Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-10-01
VIRGINIA REOPENs RATE
BATTLE WITH CAROLINA
Interstate Commerce Commission
Asked tn Set Aside Recent
Adjustment Order.
FAvORs TARHEEL SHIPPERS
Manghum Declares Old Dominion
Entitled to Advantages of Local
tion and Water Facilities Not
: Possessed by Other State.
(snecial 10 ala Times .plspatch.l


Especial to The Times -Dispa;ch.)
WASHINGTON. Sept. so. Tho
long standing freight rate feud be-
tween Virginia and North Carolina
again came before the Interstate
Commerce Commission today. and the
atlantic Coast Line and more than
two score other carriers asked for
rcorsning Of the case and 2 set,
tins aside OF the recent adjustment
order Of the commission. For several
hours attorneys FOR the carriers, the
Corporations Commissions OF Nir-
gin!a and North Carolina, and ship
pers' associations. bombardcd the
Commerce Commission with columns
OF figures. freight diiferentials.
mi!eaS, statistics, class and com
modify rates and other data confus-
ing TO the lay minds.
THE Interstate Commerce Commits
sion probably viii not announce for
several weeks its decision regarding
rcopening of the case. which re-
suited several months ago favorable
10 North Carolina points in that :;
removed the preferential rates OF the
Virginia Eateways.
Have Complained for Years.
For years North Carolina shippers
complained that the Virginia cities
could ship into tho entire southeast
crn territory ut freight rates the
same as North Carolina points al
> though the latter points werc much
i. nearer destinations in South Caro-
lima, Georgia and other southeastern
regions. Substantially similar COM
plants were made against Northern
difcrentials. The Virginia cities
claimed they were entitled to the ad-
vantages OF their natural location
and rail and water facilities. not pos
scssed by North Carolina 20 Wash
inSton.
rnc alleged Determinations in
IL vor of Virginia were declared 20
: nave existed for more than forty
: years, and the carriers were accused
of opposing any change in the old
arrangements In effect, the COM
missions order on which a rchcarinE
!. Is now sought eQualized freight rates
bctwccu Virginia and North Carolina
points on shipments southeast and
10 the North by establishment Of Il
mileage basis o.. computation which |
put North Carolina towns on n parity
with Richmond and Norfolk and other
Virginia cities.
Mapghum Argues for Virginia.
Arguing against such IN adjust
. ncnt today, Mason Manghum, COM |
merce attorney for the Corporation |
Commission OF Virginia, contended ,
that VirEint1 has her rates on ac-
count OF her natural advantages and |
locations. The Carolinas have higher
rates 5ccansc their cities arc at 4
al sadrantage. BIT. ManEhum ineisted |
that water and trunk line conncc-
jions entitled Virginia to its dr. |
Tcrentials. The commission, he said !
could not force Northern read |
juStmcnt because \ line has recently |
been established between Richmond |
and New York and Nontolk and New !
York, and n distribution OF railroad |
rates will shift the freight 10 the |
boat lines, which are no; under juris- |
dictions OF the commission, since they !
.fdo = port business.
The rail carriers cannot cont roi ,
traffic from New York TO Virginia !
points while these Independent boat
lines exist. ne said. and they arc GO
ing to continue operation. They are
rnalring money and arc backed by
local business In Richmond and Nor
folk
c. J. Rixcy. Jr-, and Henry Thur
tall. attorneys for the carriers, de-
clared that tho regroupinE OF The
cities IN North Carolina and vir-
ginia by the conn!ss!oh bad Produced
many inequalities and was along un-
scientiGc lines. Discrimination
against certain cities. they declared,
in favor Of others. the mileage basis
works 20 the advantage or dlsadvan-
taEe o: ! shipper according 20 the
group in which ne :ell. since arhi,ra-
~ lines were inevitable ~ grouping
arrangements.
Edgar T. Watkins. OF Atlanta. and
J. II F!shnnck. OF Washington. rep
rescntins the North Carolina Corpo-
ration Commission and Tarhe.l ship
pers, said while ID was true Unequal
tiles would be found here and there,
eince the commissions order wan
not claimed TO 90 sne idea! arrange
ment The general cCec; was 10 re-
move DETERMINATIONS which have
stood IN favor Of Virginia for years.
The old arran Semerts and rates, SAID
Mr. Watkins, simply showed dis
regard Q. a d..tance Of 2l9 mileg,
North Carolina merely asks that
Eou recognize them. Existing in
equalities are not com parable 10 dis.
crimina'io"s Of long standing. which
were removed ~ the commission's
order"