A copy of this letter was forwarded to complainant, and the following reply was received : SPRINGFIELD, KY., September 21, 1895. D. C. HARDIN, Seeretary Railroad Commission, Frankfort, Kentucky: DEAR SIR: Your letter of 20th, enclosing copy of Mr. S. R. Knott's answer to my complaint in regard to tobacco rate from Springfield, Kentucky, to Louisville, Kentucky, has been received. I still insist that, aside from the question of discrimination, my complaint is well taken, and that the rate of 20 cents per hundred for transporting tobacco 59 miles is entirely too high. From your last annual report I see this company transports, in conjunction with connecting lines, unmanufactured tobacco in hogsheads from points in Tennessee, to New York, a distance of more than 1,000 miles for 53 cents, while at a point like Springfield, where they have no competing line, the rate for 59 miles is 20 cents. There is no reason why the rate at Springfield should be greater than at Bloomfield. It can not be said that the earnings of the Springfield Branch, as compared with the Bloomfield Branch justifies the higher rate; as from the same report, I see that the earnings of the Springfield Branch exceed that of the Bioomfield. It is not true that "there is little or no competition between Bloomfield and Springfield, on shipments of tobacco." There is active competition, and on account of the 15 cent rate at Bloomfield and the low rate at Harrodsburg, a large portion of the tobacco raised in Washington county goes to these points, when it legitimately belongs to Springfield. I still insist that the Commission take this matter in hand and enforce the law. As Mr. Knott has failed to answer my complaint in regard to the 4 cent passenger rate from Springfield to Bardstown, I take it for granted he recognizes the justice of the complaint, and that the fare will now be reduced to 3 cents per mile. Very truly, P. J. BOOKER. A copy of that portion of Mr. Booker's complaint relating to the passenger rate of four cents per mile from Springfield to Bardstown, Kentucky, was then mailed to Mr. S. R. Knott, First Vice-President Louisville and Nashville Railroad, to which he made no reply, complainant having, in the meantime, withdrawn that portion of his complaint relating to tobacco rates. The Commission then considered and filed in the Washington Circuit Court the following conclusions and information to the grand jury of said county, viz: STATE OF KENTUCKY, } To the Grand Jury of Washington County and the Washington Circuit Court: The undersigned, who are and who compose the Railroad Commission of the State of Kentucky, respectfully represent and report to this Honorable Court and Grand Jury that the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company, which does, and for more than two years last past, has owned and operated a line of railroad running from Springfield, in Washington county, Kentucky, through said county, and also the counties of Nelson, Bullitt and Jefferson to the city of Louisville, Kentucky, upon which through trains of cars are run daily, except Sunday, from Springfield, Kentucky, to Louisville, Kentucky, has, during the whole of said time, and does at this time, charge, collect and receive for the transportation of passengers, from all stations between and including Springfield, Kentucky, and Bardstown, Kentucky, the rate or fare of four cents per mile, while on the same line of road from Bardstown, Kentucky, in the direction of Louisville, Kentucky, said company charges, collects and receives, and has charged, collected and received, during the whole of said time for the transportation of passengers in the same cars running from Springfield to Louisville as aforesaid, the rate or fare of three cents per mile, the aforesaid rate of four cents per mile being charged all passengers between and including the said Bardstown and Springfield stations, in both directions as aforesaid. Said Commission further report that a rate of three cents per mile for the transportation of passengers is the usual rate charged by railroad companies in the State of Kentucky, and the established rate charged, collected and received upon the lines owned by said Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company running through said counties, except as above stated. That said rate of four cents per mile from Springfield to Bardstown, and from Bardstown to Springfield, and from all stations between said points, is an extortionate rate, and more than a just and reasonable rate of toll or compensation for the transportation of passengers over its said line of road, and is a discrimination in favor of all other persons and communities along its said line of road from Bardstown to Louisville, Kentucky, and intermediate points, and against the communities and persons between and including Springfield and Bardstown, and is an undue and unreasonable preference or advantage to all other localities save and except those between Springfield and Bardstown, and does subject Springfield, Valley Hill Station, Booker Station, Croak's Station and the localities surrounding said Springfield and said stations, which are upon the line of said road, to an undue or unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage. Said Commission further state that said rate of four cents per mile is, and has been charged, collected and received between said designated points by said company for the transportation of passengers upon its trains of cars running daily, Sunday excepted, during the whole of said time. Said Commission having investigated, and failing to endorse or approve said rate or charge, and believing that said Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company has been guilty of the offenses of extortion, discrimination, and giving undue preference or advantage to the localities and persons named, and subjecting said other persons and localities named to undue or unreasonable prejudice and disadvantage as hereinbefore stated, respectfully recommend and request that said Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company be indicted for the violation of said offenses as directed by the laws of this Commonwealth. This October 25, 1895. A copy attest: Railroad Commission of Kentucky. C. C. MCCHORD, Railroad Commissioners of Kentucky. F. M. CAMPBELL, Clerk. The grand jury of Washington county then returned into court two indictments against the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company, charging that company with extortion and discrimination in charging, collecting and receiving 4 cents per mile for the transportation of passengers from all points between and including Springfield to and including Bardstown, Kentucky. These indictments are still pending, and will be tried at the regular February, 1896, term of the Washington Circuit Court. Freight Rates at Campbellsville. CAMPBELLSVILLE, KY., Sept. 3, 1895. To the Railroad Commission of Kentucky : We would respectfully state to your Honorable Board that the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company, operating a line of railroad from Lebanon, Kentucky, to this place, is charging what we believe to be an excessive and unjust rate on the shipment of coal and other freights, and as we are informed and believe, are discriminating between shippers at this point and engaged in giving rebates. And we earnestly request your Board to investigate this matter at your very earliest opportunity, and that you take such action as will protect the shippers at this point, to the end that we may have a fair and equitable rate to and from this place. EUGENE RICE, Very respectfully, D. W. GOWDE, per D. W. G., A. J. SHELDON & Co., MOORE & MARSHALL, T. W. PUCHANAN, C. W. WRIGHT, J. W. CLOYD, WRIGHT & TURNER, Jes. H. CHANDLER, T. E. HARKINS & Co., SMITH & HILL, J. R. DAVIS & BRO., E. M. COAKLEY, SMITH & FLORA. On the 19th day of September, 1895, the following letter was addressed to Mr. S. R. Knott, First Vice-President, Louisville and Nashville Railroad, viz: OFFICE OF RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS, FRANKFORT, KY., September 19, 1895. MR. S. R. KNOTT, First Vice-President Louisville and Nashville Railroad, Louisville, Kentucky: DEAR SIR: Referring to the complaint recently filed with the Railroad Commission by citizens of Campbellsville, Kentucky, against the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company, a copy of which was mailed to you, I am directed by the Commission to advise you that a meeting will be held at Campbellsville, on Saturday, September 28th, for the purpose of investigating this complaint. Should your company desire to have a representative present at this meeting, it will be perfectly agreeable to the Commission for you to do so. Yours truly, C. C. MCCHORD, Chairman. This meeting was afterwards postponed until the 2d day of November, 1895, and a telegram sent to Mr. S. R. Knott, advising him of the time and place of meeting. No answer was ever received from him. The Chairman of the Commission went to Campbellsville on the 2d day of November, 1895; had the sworn statements or depositions of various witnesses reduced to writing, which, together with the exhibits filed by them in support of the complaint, is now on file in the office of the Commission, and will be considered and acted upon by them. Rate on Fire Clay from Enterprise, Kentucky. L. D. O'Roark VS. The Portsmouth and Tygart Valley Railroad Company. Complaint-Extortion. The following complaint was filed by Mr. L. D. O'Roark, of Enterprise, Kentucky: ENTERPRISE, KY., September 11, 1895. The Kentucky Railroad Commission, Frankfort, Ky.: GENTS: I have been engaged in the business of mining and shipping fire clay, sandstone, etc., for several years, and have clay that I want to ship over the Portsmouth and Tygart Valley |