The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-28
This Fact is Made Plain in
Hearing in Behalfof Win
ston.Salem and Durham
CITIES NOT HOSTILE,
BUT INSIST ON RIGHTS
Witnesses Admit That 1t Would
Be Unfair to Give Two Carolina
Cities Advantages Over Their
Neighbors, and General Cut
Would Not Change
Situation.
rsnecial From a stan Correspondent.J ]

L
~ ALEIGH. n. c.. March 27.-Dis-
claiming hostility toward
TX North Carolina trade centres,
i ~ the attitude of the Virginia
cities was clearly defined in the
hearing before Interstate Commerce
Commissioner Judson Clements to-day.
with the statement that while Rich
mond, Norfolk. Roanoke. Petersburg
and Suffolk were not resisting the ef-
fort Of the Corporation Commission to
secure lower freight rate from the
Norfolk and Western Railway for Win
ston- Salem and Durham, they would
oppose 1t unless there was a proper
tionate reduction on Western shipments
for Virginia points. Without this slid
ing scale 1t was made plain. however.
that the commercial organizations
would join the railroad in seeking to
have the tariff remain undisturbed.
Fearing that an earlier expression
from him might have been misunder-
stood Mr.. II. C. Davis. of counsel for
the cities which filed plea of inter-
vention. practically declared that they
would appeal to the Federal rate max
ing body for relief II the North Car
olina complainants won their conten-
ton.
Entitled to Lower Rate.
"The attitude of these cities toward
the matter in dispute said Mr.. Davis,
"Is that they oppose the same rate
for Winston Salem and Durham that
Virginia gateways enjoy. In other
words. tho same proportion must be
maintained. We contend that Rich
mond. for instance. by virtue of geo.
graphical location and competitive con-
ditions. Is entitled to a lower rate
than winston Salem and Durham"
Then you don't care II we cut the
rates for these North Carolina points?"
suggested Mr.. Lucien Cooke, of the
Norfolk and Western, so long as we
cut 1t again for you?"
II can easily see conditions" replied
Mr.. Davis, "by which certain Virginia
cities. having the same rate, should
join in and ask for something lower.
1t Is not difficult to see that Virginia
is entitled to better facilities than
these two North Carolina cities"
AS innocent as this statement might
be. it merely emphasized the compli-
Gated question Of rate making which
developed In the course OF a seven
hour investigation by Commissioner
missioner did not indicate what line he
might follow in preparing a report,
the sentiment hereabout is that the
complaint of the Commonwealth will
be denied.
That there are wheels within wheels
was brought to light by the admission
of witnesses that II Winston Salem and
Durham are to be put on parity with
Virginia cities every North Carolina
town will demand and receive as much.
which will leave the situation identi-
cally the same as it Is at present Some
of them reluctantly confessed that 1t
would be relatively unfair to give
Salem and Durham an undue
advantage over their neighbors, which
would not be different in it's nature
from that which now relates to North
Carolina on the one hand and Virginia
on the other To slash the rate for all
would mean that North Carolina would
have more gateways than jobbers. and
that jobbers would create and hold
monopoly from which the consumer
would derive small benefit.
What Is Involved.
The main charge in this litigation is
that the Norfolk and Western has dis
criminated against Winston-S Salem and
Durham in favor of Lynch burg and
Roanoke, all of which are located on
Its lines.
The other Virginia cities have a vital
interest in the proceeding for the rea-
son that their rate Is the same as that
applying from the West to Lynchburg
and Roanoke. There was legal
sparring match between Messrs. Davis
and Davis and A. r. Thompson, coun .
sci for Virginia, and II. G. Guthrie and
E. ]. Justice. counsel for North Caro-
lima, to determine the status of the
former. Lucien Cooke and r. Walton
Moore, for the railroad, Joined in at
times, but the atmosphere was finally
clarified, after which more than score
of business men went on the stand and
testified that they had suffered tlnan-
cial loss, and had their trade sacrificed,
while Virginia jobbers We're waxing
fat. There was no animosity. however,
the desire being to bring about more
satisfactory result without gain to one
or injury to the other. Commissioner
Clements explained that the action Of
Virginia In filing an Intervention was
customary and proper. Secretary II,
G. Brown. of the Corporation Commits
sion, quoted rates to show that Roa-
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