New-York tribune., 1878-02-01
THE FREIGHT SETTLEMENT
RELATIONS OF THE RAILROADS.

RELATIONS OF THE RAILROADS.
VIEWS or MERCHANTS AND OFFICIALS Nrcu
DOUBT CONCERNING THE WORKINGS OF tn,
| SCHEME.
The result Of the meeting Of the president.
of the Trunk Lines the Brevoort House, this well
the subject OF general comment among railroad men
and merchants yesterday copy o! the dispatch sent
by Mr.. Garrett to Mr. Hicksop Wednesday afternoon
proposing to leave the questions In dispute between ths
| Grand Trunk and Vermont Central and the New.York
Central Mr. Fink for arbitration to Greyorv
Smith. president OF the Vermont Central His reply was
similar to that Of Mr. Hickson Freight rates from Boa
ton are be restored this morning TO basis Of 81 me-,
100 pounds on frst-class goods TO Chicago.
The merchants of this city made complaint yesterday
that they had treated very unfairly and not By anv
means the spirit promised by the trunk lines Official,
some time ago. by the action Of the different roads lead
ing westward from New-YOrz to the West IN
permitting the Boston merchants TO send Their
goods, for nearly three weeks at onehaf tia
cost from New-York They claimed that they should
have been permitted TO ship at rates as low
those from Boston, especially as the reduction from
Boston was made at the nstgation OF one Of the trunk
lines number of merchants and some railroad OH.
cals said that the statement Of the situation made in
Mr. Hckson's letter published In Tuesdays TRrBrys
was frank impartial aud able description of the dc,
ties between the Grand Trunk and the New-Ycrk Cen.
tra
tween the Western railroads have not yet been settled
The presidents agreed on Wednesday night TO A
scheme, winch provides for the appointment Of
an Executive Committee consisting OF
from each OF the four trunk lines which shall an
advisory committee in assisting Commissioner Fink in
the disclrge OF his duties In all OF dispute how.
ever Mr. Fink Is chief executive oice and his decision
IL final without any regard 10 tme VoIes o te memDes
vision to prevent injustice TO any single road when
Jar any reason: ory st ",'e M eh upon plan
the minority. In all such cases Mr. Fink will act asa
Win the exception Of the feature Just mentioned the
plan now proposed does not differ materially from that
which the Commissioner has been attempting 10 enforce
Tor some time IL cutting should be continued by the
Western roads Is proposed TO enforce schedule rates
by charging tie offending roads the local rates all
ffeights passing the trunk lines. Tie power to
force this penalty is left entirely with Mr. Fink, who
claims that there will no longer be any delay IN itsexe-
cuOn, after the Western roads have had time 10
get proper understanding OF the present situa-
tom OF affairs. meeting, of the Officials Of the
Chicago when il is proposed that the two commission.
ers Messrs Fink and Gniford. shall lay the whole mat
tor before ;hem, and ask for their cOjperdtion Mean
while. effort has been made TO restore easthound
rates, and none will bc made II is stated before the
not heard of time contracts at less than schedule
and lie thought those contracts recently made at
by the railroads Several prominent railroad officials how
whose duties place them in position TO know what
has been DONE stated that the contracts Tor shpment
grain the East IN many. and II was thought IN most
cases good until April l. This also true In re-
gard to number OF contracts tof tue speht o heas
from the Southwest.
The commissioners and some of the representatives, Of
the trunk ues expressed the hope that they bad hnay
slcce edcd in devsing q scheme that would prove
cessfu in abollshing th3 Improbable competition be.
tween the railroads Of the country by paeihg all mat
ter of dispute in the hands OF person. whose power
is supreme, it claimed that the system had been
formed which would reyOutionze the railroad manage.
ment Of the country abolish the nnprolaDle cutting OF
rates. and enable the companies to resume the payment
IF dividends to their stockholders. Other prominent
railroad officials took iiferent view Of the matter IL
was concluded that the scheme might for time, control
The OperatiOns Of four five roads whose interests
were similar and that, consequently, Wcst-bouuG rates
might be maintained for tiue-or, rather that
inc, tr.tlI hn "A
an open freight war. It was claimed, how.
ever, that to control the business OF forty o.
hfty feeders or these four or nye truak
lines was an entirely different matter Most OF the
had few. II interests IN common; IN
many their trucks crowd each oheT and Tue d.
visions and su divisions. ana re-sibliysions which s
would necessary make in order 70 carry ont tho
proposed scheme, were impTactlC1Dc. tlfthcIiDOIe,
ihe Western railroad men were mich In favor II
the pooling apportonmont scheme as the officials Of
the trunk nes and they would not be 0un0 as ready 10
accept the control and abide by the dietatOns OF one
man, as the trunk lines