Evening star., 1914-07-28
HARRISON DENIES /.
RATE FIXING PLAN ,
President of Southern Railway
a Witness at Senate Coal
Inquiry.
ADMITS ROAD is OWNED
LARGELY BY NORTHERNERS
Directors Hold Only a Fraction Of
One Per Cent of the Capt.
tai Stock.

fresldent FAIRFAX Harrison OF the
Southern railway denied absolutely be-
fore the Senate committee investigating
alleged determinations in the matter OF
coal freight rates that representatives'
OF the Southern railway. the Chesapeake
and Ohio. the Norfolk and Western. and
other roads met to fix rates on coal and
other commodities. or to reach an under<
standing regarding such freight rates.
He was undergoing cross-exauiination
by Charles A. Douglas. counsel for B. F.
Dulaney. the Bristol, Tenn, coal operator
who has charged that there is discriniina-
ton in the matter OF coal freight rates
against the south Atlantic ports
Not to Fix Rates.
Mr. Harrison admitted that meetings,
Of the railroads representatives were
held to confer about railroad mattersS'
that various roads announced their
rates on commodities for certain dis
tances but he insisted there was no
fixing Of rates.
mo railroad today can make a rat9s
for ITSELF except on business local ID
the road ITSELF said Mf. Harrison. ex-
planning the reason for holding such
over more than one line. the charges
must be adjusted"
Mr.. Douglas read from the minutes
of a meeting OF representatives OF
Southern, which Mr.. Harrison is said
to have attended in 1909 In New York.
while he was a vice president of the
Southern.
Makes Positive Denial.
What did you do at this meeting~
asked Mr.. Douglas?. Was it not for
the purpose Of fixing rates.
Mr. Harrison denied that this was the
case. but said that he had no recollec-
ton Of the purpose for which the par
ticular meeting was held.
do you not know that there exists
today an arrangement between various
| roads by which an understanding Is
made regarding rates?" asked Mr..
Douglas.
Il know that is not So" replied Mr..
Harrison He said that II such were
the case I'VE would long ago have been :
prosecuted under the Sherman anti
Not Owned in South.
Mr. Douglas drew from Mr. Harrison
| the statement that only q very small
percentage of the stock OF the Southern
railway is held by its board OF directors
a fraction of ] per cent-that nearly ALL
of the members OF the board had for
many years been New Workers or from
| the north, although the presidents OF
| the Southern had been southern men.
1t was shown. too. that only about .
per cent Of the securities OF the South
ern are held IN the south.
At the conclusion Of the examination
of Mr.. Harrison the committee adjourn
| ed until November 13.
Urged Charleston Terminal.
n,,.,.- x,,> h>a -so~ Y>stsraov sft~rnoou
| Mr.. Harrison said the ooai operators
along the Virginia and Southwestern
| some time ago began to press FOR the
opening of a coal terminal ut Charles
ton.
I'VE were in financial trouble and We
were never convinced that the traaic
would justify the facilities to provide for
moving a paying quantity OF trafnc or to
provide for Charleston terminals" said
he.
He showed the distance from Appala-
chia to Charleston was 40 miles. while
the Chesapeake and Ohio had q haul OF
only 3s1 miles from the coal assembling
point of Thurmond, W. Va, to Newport
News, and the Norfolk and Western $40
miles to tidewater. He presented hg-
ures to show the rival lines had more
suitable grades from their coal fields.
He said they had been compelled to spe-
cialize on coal ttaffic, while the Southern
had not been able to so specialize with
out injury to other traffic In the south.
Will Cost Millions, He Says.
1T is only when it can be shown that
Appalachian coal can compete with the
coal along the other roads that II will
DAY us to Improve the road to Charles
ton," said President Harrison. Our en-
sineers have estimated it will cost $1l.-
100000 to put the road in shape to
Charleston and to build a suitable ter
minal there"
"Mr. Thorn told us you were going to
build a terminal at Charleston broke
In Senator Tillman. Are you?
Yes"
THE people at Charleston are elated
over the announcement. but since the
Clinchfield road has started to build ter.
mif,als there, 1 don't believe the Souths
ern will build there, too." insisted Sens
ator Tillman.
Promises One Unit.
"I can pledge you my word that we wip
build one unit" replied President Harrss
son.
What do you mean by one unit?'
"A unit is enough to take care of onS
ship, and enough to test the practicable
ity of Charleston as a coal terminal"
Mr. Harrison added that he had done
everything in his power to procure q
Joint terminal In Charleston. but that
shippers along the Southern had protest.
ed that they would not ship over q ter
Clinchfleld railroad because Of fits inter-
psf I'm coal lands.