The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-21
RATE QUESTION
SUBJECT OF SUIT
Action Designed to Eliminate
Alleged Discrimination to
North Carolina Points.
SUPREME COURT, OPINIONS
Final Batch Delivered and Trib-
unal Will Adjourn Sine
Die To-Day.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.

Raleigh. y G.. December 2O.-The
North Carolina Corporation Commits
sion instituted to-day before the In
terstatc Commerce Commission three
suits designed to eliminate the much
cOmpla innd-of freight rate discrir ma
tions ~ interstate freight to North
carolina points. as compared with So
called gateway rates. One Is against
the Southern and allied railways. in
volving local rates LynchOurg TO
Greensboro: western cities 10 Greens
boro as Influenced by Lynchburg;
Greensboro rates. and is based on the
Winston Salem Durham case
Another is against the Southern.
Seaboard and allied roads involving
rates Boston, Baltimore and other
Eastern cities 10 North Carolina cities.
Charlotte rates being used as Illus
trative basis.
The third suit involves the rates
from Chicago. Cincinnati and other
Western cities by the southern and
affiliating lines la Paint Rock. and
attacks rates 70 all North Carolina
points between Paint Rock and Green's
bOro and including Greensboro. These
rates are attacked as discriminatory
and in violation of the long and short
haul" of interstate commerce act.
Nttorney-General T. ". Bicket; will
represent the Corporation Ccmmiss ION
in prosecuting: these suits before the
Interstate Commerce Commission. The
Paint Rock Greensboro rates are at
tackled on the ground that there is no
principle OF freight rate making that
can Justify the higher rates of freight
20 the western North Carolina cities
over the direct short line Of road by
reason of reflection of competition
that IS goa miles distant from them at
f.ynchburg although the Interstate
Commerce Commission has held that J.;
wiu exempt from the long and shOr;
haul class points whore there is po-
tential water competition and where
necessary 20 permit circuitous roads to
compete with direct lines for business
The North Carolina Supreme Court
delivered its final batch of opinion,
to-day. and Will adjourn sine die 20
morrow. probably four cases going
over undecided on account of dis
agreement among the justices. One
OF these is state vs.. John H. FISHER
cashier. and Mutual, Aid Banking Com
pany. Newbern, in which defendants
were acquitted below of criminal
liability for collecting the draft of Z
Richmond liquor house for whiskey
shipped for Carl Spencer. minor. ship
ment being order notify" and bill OF
lading being attached to draft The
court affirmed Mrs. Spencer vs.. Cash
Ter Fisher. in which she sued Fisher
for selling whiskey to her minor son
in which the court below entered
Judgment for Fisher.
The opinions delivered BY the couE'
follow:
Bateman VS.. Hopkins. Tyrrel Coun-
u, motion Of plaintiff for decree II
this court allowed Corey vs. Fowle
Beaufort. no error; Spencer VS. Fish
er. Craven. affirmed: Spaw VS.. Bridg
crs. New Hanover, reversed: Meme
feevs Cotton Mills. Almanac, no or
ror: Beck VS. Bank of Thomasville
Davidson. error; Greer vs.. Lumber
Company, Ashe, new trial: Scottish
Fire Insurance Company VS. Stuyves
ant Insurance Company. Mecklenburg
no error: Roberta Manufacturing Com
Dany VS.. Assurance Company, Neck
lenburg, plaintiff appeal affirmed.