mean that it would insist upon the
same low rate for all points.
The burden of the seven-hour song
was that Virginia had prospered at The
expense of North Carolina although
numerous witnesses testified under oath
that while these rates had continued
their business had increased from IL
to so per cent. with an increase in
the number of jobbers in the affected
towns.
Would Not Admit Advantage.
Even when the merchants COMMENDED
that they wanted Winston-Sa ant
Durham put on an equal basis witt
Roanoke city they would not admit tina
it would give them an undue advantage
over Charlotte and Greensboro, Just a.
they allege that Roanoke has it ova
them In this respect the argumen
was novel.
There We're many dark spots, which
1t seemed difficult to explain. but Com
missioner Clements took the witnesse
in hand and mado them clear with Al
intelligence which was indeed rafresh
ing. He wanted to know If Durham
iobbers would not shave prices to III
consumer when competing on equa
ground with Lynchpurg.
I'm that case" witness replied
"the Lynchburg man would max
money while we would have to sell at @
below cost to keep up with him" Fol
lowing the same line. they held tina
If they had enjoyed the same advan,
ages as Roanoke and Lynchburg the
would have outstripped the latter
the development of their home town
So far as the complainants are cor
cerned, they could have served tn
same purpose equally as we'll by nc
introducing more than one-third {
the witnesses who were sworn.
The sum total Of the days proceed
ing was the admission as to the VII
einia cities attitude, the statement >th'
II the Winston Salem and Durham rat
are reduced there must be corr
spending reduction for Virginia, al
that unless all North Carolina tow
share alike, the discrimination will
even greater than that which is alleg'
to exist to-day.
TO Hcar Experts TODAY.
Freight experts vii; be examined 7
, morrow. Vlce-President Devant or
, Norfolk and Western, and Linco
l Green. freight traffic manager OF
! Southern Railway, will be the prime
T pal witnesses.
"We will be able to show the cor
> mission" said one Of the lawyers :
:, night. that a change IN tne "a
! would be a far greater Injustice
! Virginia than that supposed to prev
: against North Carolina under the prs
4 ent tariff arrangements. 70 reuuoe
< would put local points In the sa.e y,
& class, to the serious injury OF tlle
o gnia cities which have interVellsu,,
9 Representatives of every fali -, paa
Is the Southern territory and OF iinS M,
d far West as Chicago are mere
q admit that any modification IN
r tariff at the instance of winston Sat
Or and Durham would upset the WI
n rate question from Western poin'ss :,
70 the South. " W.
Mn uI,OOnHOlINDS