Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-08-20
Request Of Newport Iews For
EQUITABLE Treatment Is
Ignored
WILL ATTEMPT 10 FORGE then 4
Chamber Of Commerce, Through Cap.
tain Berkeley, Proposes to Make
Fight Before State Corporation Com
mission and the Interstate Commerce
mmission-Evidence in Hand.

An appeal to the various southern
railroads for an equitable adjustment
of the freight rates obtaining between
Newport News and southern points
having hccn refused by the officials OF
those roads, the Newport News Cham
Der of Commerce VIII apply to tn" Viz
ginia State Corporation Commission
and the Interstate Commerce" Commits
sion for redress for the alleged di'-
elimination against this city IN freight
rates.
When the matter Of securing cheap
er rates for this city was taken up hy
the Chamber of Commerce. Attorney
Charles c. Berkeley was retained to
Tight the case. At first the intention
was to lay the matter before the In
terstate Commerce Commission, but
later the decision was reached to APP
peal to the various railroads affected
to make this city common freight
center. The officials of the road met
at Hot Springs. Va. last Friday T."
consider the matter. Yesterday Cap
tain Berkeley received the following
letter from General Freight Agent +,
ID. Hotchkiss. of the Chesapeake Il
Ohio Railway. stating the outcome Of
the conference:
Richmond Va, Aug. Is. 1908.
MIR. Chas. c. Berkeley. Counsel for
the Chamber OF Commerce, Newport
News. Va.
Dear Sir:
Referring to correspondence hereto
fore passed. we wish TO state that a
conference between the Chesapeake
4 Ohio Railway ard the various south
ern lines was held at Hot Springs. Va.
on the ,l4th instant, and at which the
petition OF your clients for the adop-
ton OF the Norfolk rates from New
port News to points in the South was
placed before the southern lines.
"The matter was fully discussed and
the representative OF the southern
lines announced that they could not
see their way clear to make any
shrinkage in their present rates from
Norfolk toward the application of the
Norfolk rates on traffic originating
at or destined to Newport News, Va.
THE attitude of the Chesapeake Il
Ohio Railway in this matter remains
unchanged II is willing to unite
with the southern lines In the april
cation Of the Norfolk rates as between
NeWpart News on the one hand, ana
poiuts in North Carolina. South Caro-
lima Georgia and Fln:iia. on IN" other
hand, upon any fair basis of division.
II In impossih as yon will recognize,
however. for the c. Il o. Railway to
independently adopt this basis without
co-operation on the part OF the connect
tons beyond Norfolk. Va.
Yours very truly.
~ e w. HOTCHKlSS.
General Freight Agent.
j. Evidence is in Hand.
BEFORE the Chamber arrived nj N"
decisiou to make an effort TO have
Nevpnrt News made 4 common freight
center considerable evidence aSaihs'
several railroads in the matter of the
alleged discrimination was secured by
Captain Berkeley The present pan
IL to take this evidence before the
State Corporation Commission and to
have that commission act in IN" mat
ter as far as its power extends. 1h"i'
an appeal will /" made 10 III" Inter
state Commerce Commission tn act In
sucb cases as are beyond tn" control
of the Virginia Commission.
IN r. understood that som" very
strong evidence has been gathered ac
ajust the railroad. and the "ffCials oi
the chamber feel confident of Sccc"sS
in the matter. II is believed tina: the
present rates as between certain
points and Norfolk and the same
pciuts and Newport E,cws AZ" mani
testify unfair to this city and that IN
State COMMITS ion will compel IN" rail
roads 10 give this city / more cIatta
u h.. N.