The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-03-24
YONG AND SHORT
HAUL LORE
ExpOunded in Width and Length at
the Rate Meeting Yesterday
Afternoon

At Monday afternoon session Mr..
Capps, of the Seaboard, again took
the stand On being asked whether
a road had the right to change its
rates from the one prescribed by the
that body, Mr.. Capps said that he
thought they had, provided it was
necessary at competitive water
points.
Mr. Spencer contended that the
law does not remove the ruling of
the commission to the effect that no
rate can be raised by carrier with
out application to that body. He
cited cases before the interstate COM
mission in which they had compelled
a uniform rate to certain Michigan
: points from New Orleans when it
was shown that more distant point
had the lowest rate.
Mr.. Spencer contends that rail-
roads cannot raise rates to Tampa
except by consent of the commission.
but may reduce it to intermediate
points to conform to the rate charged
to Tampa.
Mr.. Capps said that his road could
haul grain from Jacksonville to
Tampa at IL cents per hundred at a
profit, but that they could not scale
all their rates on the same basis and
pay operating expenses, let alone in
terest upon the investment.
When asked why the Seaboard ac-
cepted fresh meats for shipment
to Tampa at less rate than they
charged Ocala, when they do not
claim any water competition between
the two first named cities, Mr.. Capps
said that he had no explanation to
offer in justification of such rate.
Mr.. Capps took this occasion to
state that the railroads were not ask
ing relief from the rates prescribed
on meat. grain, etc, but on cement
and other supplies Of like nature,
four items being specifically men
toned.
NIf. Taylor Of Gainesville, ask
Il why the railroads charged more
for shipments OF stoves AMI other
hollow-ware from Jacksonville 10
Tampa than they did from Jackson
Vile to Ccaia though there was no
water competition between the two
cities. Mr. Capps gave no reason for
this.
Mr.. S. l.. Light asked Mr.. Capps
what percentage of business the
road would lose If the short haul
rates were made to apply at once, to
which he replied that he could not
state without going into detailed
figures with the several departments
of the road.
Edwin Spencer's Cross-Exanlination
Mr.. Spencer cross-examined Mr..
Capps, and made many telling points.
Mr.. Spencer first brought out that
there was no boat line competing
with the Seaboard between Jackson
Vile and Tampa. He then took up
the question of grain, and Mr.. Capps
testified that great deal of the grain
into Tampa came by boat from Phil
adelphia, and that a rate of IL cents
per hundred pounds was made by the
boat line, and that the Seaboard was
forced to make the same rate from
Philadelphia into Tampa in order to
compete. 1t was brought out here
that the rate on grain from Jackson
Vile to Ocala was fifteen cents pei
hundred pounds. and from Philadel-
phia to Tampa it was twelve cents
= per hundred pounds.
At this point Mr.. 2. A. Weathers
asked Mr.. Capps if the Seaboard
made a profit by hauling grain from
Philadelphia to Tampa for twelve
cents, to which question Mr.. Capps
answered yes. Mr.. Weathers ther