Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-10-12
TINE WAR OF TINE ExPRGss CON.
PANlEs.

TINE WAR OF TINE EXPRESS COW.
PANIEs.
5. +. Chronicle.
Seeking for direct light on the histo-
ry OF what promises TO he a very pretty
quarrel, reporter of the Chronicle
called upon prominent official con-
nected with Wells, Fargo * Co., and
asked for information. IL was readily
| given, handicapped with the proviso
that his name was not to be mentioned.
"The present suit" he began, is bat
supplemental. and has been brought by
this company TO meet an exigency. 1t
| In enc Vt three suits of a similar charac-
| ter. all brought with the object of Sc
curing injunctions against various
branches of the Northern Pacific CON-
biuation Of roads-injunctions against
the railroad or its agents, interfering
with and disturbing the facilities en-
| joyed by US. 10 be more explicit, AZ
long ago as November last We we're in
receipt of intimat.ons that the relations
between Wells, Fargo Il Co. as shippers,
and the Northern Pacific Railroad az
| carriers of express matter were soon to
| oC tbtCIioIc1 Win. lu6 NOILutIu IA
| cific Express Company was not then Or
Ranized. but We knew that it would
be, and, knowing that We
should then be regarded az a rival COM
pany, steps were taken to secure the
privileges We were then enjoying, and
which We expected would be placed in
jeopardy. Accordingly ssit was brought
IN December In the United States Dis
tIict Court of Oregon before Judge
Deady against the Oregon Railroad and
Navigation Company, and another be-
fore Judge Green against the Northern
Paciflc Railroad Company. La both of
our complaints it WAS charged that the
two companies acted simply as common
carriers and agents of the people, aud
We prayed that an injunction might be
granted, restraining the Northern Pa
cific and the Oregon Railway and Navi-
cation Company from meddling with
| Or restricting the advantages We then
enjoyed in transporting our express
matter over their lines. The cases were
heard on January 70, 26 and u, and in
March last Judge Deady rendered his
decision, granting US the injunction, ,and
restraining the Oregon Railway and
Navigation Company from interfering
with Us. Judge Green has not yet render
ed his decision. Not long ago we discov-
cred that our injunction suits were not
sufficiently comprehensive. The express
matter that We forward from here 10
Astoria and Portland il taken by us to
the steamers Of the Pacific Coast Steam
SHIP Company, which of course you
know IN factor in the Willard inteRer,
and there placed in charge of the purser
OF the steamer. This is a custom that
has obtained for 22 years. We pay the
purser to act al our agent and messen-
ger, and a. suoh be lists the letters,
looks after the treasure and checks the
invoices. On the last of August we
were notified by Manager q. II. Pres
oott, of the Pacific Coast steamship
Company, that after October LIST the
pursers of the steamers and the station
agents along the road connected with
the company would have SO much to do
that they would not be able to act as
our agents, and that We must make
other arrangements TO have our busi-
ness transacted. We knew very we'll
what that meant. and fearing that the
suits We had brought might not cover
this case, We brought this before Judge
Sawyer in the United States Circuit
Court here, who has granted pre-
liminary writ of injunction directed
against the defendant pending the de-
termination of the suit"
"Do you look for other obstacles to
fignt against p it was asked.
'' Naturally enough" was the reply.
% Here we are, two express companies,
shipping a similar class of matter oyer
the same line. Composition j. the only
result of such state of affairs. Then,
again, the Northern Pacific Express
Company and the Northern Pacific
Railroad Company are one, and it
stands to reassn that we should be
looked upon rs interlopers. Some
months ago it was hintea t. us that We
we're operating on ground that could be
covered by more Arctic enterprise.
We did not, however, take the hint, as
have already related"
Has the existence of the new cOm-
pany made any difference in your busi-
rfess north S'
"Not appreciably 30. All sorts of in
ducsments have been held out to the
patrons of tue new company, but our
agents report that the old one still
stands high in favor"
"What would be the practical results
of more active competition r.
"A cut in rates, OF course. We feel
fortified against such turn of events
for many reasons. In the first place the
law provides that no railroad can ont
down its carrying rates without allow
ing the express company that uses its
line to reduce also, 30 that when the
lowering process is begun We shall sure
ly follow in the wake. We feel fortified
as TO the issue in the long run Also, be-
cause the Northern Pacific h an inde
pendent express company, while we
form one Of pool Of four, the three
others being the Adams, the United
States and the Southern Express com
pany. These are AL feeders, one to the
other. and each is bound to throw what
ever business it can into the hands of its
fellow poolers. Into that pool tie North
ern Pacific Express company cannot
come nor can it taste of its advantages.
Lastly, We are fortified because the busi-
ness Of the Northern Pacihc Express
Company can only be local, while every
one of our offices il a shipping point to
every spot covered by our systsm. Self
interest, too, will into the merits OF the
struggle, and altogether" concluded
the official, IAN active composition u
probability that ve do not particularly
stand in dread Of"
BADLAM sPKAKs FOB WILLARD.
II don't know anything about it, my
son." said Alexander Badlam when
asked for che history Of the suits. when
the suggestion WAS made that this iRno-
rance was rather surprising, considering
Mr.. Badlam's position as San Francisco
agent of the Northern Pacific Express
Company, against which suit had been
brought, the genial ex-assessor smiled
aud said be thought %, too.
"Why, it's the simplest thing In the
world" he went on, with charming IN,
consequence. "fhe Pacific Coast
Steamship Company found out that its
business was growing % that u could
not allow its pursees 70 act a. the mes
ssngers for Wells, Fargo 4 Co.. and no
tilted the express company OF the facs.
linen, what does Wells, Fargo d Go. do
bat jump around and get an injuncsion
restraining us--l mean the Pacific Coast
Steamship Company-from doing What
,t wants 70 with its own pursers. But
don't know anything about IL, anyhow. !"
"What stand viii your expiess c0m.
pany take IN the matterF
Il s.SNt. 4 nar.st Tn, Hh0 man