Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-01
RAILROAD OPPOSES
COAL RATE BOOST
Wjruinian Asks |. c. c. to Sus.
pend Schedules Ordered
for Capital.

An "unwillingness" to charge higher
rate on Southern hituminous coal
brought into Washington has actuated
the Virginia Railway TO file an answer
with the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion In which IL joins With the United
States Government in petitioning that
the proposed increase freight rate to
SS.fS per gross ton after August 10 be
suspended, ii was announced today.
Petitions asking for a suspension Of
the 1913 rate. which represents an in
crease Of % cents per gross ton. were
fled for the Government by w. H.
Quigg, acting co-ordinator of trafic. BY
a group Of local trade organizations and
by the New River operators. Three
members Of tho Interstate Commerce
Commission who specialize in suspen-
sionS. have begun a study Of the pc
titions and are expected TO announce
their decision in A few DAYS They are
Commissioners Johnston B. Campbell.
Frank McAfananly and Ezra Brainerd. ir.
Would Cost L. S. $4,000
While the Government requested that
q new hearing be held by the commits
sion to determine a reasonable rate,
the Vireinian Railway, one Of the three
roads involved did not Join in this
plea The Virginian Railway. however.
made ii plain that it was compelled to
publish the higher tariffs "unwillingly"
and desired suspension of the rate in
order to save its coal shipments to
washington. The increase to the ship
rsrs, this road says. would actually be
a. cents.
The 1913 rate. which would suppisnt
a rate Of s2S4. viii so into effect
August 10. unless the commission sus-
psncs II. Based on the amount of
cosl purchased from the Southern
fields by the Government for use IN
Washington the Government stands
70 gain or lose approximately $4,000
hy the Forthcoming decision Of the
commission.
There was desire and willingness
on ;ha part Of the Virginian Railway,
that oompany's answer stated, ito Join
IS connection in removing said preJGd-
&c by establishing rates to Relee and
Tcsslyn. Va ard to points of delivery
reducing the rate from the mines Tn
its lines 10 S2S4 per ton of a.249
pounds; that is to say, to reducing 1t to
the same rate as applies TO delivery
points on The Pennsylvania Railroad.
The principal non-coIcurring line to
this manner CT complying with the
commissions order was the Baltimore
&. Ohio Railroad and ths non-con-
su-rsnce of that line compelled the vir-
Eirlia RAILWAY and the other southern
Tines to ADOPT the other alternative of
Increasing the rate to delivery points
~ the PENNSYLVANIA Railroad to rhs
higher rate of s313 per ton of 2,240
pcun6s applicable to points of delivery
on tbs s. Il Q.
The rate Of 3i3 was published and
duly filed with the commission It is
thiE tariff thst the New River Opera
tcrs' Association and others are petit
ttoning the commission to suspend.
Advers. Effect Feared.
"As above indicated the increased
rate Of s3l3 was unwiilingly published
by the yirginian Railway The belief
then was and is. that this rate viii
hare an undue adverse effect on the
business Of the coal shippers in the
New River district. and which effect
viii be reflected In the business OF the
TaTginian Railway.
The increase Of 20 cents per ton In
rate Of New River district added to the
decrease of 13 cents per ton ordered by
the commission docket l5006. in the
rate from the northern districts. makes
o total difference of az cents per ton
against the southern coal
This is substantial difference. con-
Steering the fact that for years the
Northern districts and the New River
district have been on a rate parity. so