The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-10-15
R. R. HEARING MUST PROCEED.
STATE COMMISSION REFUSES tn
GRANT CONTINUANCE.
Yesterdays Session Of Railroad
Hearing at Columbia Taken Up
vdth Petitions to Postpone Case of
Proposed Freight Rate Reductions.
Petitions Denied - Hearing VIII
Proceed today.

Columbia, Oct. 12.-RecOnvening
after the dinner recess today, the
South Carolina Railroad Commission
announced that it would dismiss the
several petitions filed for continuance
OF the hearing on the proposed revis-
ion of freight rates. After consulta-
ton the railroad representatives pres
ent asked for a recess until 10 o'clock
tomorrow morning, which was grant
ed. 1t is the hope Of the Commits
sion that the matter of the proposed
revision of freight tariffs can be dis
posed Of entirely for the present on
or by November Is. Practically all
the arguments made so far related to
the advisability OF postponing the
hearing ordered for today.
Tomorrow the tariff itself will be
discussed. There were incidental ref
erences to it today. Freight Traffic
Manager Brand, Of the Atlantic Coast
Line, saying that casual inspection
seemed to indicate that in the case
Of his company the new tariff would
effect a reduction Of 80 to 40 per
cent. in revenue on Interstate busi-
ness. Mr.. Brand said further that
Its adoption would seriously compli-
cate rates on long hauis and Inter-
State traffic, to what extent he could
not say until the voluminous and COM
piicated compilations necessary could
be made.
Just now there Is q most interest
ing railroad situation in this State.
The railroad commission of South
Carolina has issued general and
sweeping change In rates. The pro-
posal Of the commission is to revise
all rates and practically to establish
what Is known as a flve-mile break,
instead Of a ten-mile break. At pres
ent railroad rates are figured on ten
mhe jumps or breaks. and the pro-
posed schedule is upon a five mile
break. The railroads are in terror
Of the proposed schedule and the
statement was made today that In
certain instances the proposed
schedule involved 40 per
cent reduction. There was an over
flow meeting today. Commissioners
Jno. H. Earle, ]. M. Sullivan and
Bank l.. Caughman were all present,
and Commissioner-to-be Med Hamp-
ton was at the hearing.
Among those at the hearing were:
l.. T. Nichols. of the c. and n. W.;
K. F. Reid, of the c. and n. w: Jno.
B. Cleveland, Charleston ard West
crn Carolina; j. r. Anderson, Blue
Ridge; p. A. Wilcox, j. w. Perrin, r.
"A. Brand, Jno. f. Livingston, Ernst
Williams, of the Atlantic Coast Line;
VIM. II. Lyles, Jno. B. Lyles and L..
T.. Challenor, Of the Seaboard; Lin
coin Green, r.. B. Pegram, Claude
Northrop, S. c. Nefier, of the South
ern Railway; r. A. Burroughs, Of
the G. and L.; Mr.. M. p. DeBruhl.
assistant Attorney General; r. H..
jackson, of the Charleston Freight
Bureau; Thos. Wilson, Of the Short
Line Railroad Association; Mr.. II.
j. Haynesworth, representing the
Cotton Manufacturers Association:
ID. A. Henning, of Greenville; Paul
w. Mcclure, Greenwood; j. A. Rus
sell, Greenville; A. Mop. Handy,
+. Campbell and J. II. We'll, of Co.
lumbia; and j. w. Smith. Of the Co
lumbia Boat Line.
The railroads today unanimously
asked for more time in which to
prepare ard present the data that
VIII be necessary for the compari-
sons. The Atlantic Coast Line and
southern wants three or four
months and the Seaboard wanted
six months in which to analyze the
earnings and get the exact figures
for the South Carolina business.
Mr.. Jno. B. Cleveland urged that
this was most serious situation and
the commission could not we'll act
without full and accurate data. The