The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-24
SOUTHERN IN FRAME-UP
WITH TRUST OPERATORS
DuIaney Charges Fraud on Interstate
Commerce Commission to Pre-
vent Rate Change.
BEFORE SENATE COMMITTEE
Alleged That Lines at Behest OF
"Conl Combine" Divert to Middle
Atlantic Points Shipments That
Should Go to Southern Ports.

Washington. July Exchanges that
the Southern Railway had entered into
n "framc-up with trust coal operators"
TO keep the Interstate Commerce Com
mission from granting to Virginia
mines through and joint rates 10 Tide
water by way OF Knoxville, were made
to-day by b. l.. Duluney, of Bristol
Va He was testifyins on cross-cNami-
nation before the senate committee in
vestigating allegations that the South
ern and other lines. at the bchest of
the coal combine" divert to Middle
Atlantic points coal shipments that
should go TO Charleston and other
Southern ports.
Mr. Dulancy declared the "frame-up"
occurred in the .Andy's Ridge case. He
testified that the Virginia coal opera
tors agreed TO make a joint fight to
protect their rights, but that the
trust operators, after telephone CON
Versations with Southern Railway Of
hcials. changed their course. and com
mitted n fraud on the Interstate Com
mcrce Commission by not making GER
tain arguments.
Attorney Thorn, representing the
Southern Railway, produced letter In
which Dulaney's counsel first suggest
ed the operators make "a common
fight. Mr., Dulaney said IL was later
that 1T was discovered "the trust"
operators had changed their course at
the instigation of the Southern.
.AhfNkSS w ofitIt1
AGAINST COMMISSION
DO you mean TO say that the COM
mission did not give you a square
deal?'. asked Mr.. Thom.
commission"
Didn't Commissioner Prouty write
you that the question of through rates
could not Well come up in the case.
but that he was willing to hear you?'
asked the attorney. -s
That is not the way interpreted
his letter"
Now. isn't it true that the rates now
In existence allow YOU to get to market
on the same terms as your competi-
tors" asked Mr. Thorn
Yes. but the Southern immediately
after the Andys Ridge case began to
give their patronage of fuel coal TO
them to run their mines continuously
while we cannot do So
Does the Southern pay an exorbi-
tant price for its coal?"
am not able to testify on that
point"
Were not operators in your district
given an opportunity to bid on the
Southerns field coal?
Not that / am aware orr
SUBJECTED TO RIGID
CROss-EXAaIINATIO
Counsel for the Southern hallway
oHpJt'ttN .tiI. buliIct 10 q rigid cross
examination as TO his recent testi-
mony before Il Senate committee that
the Southern had been used by the
Morgan interests to prevent indcpnn-
dent coal from competing with trust
owned coal.
Was the object OF the Southern in
spending millions to Improve the Vir-
sinia Southwestern and shorten its
length sixty miles to prevent the coal
along the route getting to MARKET"
queried Attorney Thorn. for the
Southern.
Tho rate on coal has not been re-
duced since the cutoff was made"
replied Mr.. Dulaney.
In response to a question by Senator
William Alden Smith, a member of the
committee, the witness said he would
class this Improvement as harmful be.
cause cheaper rates had not resulted
Mr.. Thorn asked Mr.. Dulaney If the
Southern. since purchasing the Vir-
Sinia and Southwestern. had not built
twenty-thrce miles of track at n cost
OF Sl,000.000 10 reach his mining on
erations In the Black Mountains
Yes, but the mystery is that after
all that expenditure, the rates have
not been reduced. replied the witness
WILL. CALL OTHER
WITNESSES TO PROVE; TT
Mr.. Thorn asked IL the Southern did
not now go to the mines. whereas for
merly the Norfolk and Western re-
CURED Dulaney TO deliver his coal at
Pocket. several miles from the mines
Mr.. Dulaney refused to agree with
this premise, and the attsrney said
CONTINUED on Second Page)