New-York tribune., 1910-06-21
PRESIDENT THOMAS REPLIES
Denies Lehigh Valley Violated
Interstate Commerce Act.

& &. Thomas president of the Lebigh
Valley Railroad Company, made a. state
ment= yesterday i'll regard 10 the govern
rlent action against the Lehish Valley
Railroad Company and the Philadelphia &
Reading Railway Company. on charges OF
having violated the interstate commerce
act in connection with service for the
Bethlehem Steel Company Mr.. Thomas in
his statement says that he speaks entirely
for the Lehigh Valley, and continues:
The charge made by the government. so
the Lehigh Valley Railroad has violated
the interstate commerce act by correct1nS
hem Steel Company for car service, ana by
changing certain car service rules Wltnott
giving thirty days notice
The bills in question for car service COW
cred a considerable period of time, at least
five years the payment CT Which the steel
company had always refused to make, so,as- a.
"a, slV assessed. The matter was ref6fred 10
the car service bureau in whose 1lsIrcs
the steel companys s plant IN iocatea, anq
after careful inquiry large poftioh %
The charges MAS cancelled and COLLECTION
made of the balance - ts
In recent wears the steel company mac
cornniained that the rules and Regulations
in Eject as applying 10 cars at BetnlenelHn
1torked a great hardship upon anu a19
"Ioaad II at a disadvantage as compared
Riitb ati,er steel works IN the eastern pars
- ,be Tinted States. careiuI anu
.bo~oTfnfa investigation 81 tiie soOJSct -
t,l.de rlao5 from which IL developed that me
IiIase, IiI.e,+;or7 NJ the steel company was cor
-, Ind that il did suffer dlsddf dfdiitaSe
a. sos',ect 10 this feature as coilpafee win
- - comnalies. Accordingly q reafianS5o
.,et,1t 81 the then existing ear service tafs tu.ne
vas made. the legallts Oh l'le iii
,,s ssed tooH by counsel. .,~o x-ss any
F@1s not believed that there was ens
4t~.sa,s ae TO the legsntS OF lhS y "Its ~
q.:. u-lfch was submitted 10 thn ~
at, atiti"' 9sn+ was located, and Which re-
sltel +bst for the several reasons as
P.n-eooS tv N the demurraSe chdi ger " -
slslieo sls,.s The revised rules Were, ss -, ~
Fayna date made effective az 70 "a
,,apnfa curing companies sttitiiatt sttitti - one. if
Ihe ~ any discrimination @ouin
o,., ei ia have been against fa'Hel e''9H
fevor. of shippers. -. t,,a feaeraJ gov
,-nuaent should take the atntu" rhn act
81 81 ~ ,.s,.er csteeiaiiy IN view OF the g.
inns i fs.ct of what was done wes te re-
thai tfe IT, Rethlehem Steel Company from q
new ei.tration that would olneFWise rAio 80
olS "a sa,-n, of its competitors lheIS a,i'st
III Ianoa If evidence showing thal Wa VIA
80 done by the setteiheh'
N.ssinst any competltor. l,o,,,,,.,,,, has
aEalh2I t.;gl, VALLEY Railroad company lisE iaI
me tf.aes acted in the utmost sood IaItii .a
- - interprefing the intefstals ,fIere amy
act' sIIn kae arisen between II ana the au-
auesnoll i Unfortunately the federal govern =
thofitlss. not exercise the same amount OF
merit Sagtb in interpreting the Jaws ol lile 9
eoo,.,ry the exact heallllE 81, snu ud.s5eIiit IN
many OF T'sa evidence in this case was
ascertaia- the governments specIai
gathered T<high Valley Railroad COM
49,. having made no aIse.tp, 'a,aer -
pat,,ts i,ing concerning the ii'ni