The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-14
A gre EN- ent Between
State and Railroads Is
Approved by I. G. c..
MAY BE IN FORCE
WITHIN 60 d A Y S
Objections Made by Attorneys of
Several Virginia Cities, Who
Sought Proportional Reduc-
ton, Overruled-Changc
Is Result of Ten
Years Agitation.
Lsp.eiel to The .r,rc..Dlspa,ch

Washington, March 1.-THE Virginia
cities lost their hard light TO Intervene
IN the North Carolina frc..ht rate re-
duction case today Tho interstate
Commerce Commission granted author
ity to tho railroads travcrsing North
Carolina TO put into effect the schedule
Uf reduced rates between ohio River
crossings ana North Carolina which
were agreed to between the North Car
ulina State authorities and the officials
OF tho railroads. The reductions approx
tratr 10 per cent from Wcstcrr. points
I" practically every station In North
Carolina. and abolish tho SO called ;,d-
vantage Virginia cities have enjoyed
over North Carolina cities In tho wa
Of rates from the West officials Of
the railroads concerncd--thc Southern
Seahohrd Air Line. Atlantic Coast Line
chesapeake and ohio and Norfolk and
Westcrn-dcclared to-day that they
hoped to be able 10 have the proposed
reduced rates in operation within sixty
dayF
Virginia Citic. Lose.
In allowing the railroads to put the
reduced rates IN effect, tho commission
overruled the objections made by attor-
neyr for iii" shippers Of Richmond
Eoanoke. Petersburg nnd Norfolk. and
the Virginia State Corporation Co,nrris-
sion, represented by Attorn.ys-GencraI
Samuel w Williams and John GarlanI
Pollard. who declared that the rail-
roads should not be allowed To reduce
rates TO North Carolina from the Yves,
without granting proportional rcduc-
lions 10 Virginia from the West be
cause Il would disturb the whole rate
relationship OF the South Atlantic
States and would work a hardship on
Virginia shippers.
Attorncy-Gcncral Pollard in his ar
Eurntnt before the commission several
weeks ago also declared hat the au-
vantage hitherto possessed by the Nir-
ginta cities was AN advantage to which
they were entitled by rcason OF their
location on strong lines OF railroads en-
joying It high traffic density
In addition to tho declarations OF tho
virginia attorneys. II was stated here
to-day by experts in such matters that
the new tariff viii have the eject OF
throwing Virginia merchants out OF tho
North Carolina market In those classes
of business which arc controlled by
freight rates. No pcrccptahlc innu
"ncc Will be felt by the Virginia jon
hers who handle goods sold by brands.
Affect. Nearly Whole State.
The 10 per cent reduction applies
10 about 200 stations in North Caro-
lima, including most OF the larger cities
In that State, such as Charlotte, Colds
boro, Raleigh, Salisbury and States
VILE: greater than 10 per cent reduc-
ticns apply 10 120 stations. and less
reductions arc made 20 $50 stations.
The proposed reductions are the re-
cult OF ten years agitation on the part
OF the North Carolina authorities for
the removal OF the alleged discrimina-
ton. There were numerous confer
rnces between the North Carolina Cor
poration Commission and the railroad
officials, which failed to reach any
agreement. feeding the bitter State
wide sentiment against the railroads,
Governor Craig called special session
OF the Legislature last fall to con-
slider means OF bringing the railroads
to terms. While the Legislature was
considering drastic action, the Cor
poration Commission and tile railroad
officials reached an agreement along
the line OF the proposed rates. and the
railroads asked the Interstate Com
mere Commission for authority 10 nut
them In effect. This authority was
granted to-day. G. II. NJ.