The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-11-18
THE SARATOGA CONTRACT.

COnsalsnfiOn of Leading Railroad Meu-
The Grand Trunk will NOT Agree to
the Saratoga C0ntract-DiHerent Views
of Other Parties.
NEW YORK, Nov. 17.-Presidept Potter of
the Grand Trunk Railroad is in town, and sails
for Europe tomorrow. He stated that an ar
rangement will probably soon be made by
which the Grand Trunk, the Boston and All
bony and the Vermont Central roads will take
harmonious action concerning the New Eng
land traffic, and to that end the representatives
of those roads and the New York Central had
arranged a conference.
Manager Hickson of the same road stated
that the Grand Trunk Will not enter into the
Saratoga contract
A two hours conference of railroad officials
was held here yesterday afternoon. Mr. Rut-
ter, freight agent of the New York Central
Mr.. Hickson, general manager of the Grand
Trunk; Mr. Bliss, of the Boston and Albany,
and Mr.. Willis, general agent of the Vermont
Central, representing their several roads, The
conference was held with closed doors.
Upon the breaking up of the meeting, Mr..
Hickson, of the Grand Trunk, stated that moth
ing definite had been effected. The company
which he represented was willing to adopt any
reasonable terms of agreement in relation to
the rate of freight, but had not entered and
could not enter into the Saratoga arrangement.
The peculiar circumstances of their route make
it impossible for them to make their rates uni
1t undesirable for them to abide by any fixed
plan permanently. Their course must be d.
rected by conditions which they cannot always
control but have to recognize They woul not
allow their rates to be fixed by outside parties.
The officers of the road were the ones to do the
business of the road, and they could har dly
consent to leave any part to commission.
They would not object to having the rates in
creased beyond those of the present schedules,
and in some lines of freight would establish
rates quite definitely; but he much doubted ii
the present organization would result in any
thing more than talk. We had, said he, very
pleasant conference, which cannot fail to work
a better understanding, if that be necessary,
but we have agreed to no proposition and have
become parties to no definite plan.
Mr., Willis of the Vermont Central said that
Mr.. Hickson and himself were a unit in the
conference; that their roads were allies and
disposed to act Independently of all others.
They certainly could not afford to become
members of the Saratoga agreement. He
wished, however, to say little on the subject,
and it was unnecessary for him to repeat what
Mr.. Hickson had said.
Mr. Rutter had different understanding OF
the action of the conference. Nearly everything
that was desired. he said, had been effected at
Montreal, and what remained to be done after
that meeting had been accomplished at this
conference. The representative OF the Grand
Trunk road plainly stated what they required
as consequence of the length of their road
compared with others, and it was conceded to
them that in transporting perisnable freight on
certain other lines they should have the priv.
lege of lower rates. They asked for no diff
ference in grain rates and want none. We also
conceded that they should have lower rates fol
westward bound freight. ALI sides were wei
satisfied. We only demanded that rates, what
ever they are, should be adhered to; that there
should be no cutting down in special cases fol
the sake of securing the business. The parties
of the conference have agreed that they will adj
here to the schedule rates. The commission
which now regulates the rates of New York
roads will do the same for the Boston roads
This commission is composed of representa-
tives of different sections. They are old rail-
road men and are thoroughly capable to dc
we'll what is required of them. AS [ under
stand it the present rates will remain un.
changed for a time and when any change shall
be made all the roads are to accept the judg
ment of the commissioners. We do not ask
any immediate advance in rates. They are
not, however, at minimum, and when the
price of grain advances the rates of tranSpor
tation should be increased The railroads can
not afford to carry grain permanently at the
present rates, but the idea which seems tc
have gained some currency that the railroads
wish to establish exOrbitant rates or unreason-
able conditions is utterly wrong. They only
seek fair profits, and the present movement
does not look toward the robbery of the people,
but if successful, will be equally to their ad.
vantage and convenience as to the benefit oil
railroad companies.