The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-04-19
COMBINING AGAINST THE PEO>
PIE.

Iho GOODNESS and eftrOntery with
which the great transportation companies
operating between the Atlantic and the
Mississippi valley, arrange their plans. in
the very face of the people, to plunder
the people and the patient submission
with which the people contemplate the
proceeding, is one of the marvels of our
age. No other country would stand it.
In Europe any such movements would
breed revolution.
Here we have the report of recent
pooling" combination.
New York, April Memorandum
of sgreement made this 5th day Of April,
1877, between the New York Central &
Hudson River railroad company; the
Erie railroad company. by II. j. Jewett,
Receiver; the Pennsylvania railroad
company. and the Baltimore & Ohio rail-
road company-Witnesset TO avoid
all future misunderstanding in respect
to geographical advantages or disadvan.
tages OF the cites of Baltimore, Philadel-
phia and New York, as affected by rail
and ocean transportation and with view
of effecting an equalization OF the aggre-
gate cost OF rail and ocean transportation
between all competitive points in the
West, Northwest Southwest, and all do
mes,ic or foreign ports reached through
the adove cities it is agreed
First-That in lieu of the percentage
differences heretofore agreed upon,
there shall be fixed differences upon rates
on all cast bound traffic from all COM
petitive points beyond the western
termini of the trunk lines, whether on
freights shipped for local consumption
or shipped for direct export. These
differences shall be as follows: Three
cents less per hundred to Baltimore, and
two cents less per hunered 20 Philadel>
phia than the agreed rates established
from time to time to New York; and all
such traffic shall be billed at rates thus
fixed, no exports or other drawbackshall
be paid thereon; it being further agreed
that the cost tU the shipper delivering
grain at each port from the terminus OF
each of the roads to the vessel in which
| it is exported, as well as the number OF
days free of storage allowed thereon,
shall be the same.
Second-That the rates to Boston shall
at no time be less than those to New York
on dom este or foreign rates.
Third-Should rails or ocean steamer
through>bills of landing be Issued neither
OF the parties hereto will accept as its
proposition less than its current
local rates to its seabord termi
nus, but no joint rail or ocean-sail bills
of landing shall be given or recognized
by the parties hereto.
: Fourth-That on all west bound traffic
passing over the roads of the partiei
hereto from competitive points at or east
OF their respective eastern teamini. tc
all competitive points west, northwest OF
southwest of their western termini
The differences in rates from Baltimore
and Philadelphia below New York shall
on third class, fourth class and specia
be the same as the differences fixed OF
,, east bound business, and on first anG
second classes eight cents less per hun
dred from Philadelphia than the agreed
rates from New York, and that after th,
existing contracts governing foreigl
business can be terminated, neither o
, the parties hereto will accept as its pro
portion of through ocean steamer ant
rail less than established local rates.
Fifth all agreements inconsisten
herewith are hereby annulled.
In witness whereof the parties heret
have affixed their signaturs -, the day an
year aforesaid, to this agreement, which
intended to be permanent, but if .eithe
party desires modification three month";
i notice must be given of such desirea
E said modification to be made by mutua
agreement. [Signed.1
New York Central & Hudson Rive
Railroad Company, BY W. II. Wander
!. bilt, President
The Erie Railroad Company, by H. .
Jewett, Receiver.
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company
by Thos. A. Scott, President.
The Baltimore 4 Ohio R.ilroad Com
: pany, BY John w. Garret, President
Now it will be said, that such comb
: : nations as this are necessary to preven
= these railroads falling into bankruptcy
:. But what protects the people frol
bankruptcy? Are not business men fai
: ing and laboring men suffering ever
81 where throughout the land? Wha
q would railroad corporations think :if th
0 people combined and declared that, t
save themselves from bankruptcy, th
It railroads must be ruined by depressin
= the prices of transportation below
9 natural and healthful standard? Hav
Q the corporations any more right to con
! bine to plunder the people. than tho PEI
i pie have t. combine to plunder the col
+ PorstionsP
d And here Is another monopoly estal
! lishsd. The price Of coal enters into a
price Of nearly al manufactured articls