New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-01-17
CUTTING SCHEDULE RATES.


MANY VIOLATIONS OF THE COMPACT
EXTENSIVE SHIPMENTS At PRICES MUCH BELOW
TIE TARIFF--TIIL RECENT MIXING CONSIDERED
A FARCE.
At the meeting Of railroad managers, includ-
Ing presidents Of the trunk lines which held in
this city laet week il agreed by each indyidu
ally that tariff rates should De restored at and
strictly ainncl hereafter and the secretary Of the
Trunk Line Association instructed To enforce the
penalty FOR any violation Of this agreement by instruct
ing the Hines connecting with the Offending company
not 10 take freight from the latter AT less than local rates.
and thus practically cutting 1t OFF from through business
After the meeting adjourned, several Of those present
remarked that they had again promised 10 DC good"
and they were going home 10 make one more effort -
fulnll this promise There was 40 effort made 10 deny
that the compact between the companies represented
had been violated daily for some time
II appears that the last promise mach like all the
OthcrS-Ouly IL DE broken Shipments from the West
continue be made daily nj about the rates which
prevailed before the last meeting. Instructions have
been given tbs week TO make contracts for tbs snip
| ment OF all the -four That can be obtained from
the Northwest at 20 barrel less than tirG rates.
The schedule rate. for shipping barrel Of aJur from
Chicago NewYork If so cents while The actual cost j.
about 90 cents Contracts in existence for the ship
ment Of 100000 bushels Of wheat, tom Chicago
ana Milwaukee. To this port between the present
tire and April /. at an average Of 80 cents per
all Tie important shipments that are made are
coming forward at rates materially below those
established which the officials promised less than week
ag0 TO maintain Shipments Of boxed meats from Chi
a2O being made al 30 cents per 100 pounds, while
schedule rate Is IL cents aud largo contracts have
been made ~ Tie former hSc boAcd mcas from On
cnnatl coming forward nj - cents per 100 pounds,
ana ana e2SWG3E go %| rates arc made nom 81 LOUIS
The compact between the trunk lines provides that
rates from Boston ote West SHAH not be css than from
this city. The Grand Trunk has taken advantage Of this
agreement by securing very large portion OF
lho shipments nom Boston ana other New
what below those charged by the Now-York Central
and other lines. The Boston and Albany discovered
that II had lost most ~ it, through West b0nd business
and consequently gave notice 10 he representatives, in
would meet The Grand frank ~ making rates 10 western
points, regardless OF schedules This has been followed
by a reduction III rates from Boston westward,
by all the competing lines In reply questions regard
mig its II action, the Boston and Albany has an
trunk ncs as nearly s NAV uo practcablc To DO So
and this, il UNDERSTOOD the reason fo its giving
to the trunk lines that 1t would cut rates. Rates
from Boston 10 Chicago aud Oher Western points
materially lower than from this city.
In the meantime the Grand Trunk continues TO obtain
considerable business from points on the scaDOari all
the way from Portland TO New-YoIk II il officially
stated that large shipments by the Grand Trunk are be-
ing made al present from NcwYork TO Buffalo aad points
west OF that city. Among railroad men the meet
ing 1T the Brevoort House last week IL freely
spoken OF farce, and the peculiar manner
in which Of the important subjects under consider
alton treated is ccd as evidence that II was not
the intention of Of those present TO lc bound by its
action. AT the same time 1t Is evident from letters
written by some OF those present after the meeting had
adjourned, their superior officers that not all left the
meeting with The intention OF breaking their pledges AT
present
The manager OF one OF the leading Western railroads
remarked yesterday that II absurd 10 assume that
would be maintained while the shipments were not
sufficient 10 furnish business for all the lines. The OIL
GERS might hold meetings every week, aud adopt the
most positive resolutions not TO take freight at less than
schedule rates. but the resolutions not worth the
paper which they were written, except TO deceive:
1t would be absurd to offer starving loaf
OF bread and forbid his eating It, unless could pay
stipulated price Tor Inc ioaf.