The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-10-14
FREIGHT RATE
HEARING
Interstate Commerce Com
mission Hears Many Con-
flicting Statements

- tAsheville. y. c.. Oct. 11.-Speclhc
proposals on which rates from Gem
Itral Freight association and Buffa-
10 Pittsburgh territory to North
Carolina should. be- revised, re-
.fecting outstanding reductions in
present, rates, will. be presented
before. the close oftthe present III
terstate commerce commission class
rate $. investigation, according to
members Of the. North Carolina
corporation commission and are IN
their. opinion justified.
Although carriers. represent that
rates. TO, the entire. Southeast will
lie lower than existing combination
under proposals made. rates from
thcs3Cenfral Freight association,
Cincinnati. and Pittsburgh to points
ii North Carolina will exceed COM
i'binatien Of local rates on Virginia
!! gateHays. which are much lower
,han Via circu:tous routes. accord
ing to testimony introduced by
II. G. Wo1nblc. representing the
North Carolina commission at the
i-reorcning OF the hearing here to-
day
The corporation commission be-
gan its testimony this afternoon
and launched the fight to have
| rates to North Carolina cities made
with relation to the; level of rates
applying over trunk lines to Nir-
! ginia. cities, rather than on higher
levels oyer Southeastern lines. =
a. J. Maxwell, member OF the
corporation commission, is acting
as, examiner for the North Caro-
lima body and testimony is beins
Introduced 10y Mr.. Womble. +. E,
Clark. Washington attorney, who
! is here to represent the legal end
!: Of the testimony of the state, was
present when the hearings recon
vened
1t is apparent from the testi-
mony. Of the corporation commits
sion, which shows that from 50 to
80 per cent. of the hauls into
North Carolina are in central
freight territory. against about 10
per cent in~ the Southeastern ter
r;tory. it is stated yy those repre-
isanting the commission that North
Carolina rates should only be re-
vised with relation to the level OF
rates of these trunk lines to Nir-
ginia city gateways.
| An exhibit. Of tie corporation
commission. which shows an extract
Of a letter dated June Is, 1922
signed by vice presidents oe, the
]; Atlantic Coast Line. Southern rail
way. Carolina, Clinchfield & Ohio
/ Norfolk Southern and Norfolk &
Western railways. cities ia refer
ence to proposed rates, 'the rates
90 not. reflect the policy or iuit!a-
| tive of any carrier or set of car
/; riers, they. are submitted FOR re
view., and determination by the in
! terstate commerce commission ,,n-
der compulsion Of existing law.
!; In answer to a. question asked by
Mr.. Maxwell. Mr.. Womhle assert
! ed that the rates proposed by the
/; carriers are not. justified and from,
| Cincinnati and Louisville would In
!! crease rates to Zone. L in North
] Carolina 39.7 per cent, and 49.l
/ per cent. to the eastern end OF The
: zone, using as a basis rates OF 1914
] plus unfornl increases granted b!
!! the interstate commerce commits
i sion
! Quoting from briefs filed by
Carolina RAILWAY lines February I
! 1916. in support Of. fourth section
applications. emphasizing the con-
trolling Influence CT trunk line rates
T! 20 Virginia cities o., " estera ratcs
! to North Carolina points, Nj
! Womble read:
While the Carolina lines h;ivs
! absolute control over the adjus,
i ment of rates from the West &c
Virginia cities. this adjustment, OK
J ips 10 the extreme low level ri
rates or proportion of rates ac-
I cepted by the trunk lines from tht
Ohio river and points in Gentra
Freight association TERRITORY IL
Virginia cities exercises an Also
lutely controlling and dominating
influence upon the rates to the 'leas-
. sii,:,i.nn territory here nnd"r coz
;tle,stiio3,