Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-27
Southern Soon to Lower Its
Charge on Freights From
Washington.
STATEMENT BY COUNSEL
DURING |. C. C.. HEARING
Attorney for Retail Merchants
Moves to Strike Proposition From
Reconciliation Denied.

General reduction of freight rates out
of Washington over the Southern rail-
way will be made as soon as the tariff
sheets can be prepared and filed with the
interstate commerce comm Ssion. Notice
To this effect was served yesterday, at
the hearing which has been conducted
on the cases of Washington merchants
complaining of high freight rates, by
NJ. z. Galloway. counsel for the South
ern railway. 1t came when Mr.. Gallo
way obtained permission to make
statement, and then outlined the pro-
posed rates
The effect of the reduction it was ex-
planned. is to place Washington in pract-
cally the same rate position as Alexan-
dria so far as traffic to the south is con-
ccrncd and this was one of the principal
complaints of the local merchants. From
Washington the reduction will amount
to T. cents on first-class freight 10 cents
on second. cents on third cents on
fourth, cents on fifth and ) cents Oh
sixth So far as the combination rate
into and out of Alexandria is concerned,
Washington will have rates lower than
Alexandria. as much as cents in the
first class.
Speaks for Other Lines.
In this proceeding" said Mr. Gallo
way. Il have appeared for the Seaboard
Air Line. the Atlantic Coast Line. and
the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Poto-
mae. as well as the Southern railway. In
making the foregoing statement l am
speaking strictly by authority and on
behalf of the Southern railway. I am
authorized to say on behalf of the Rich
mond. Fredericksburg and Potomac and
the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. that it will, sub
JCct to the consent OF its Richmond con-
nections. apply rates on the same basis.
1 am not authorized to say what the
other defendants not reaching Washing
ton or Alexandria will do with regard
to meeting these rates proposed by the
Southern railway, but they will. l take it,
meet these rates
1t is most sincerely hoped that this
action Will be appreciated by the Wash
inSton public. and that it may result in
developing new business. 1t has not been
the experience of these lines that reduc-
tlon III rates affect. to any appreciate
extent. the volume of business. 1t is sin
cerely hoped that this will be the excep-
ton otherwise these reductions will re-
Slilt>ln a loss to the carriers
The SouthernS counsel also said that
The same basis of reductions will be ap-
piled to local points on the Southern
railway. and to Danvifle, Va. and sta
tons south of Danvile 1t will also ap-
ply to stations between Norfolk and Dan
VILE, and between Richmond and Dan
vile, but this proposed basis will not be
applied to points between Norfolk and
RIchmond and Danville, because the rail-
and-water rates to those excepted points
are predicated on the all-water rates into
Norfolk and Richmond and the short rail
maui out, and are entirely too low he
continued. to be considered as a basis
for all-rail rates from Washington.
Final ANALYSIS.
The rates involved in these COM
plants, generally speakinga are to points
south of and including Danville, Va, and
south of Petersburg, Va" he said. I'm
its final analysis the complaint against
the southern lines is that Washington.
In some instances. has higher rates to
the south than Baltimore has, and is I'M
able to ship into Washington and out to
the tarolinas on an equality of rates
with Richmond The proposed new rates
are calculated to remedy this condition
also.
1T should be said in conclusion" he
said. that there has never been any
complaint, SO far as these defendants
know. of the existing rates out of
Washington to the south. 1t has not
been thought by the southern lines,
and certainly has not been represented
to them, that the Washington shippers
were losing business or that the car
ficIS out OF washington were losing
business on account of existing rates"
The major part of Mr.. Calloway's
statement was devoted to an explana-
ton OF the conditions considered in
making rates to the south. He pointed
cut the water competition from Balti-
more. Philadelphia and New York,
which must be met, and declared that
the Southern railway does not have
tracks into Washington, but uses the
rails of other roads from Alexandria,
which he declared was expensive even
for a short distance.
He declared that it always has been
the belief that rates to the south from
Washington were low as they now
stand.
Moves to Strike From Record.
When Mr. Galloway concluded his
statement, Attorney Rosenberg, repre-
senting the retail merchants arose and
moved that the entire statement be
stricken from the record. declaring that
it partook of the nature of an argu-
ment and contained numerous con-
illusions of law and of fact.
This Examiner Pugh refused to or
der, declaring that it was d proposition
submitted by the, road. and perfectly
proper TO be in the record.
L thought the gentlemen would be de-
lighted with the proposition" said Mr..
Galloway. Il am disappointed
by Examiner fCSn, Mr.. Cal
loway declared that the new tariffs would
be put into effect as soon as they could
be prepared and filed with the interstate
commerce commission.
John l.. Newbold, president of the Mer-
chants Transfer and Storage Company,
was recalled to the stand yesterday to
testify as to the volume of traffic COM
ing into Washington by water lie eX-
planned that after September l last, when
the railroads withdrew the storedoor de-
livery practice, there was noticeable in
crease IN the amount of freight coming
10 Washington by water. He said, how
e|er. that since January l last he had no
figures. but declared there had been a
general falling of in the amount of
freight coming to Washington by all
means OF transportation.
Harry King of Kings Palace testified
that he had been put to extra expense by
the withdrawal of free delivery. but could
give no figures. He declared that he had
found 1t !mpracticable to use the water
transportation for his business
Counsel for the cornpIainants were al
ed until april II to file their briefs