The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-02-07
Inter r-Slale Commerce Comnis-
". sion Has 4 Case
HElRIIG SET FOR FEB. 4
will Investigate Charge
OF Rebsting Brought Against the
Durham and South Carolina Rail-
road-said 10 Grow Out of Selling
Coal in East Durham.

The interstate commerce commits
sion has set February 9th as the date
for the hearing here OF the charges
against the Durham and South Caro-
lima Railroad company OF rebating
brought by the Merchants associa-
tion through their attorney, Mr.. X.
o. Everett.
The charges against the company
grew out Of the selling OF coal at a
cut price by Mr.. q. N. Mason, who
runs a coal yard in East Durham, on
the tracks OF the Durham and South
Carolina company. Mr.. Mason has
been retailing coal at S. the ton
some time, while the dealers OF the
city have been getting strictly s6 OF
more. As Mr.. Mason had to haul
his coal more than three miles to de-
liver It In the city, the other dealers
concluded th2e he must be getting
reduced rates from some source
They we're aware OF the fact that he
was unable to get any lower rate
from the mines and they we're sure
that he was not getting cheaper
rate from the Norfolk and Western
which brings the coal into the city
The merchants were informed thai
each road doing business in the cit,
received large part Of the $3.50 pei
ton freight charges on the coal de
liyered here. In the case of the Dur
ham and South Carolina railroad
lfrom which Mr. Mason received hi
coal, the merchants were informes
that this road received 81 cents 70
the delivery of the coal on the sid
tracks from the Norfolk and West
ern. As Mr.. Mason was getting Goa
at a cheaper rate. the merchants con
cluded that the Durham and Soutl
Carolina was giving him rebate.
| II is along this line that the in
vestigstion will be pursued. Attor
ney Everett win attempt TO shoy
that the Durham and South carolini
company Is either refunding TO Mr.
Mason q part of the 81 cents pai'
them for transferring the coal acros
the yards, or that the railroad com
pany is engaging in the retail Goa
business on It's own account. Eithe
of these courses would subject tn
railroad company TO fine OF $500
| or It's officials to two years In IN
penitentIary as penalty for tn
violation OF the interstate commere
law passed in 1906.
Superintendent Honeycust. OF N
Durham and South Carolina CON
many. when seen this mornig, Dc
tc,arcd that the whole matter was
farce and that all Of the charge
, we're utterly false and groundlesi
, In the first place, he argued that hi
company did not receive 81 cents .
their share OF the transportation an
that this idea originated In the 70
fertile Imagination Of some person.
II "wkst advantage would accrue
: us 10 20 down into our pockets an
! pay Mr.. Mason a rebate on the col
Furnished him?" said Mr.. Honeycut
r Suppose by our giving him q r
. bate he was able TO sell all OF u
! coal retalled In the city, the on
4 possible advantage that could accr,
+, to US would be the small fee whit
: We would receive for tranferring q
!. coal across the yards. anybody th
y has any sense at all knows that y
a would not subject ourselves to III
G OF $1,000 with the risk Of gettii
ourselves in the penitentiary, for q
3 very small sum OF which we Won
4 get out OF Il. II We gave Mr. Mas
J. rebate that would help him mat
e rally In reducing the price OF CO
II we should nave 10 refund all OF o
d part Of the freight charges and 81
l. him part Of the other freight charg
In addition. without any benefit whit
1t ever accruing to us.
10 'As TO our going into the coal b
le iness for ourselves, that Is enur'
preposterous. DO you think that
would run the risk OF mourning
penalty OF violating the interests
commerce law, simply 20 engage II
'r little old retail coal business u
would net rs only a few hundi
IN dollars per year"
he Mr. Honeycutt stated positiy
". that Mr.. Mason was compelled to !
n, exactly the same rate as all Of
c. other coal dealers IN the city.
he stated that the books Of the comps
o. were open for inspection at any u
" by those who h authority TO
m spect.
er The heafIng will be conducted
C. the postoffiee building next Thursd
nd and the developments will be wat
on cd with much interest.
'se -