The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-14
Says Charges for Haul
ing Baggage Here
Are Exorbitant.
OF FICIALS SAID
TOHAVE MONOPOLY
Petition Filed With Interstate
Commerce Commission Asking
$4,000 Damages for Loss
of Business Railroads, as
Parties to Contract,
Made Defendants.
Charging that prominent oneials OF

Ch6r ElnS that pFOmlnont olncldio Oh
railways OF this city organized them
selves Into the Richmond Transfer
Company. and then gave themselves
exclusive privileges to solicit business
on trains and in stations and forced
the public to pay exorbtant rates, w.
G. Cosby has filed petition with the
Interstate Commerce Commission. ask
ing damages for injury done his buBl-
meas. Should the commission decide
y the point involved, II would seem in
evitablo that the rates for delivering
baggage no% charged b. the Richmond
Transfer Company muHt be reduced.
Mr.. Cosby asserts that after sccur-
ing the monopoly. the railway officinls
interested proceeded 10 charge rates
from 3ala TO SO per cent. In excess
OF those collected by him. and that he
now stands ready to take the buai-
: moss at tho lower figure, giving bond
TO Indemnify the companies and the
public. Further, he says. he is willing
20 pay for the privileges OF using
the stations TO solicit business.
Wants $4,000 Damages.
In the petition to the Interstate
Commerce Commission, which was filed
By tho law firm OF Wise & Chichester.
OF this city, as counsel for Mr.. Cosby.
exclusive privileges now granted TO
the Richmond Transfer Company. But
f no does ask damages in the sum or
$50. 1000 And. should the commission
hold that his contention that inter
state passengers are forced TO pay an
unreasonable high rate for the hand
ling OF baggage be held sound. II
would seem that the transfer concern
would be obliged TO lower It's schedule
Of charges 10 the amounts at which
Mr.. Cosby AYERS his Willingness TO
handle the business.
Therefore Mr.. Cosby Mes his com
plant. making as parties defendant the
Richmord Transfer Company, the Ches-
hpenke end Ohio Railway Company, the
4 Southern Railway Company, the Allan
tic Coast Line Railroad Company, the
Richmond. fredericksburg and Potomac
Railroad Company and the seaboard
Air Line Railway
In Businens Score of Yearn
ar Cosby states that nc has been en-
gagged in the baggage transfer business
in Richmond for twenty years. and is
the sole owner OF the COSBY Trans
fer" He asserts that no question has
ever arisen as to his solvency fair deal
Ing. efficiency and good management
Prior TO the year 1881 he was per
United to solicit business in and about
the stations IN Richmond OF the de-
PENDANT compa nlcs. and was free to
compete with all others IN his line OF
business.
On November z7,Isel. the Richmond
Transfer Company was chartered. The
!ncorporators were A. W. CARRIER. ". T.
Darden. c. A. Taylor. F. D. Hotchkiss
and E. D. T. Myers. Mr. CARRIER was
president. Mr.. Taylor secretary and
treasurer. and the other incorpora tors.
With George W. Stevens. SOL Haas and
X. y. Carpenter. were made electors.
Were Railroad Men. 8
The petition charges that at the time
OF the incorporation Major Myers wac
president OF the Richmond. Frcdericke-
burg and Potomac Railroad Company
and that c. A. Taylor was Its genera,
freight and passenger agent; that Mr.
Stevens was an officer OF the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Railway Company. and
aeon afterwards became It's president;
mat Il. D. Hotchkiss was general
freight superintendent OF tho Chesa-
peake and Ohio; that r. D. Carpenter
was an officer In that road, and that Sol
Haas was general passenger agent of.
the Southern Railway Company. l0
Further. Mr. Cosby charges that
I many other officials md stockholders
OF the defendant railroad companies
became officers. employees and stock
holders OF the Richmond Transfer Com
pany, and that through the device If
common officers. the companies acquir %
control Of the transfer company.
whereupon A. w CARRIER was forced
TO retire, leaving all the affairs in the
hands of the railroads
Gave Exclusive PRIVILEGES
lAnd that having proceeds the peti-
tion, acquired such complete control
OF the defendant company, It's said Of
hcers, In their dual capacities as senior
oihcers or the railroads. granted TO
themselves. as officers OF the defendant
transfer company. valuable and exciu-
siVe privileges In the form OF con-
tract. the observance OF which has
from that time. prevented your com
plainant from soliciting business in and
about the depots of the defendant rail-
roads, and upon tho cars thereof. In
competition with the defendant trans
fer company"
II Thereupon. says Mr.. Cosby, he Of
fered the Chesapeake and Ohio $500 mr.
year for privileges even less in valu.
than those enjoyed by the Richmond
Transfer Company, but that the offer
was refused. and the contract was cited
Il as prohibiitve of such a grant.
f,nised It's Rates
Shortly thereafter. Mr.. Cosby charges
the defendant transfer company in
creased Its transfer rate from % cents
per piece of baggage TO the present
K rates, which are he says from s3 Ia
"A per cent. to so per cent. higher, accord
Ing to the distance hauled, than the
compliments rates. The purpose and
direct result Of the exclusive contract.
he maintains. was to first destroy all
competition In the local baggage trans
fer business In and about the stations
and on tho cars OF the railroads, am
then enable tho defendant transfer
& company TO charge unreasonable and
CONTINUED on Seventh FaEe.l .----