New-York tribune., 1878-12-07
THE RAILROAD FREIGHT POOL.

ITS ESTABLISHMENT FOR FIVE YEARS.
IMPORTANT RESULTS OF THE RECENT MEETINGS OF
TRUNK LINE MANAGERs-POwERs CONFERRED
on rHE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
The meeting on Thursday of representatives
OF the trunk line roads followed yesterdy by
sion Of the Executive Committee, at office Of Com
missI ner Fink No. $40 Broadway which did not ad-
iorn until late in the afternoon. There present.
n. Rutter A. ]. Cassat G. A. Blanchard, r. Harris, W.
H. smith, representing John King, jr. and Albert Fink
The day was spent considering the best methods OF
carrying out the purposes OF the companies
and preventing cutting OF rates. The following resou
ton was then adopted:
RcSolred, That the representatives OF the trunk lines
In the Executive Committee instructions to be
issued TO all agents OF lines roads soliciting business
over the trunk lines, TO maintain hereafter strictly the
esId.ruet aiu rates on wcstpOund business from BoS
ton, NcW-Englaud, NCwYOrk, Philadelphia and Balti-
yond. Notice also TO be given to fhe western connec-
tons of the trunk lines that II they tail maintain rates,
the freight will be diverted from their roads, ana that
the percentages OF division agreed upon, hich may
hereafter BE- agreed upon between the Western roads,
j. H. RUTIER, for New-YOIk Central.
A. j. CAssATT, for Pennsylvania Railroad.
u. H. BLANCHARD, tOr New-IOrk Lake Erie and
Western
JNo. KING, jr, for Baltimore and Ohio
IL was also decided to send the following cOmmunica
ton to Western roads connecting with the trunk lines
The presidents of the trunk lines their meeting De-
cember o. learned with great regret the tendency TO
resolution, decided TO call all their direct remote
connections 20 maintain the full established east-bOund
which took effect November 25. aud further
solved TO enforce tue maintenance Of the same to the
fullest extent.
After the close Of the meeting it was stated to a
TRIBUNE reporter that the most important business
Thursday the adoption Of resolutions continuing
the pooling arrangement unchanged for Ave years
from January next, leaving tine adjustments OF per.
centages Of freight to the decision OF Commissioner
Fink and empowering the executive committee to en-
the DEGREES the meeting All cutting Of freight
rates would now be at end and the railroads would
do fairly remunerative business.
"But how can the executive committee enforce the
rules IL company chooses violate them I" asked.
1T has every power" was the reply. :" In OF
revolution the other companies will to give the
offending road any percentage Of freight and the con-
meeting lines Will longer act forwarders for it.
Under The present arrangement the company receiving
through freight gives receipts for to its place of des-
tnation. ana acts as fOrwarder tho connecting
roads l. the company withdraws from the pool by a
violation OF its rules It will the advantages which
this arrangement gives"
DO you prove that the combination benefits the
roads, when the merchants OF New-York that it is
injurious TO their busincssf
That is the complaint not only in New-Yor5. but in
all cities Each thinks, claims 10 think that there Is
discr mination in favor OF other cities Examination
OF the facts the will convince any that what
is beneficial the railroad is beneficial to the entire
business community object to the word combina-
uOn. The pooling arrangement is not q combination,
except To secure remuneratiye rates aud
preserve tho roads from destruction, II Is not
competition tnat is prevented, but 'cut
throat manner OF doing business, which would
ruin all the roads In Europe these matters are regu
lated BY the Governments; here have to regulate
them by mutual agreement. In settling the percentage
OF rgbts for the several roads, and the rates for diff
fereut seasons take large number OF circumstances
into in the carrying capacity Of each road
the amount freight which naturally flows 10 IT, com
petition by canal and lake navigation II is remarkable
how little deviation in the relative amount OF
trade hch naturally flows TO road AT different times.
There five roads leading from the West into Chicago
For several years previous TO the formation OF the
uool last Spring they had ghting each other, and
when they came TO compare their accounts they found
that the relative amount OF business or each in any
probable variation. They mad been running themselves
by uerce competition, aud found they had been lighting
shadows and gaining nothing, IL s our purpose TO hx
natural demands OF trade, aud TO prevent any single
company from acting unwisely by establishing uniform,
rcmuneTutye rates"
railroads discriminate against them In favor OF the ter
miual cities. There have been times, for instance, when
merchants of syracuse have complained that they could
send goods New York and thence TO CbcagO al less
grounded there Is tree undCrcutuug of rates
then charges from competitive points are ruuuusy
low, and the towns where there Is no coupe
utOn huvN 10 pay moro than their share. Wnen
| there Is a perfect arrangement between all the
roads rates will be equtJDy adjusted without Unequal
ity The UrgullziLOu Of the pool Is now 50 perfect that
we might have put the rates up Yesterday o. any point
aud the people would have had 10 submit; but no mis-
use power been attempted The rates are barely
reInunrrIuyc'
meeting TAurrday on the subject OF passenger rates
The executive committee given the control OF
them, ana they would receive early attention.