Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-07
STEAMSHIP POCAHONTAS
AGAIN TO Be WITHDRAWN
Virginia Navigation Company Will
Abandon Day Line Service on
James River.
GARRETT FILES PROTEST
Tells Agent Action Is Illegal, and
That Commission Will Proceed to
Force Company to Comply With
Its Charter.

The Virginia Navigation Company
yesterday notified the state Corpora
ton Commission that freight rates for
the steamer Poc;,hontas. which gives
Il tri-v cekly day service down the
lanes River. between Richmond and
Norfolk. would be Cancelled after next
Friday. No letter Of explanation ac-
comranicd the notice. nor did the com
pany petition the commission for au-
thority to act.
Chairman Christopher p. Garnet has
advised Lewis Wake. general freight
gent of the Virginia Navigation Com
pany. that such action Is Illegal. vio-
latinE. not only the obligations inn
posed under it's charter, but the Con
stitution and the statute laws Of \ir
ginia, and that the commission viii
proceed to force the company to com
ply with its charter and the laws OF
the Commonwealth.
The PocahontaS furnishes the only
DAY service obtained by local wharvcS
along the river and practically all ;hc
service received at any time. the nigh
steamers stopping only az two land
inEs between Richmond and Newport
News. According TO the 1916 report
of Captain 5. +. Humphrey. United
states engineer in charge OF river and
harboT Improvement in the Norfolk
district there Was loaded at these
Vharvcs during that year l5a.305 tons
of freight with q value OF Si.T64.0 4:.
DAY SERVICE DISCONTINUED
AND RESTORED IN SPRING
Day service by the Virginia Naviea-
ton Company was discontinued for a
while several weeks ago. the company
giving notice 10 the effect that two OF
It's steamers had been drafted in,o III.
service of the United States Rcstora-
ton Of service at that time was ob-
tanned only after AN official order had
been issued by secretary of the Navy
Daniels II was stated that the boats
had been rented TO the government at
a profitable hsure, but had not been
icquiSitioncd
Mr., Garnctrs letter to Mr. Wake
reads as follows:
Lewis Wake. General Freight Agent.
Virginia Navigation Company,
i'cr -. y. r.. New York. ~ y
Dear Sir.-lhe commission is in re-
cent OF your supplements. rcaC!ns
effective July IL. 1917" 10 the freight
lhiihs ana circulars applying TO and
from points on the Jane. River in
Guiding Norfolk. without any letter OF
explanation or application TO the com
mission for authc Gritty for such cancel
iationS.
As a public service corporation your
duty TO the puPlic Is to operate your
line of steamers. and the lar requires
mat You keep posted your tarirs for
the information of the public The
commission does aot allow nor APPROX,
OF the aforesaid cancellations. ANY
such cancellations by your company is
an illegal act ana IN violation Of m.
obligations of your company under lis
charter as public service corporation
ana also violation OF the Coustitu-
iion acd OF the statutes OF the State of
Virginia.
Under the terms of section 10 of the
act putting into effective opcra1ion INC
provisions of the Constitution rcla ting
10 tho appointment and organization Of
the state Corporation Commission its
jurisdiction, powers. functions, etc
tsection i&l3a. Virginia Code, 1908.
clause l?D. IL Is provided that whenever
in the judgment OF the commission i,
snail appear that any transportation
or transmission company has violated
any Ia" OF this state, or has neglected
IN any respect or particular 10 comply
with tho terms Of its charter or win
me provisions Of any OF tho laws OF.
me commonwealth. il shall give notice
thereof in writing to such coirpanv
or me person operating the Same and
II the violation or neglect he continued
alter "uGh motto" the commission shall
ak" Such proceedings and impose such
ines ana penalties as shall be neces-
SafE TO compel such company to com
me PROVISIONS Of the laws of the apm.
monwcaith
The cancellation by your COMPANY
OF its freight tariffs and circulars an
PLYING 10 and from points on the James
dver' including Norfolk. is not author
i2ed by any st.'utc. bu, is an act CON
trasy I" tho terms Of the Constitution
statutes and laws Of the stat. OF Wy
eihia. Therefore, il Will he necessary
Tor the state Corporation Commission
|" give notice TO your company under
'ne provisions Of the aforesaid statute
"t thiS violation of the law nd to take
such proceedings and impose such fines
ana penalties as VIII be necessary TO
compel your company to comply with
the terms Of its charter and the pro
visions OF the laws of the Common
wealth.
Very truly yours,
G. r. GAREETT
Chairman