The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-06-24

The address Of Mr.. A. j. Maxwell, |
Clerk Of the Corporation Commission, |
before the Merchants Association at
Wrightsville last Wednesday, was a
distinctively conservative utterance in
all particulars except in the remedy |
proposed Of State-aided steamboat
lines TO put just freight rates in reach
Of the cities Of the State, SO much !
SO in fact that it presents a striking
contrast with the tone Of the general
discussion Of this question hat has
obtained in the State for some months
past.
For the purpose Of reducing it to
the size of a newspaper story, we are
summarizing the first half of the ad-
tons, and present in full his discus
sion of remedies-gOOd, bad and indif-
ferent, as he finds them to be.
AS to intrastate rates, reserving any
expression as to whether reductions
would be justified at this time by
carriers. he finds that they compare
favorably with local rates in any
state, where like conditions prevail.
and that prevailing intrastate rates
have driven out Virginia cities compe-
tition on such commodities, as molas-
ses, that get into Wilmington IN a fair
water rate basis.
IN - a. 80 - Ia law
basis to the Virginia cities, the lowest
rate basis obtaining m the country,
and finds that it is the natural result
Of competitive conditions and the de-
velopment OF tarnic to and from the
port of Norfolk, and hat the public
thought Of this State has been largely
Influenced in it's consideration Of what
constitutes a rates OF
freight by contrast with the low rates
obtaining to the Virginia cities. and
states %candidly the opinion tina we
have not developed conditions in this
State hat justify the application of
the same rate baSi to our ~circuitous
lines handling relatively hin traf1c as
is applied on the trunk lines to the
port OF Norfolk that handle five and
of road, as any OF the North Carolina
lines.
"Indefeneable and Inexcusabfe."
And to give the railroads the benefit
of a fair statement Of the case all
the way down the line Quoting the
language Of Mr.. Maxwelis speech
from now ON l believe their rate
South Carolina. Georgia, and Other
States, south of us, is, in the main
not so badly out of line. n their rate:
are on a slightly higher basis thai
ours 1t is not true that our rates ar
higher than to any adjoining Stale. o.
'aAS VlA VNA -
to any adjoining State except Virginia
But the feature OF our rate structure
that is beyond all fair question mex
cusable and indefensible IL hat Will
we are in close competitive range o
the Virginia cities we have been de
MED the compensatory benefit OF GU
close proximity to this low rate basrs
and that we have been charged 10
the short additional haul from tn
Virginia cities into the State o
through business rate out OF proper
ton to any standard scale OF rate
used anywhere in this territory, eve
as local rates. and that while we ar
right up against this Virginia Cite
competition and low rate basis. "
have been charged for this short pal
Of the haul higher rates than al
charged for the long haul up to tn
Virginia cities, and rates very near
as high as have been charged TO u
cities two and three hundred mile
farther south OF us.
am ready and willing to ming
my vOice Of protest with any one he
or elsewhere against this condition II
which / have not been able TO nr
Justification or excuse
Admitting that we have not at IN
time such conditions as entitie US
the Virginia cities rates, certainly '
are entitled to a rate above that IN
Is fair and reasonable as q throui
rate, and that it shall be so co