Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-10
TRANSPORTATION LINES
FIND SHARP OPPOSITION
Opposition to Increased
Freight Rates.
HEARING Will BE PROLONGED
Railway Men Surprised TO See Vigor-
GUS Alignment Of Opposing Forces
on State Issue, After Interstate
Matter Had Been Settled.

Expecting little or no opposition to
/ their application for an increase of D
per cent OH intrastate freight rates. the
representatives of sixteen transporta-
ton companies operating in Virginia
were taken by surprise yesterday morn
ing at the determined fight inaugurat-
ed by commercial bodies before the
state Corporation Commission. 1t had
been thought that the case would be
submitted on its merits. but the protest
ants indicated ut the beginning OF the
hearing that they would produce eN
pert witnesses to show that an in
crease was not necessary. or warranted
by the facts. The first witness was on
the stand the entire session. and 1t is
probable that the hearing will he pro-
I longed over several days.
Sixteen roads in December filed an
application for an increase in rates on
interstate shipments. to meet the raise
given on Interstate shipments by the
Interstate, Commerce Commission to
companies in the Eastern classification.
On the date rcturnablc. the petitioners
submitted their data. and the State
Corporation Commission named yester-
day for the formal hearing. 1t was
believed that the hearing would be n
mere formality, and the tactics adopted
by the protestants caused considera b q
surprise to the court. and to the large
number OF railroad men present
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.
FIGHT RATE INCREASE
Attorneys Francis II. James and E.
L. Williamson. of Washington. are rep
resenting the Chambers of Commerce
of Richmond. Norfolk, Petersburg and
Alexandria, and the Norfolk Produce
Exchange. Westmoreland Davis. presi-
dent of the Virginia State Farmers In
stitute, appeared on behalf of his or
ganization, and protested against an in
crease on interstate rates, taking as his
stand that II was unreasonable for the
railroads to unite in asking for parallel
advances when conditions in the parts
of the State in which they operate are
at such a variance.
MIR. Williamson. who is an expert on
traffic matters, was the first and only
witness examined yesterday lie went
on the stand shortly after the hearing
started. and was on when the adjourn
ment was made. He will be cross-eX-
amined this morning when the hearing
Is resumed. Henry Taylor, OF the Ches-
apeake and Ohio Railway Company.
handled the case for the petitioners
The transportation companies which
have filed their applications for the in
crease with the State Corporation Com
mission on request OF the Atlantic
Coast Line. are Baltimore and Ohio,
Chesapeake Steamship Company. Ches-
apcake Western Railway, Cumberland
Valley Railroad. New York. Philadel-
phia and Norfolk. Norfolk and Western.
Norfolk Southern Railroad. Old Donin-
ion steamship Line. Richmond, Fred
ericksburg and Potomac Railroad, Sea-
board Air Line. Southern Railway, Vir-
ginian Railway. Washington and Old
Dominion Railway. Washington South
ern Railway.
II is believed that all OF the smaller
roads in the State will unite I'm the
petition.