Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1914-08-20
FREIGHT RATES REDUCED.
Reduction. the Result Of Long Fight
Against Discriminatory Rates.

Against Discriminatory Rates..
Raleigh, Aug. 12.-An average re-
duction of about eighteen per Gems
from the intrastate freight rates now
in force in this state is what the spec
iai interstate freight rate commission
declares for in it's final report sub
mitted to Governor Craig and made
public by him today. This is compar-
ed with an average reduction of about
thirty-three per cent that was provid-
ed in the Justice act from the rates
now in force.
Along with the report and as part
of it's detailed schedule of the rates
that the commission decides to be
fair and constitutes the eighteen per
cent reduction from the present rates.
1t gives the rates by classes and is
to be promulgated by the corporation
commission as soon as certified to thai
commission by the governor. The
rates become effective after sixty days
if the railroad companies decide not to
further resist reductions from the
present rates.
The special commission made the
principal cuts on the long hauls
through the state on basis of lesser
operating expenses. The changes in
the rates are based on the present main
line rates of the Southern Railroad
company and the special commission
specifies that there shall be no long
er the application of the extra rs per
cent charges on freight originating on
the mountain divisions of the Southern
that have been in force for number
CT years and have given rise to much
litigation during the past year or two,
Involving shippers throughout Pied
mont as well as Western North Caro-
lima.
Governors Statement.
Governor Craig gave out a state
nent relative to the report in WHICH
he says: 'The report of the COM
mission is the result of diligent, pa
tient and exhaustive work.
The committee, appointed by me,
is composed of three of the leading
nIen of North Carolina. They have no
superiors The ability and character
of each of the commissioners COM
mands the highest respect and abso-
lutte confidence of all. I believe that
the people of the state with practical
Unanimity will accept the judgment
sonable solution and settlement of a
difficult question that has for many
years vexed the people of North Car
DINA. Those who differ with the
commission will readily coneede that
the report has been made in the spirit
Of justice and of the best service to the
people
''The scheuIe adopted will make d
substantial reduction in intrastate
freight rates 1t does not make as
much as was made by the Justice bill
but it does give relief in those places
where the relief is most NEEDED. 1t
gives relief to the lumbermen of North
Carolina as well as to farmers and
men engaged in other industries. 1t
will enable the eastern part Of the state
tc trade with the western part of the
state. In fact it changes the situation
that has heretofore existed and enables
Our people to trade with each other for
their mutual welfare. 1t will operate,
III my opinion, to the tremndous adj
vantage of all the people of the state.
Cur industries will feel the effect of it
and will manifest itself in the devel-
opment of enterprise"
The Justice freight rate bill was
PASSED by the general assembly. of the
State at its last meeting, following a
NHg campaign for more equitable rates
IN which Governor Craig took an ac-
1--WE part, pledging himself to use his
Dest efforts in behalf of the movement
looking the reduction of the freight