New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-13
RAILWAY INTERESTS.
ARRANGINI A GENEKAL CONFERENCE.

ARRANGING A GENERAL CONFERENCE.
ANOTHER EFFORT TO BE MADE TO CONTROL
FREIGHT RArEs-PHAsEs OF THE SITUATION.
An effort is being made to have meeting
OF the Joint Executive Commits of the trunk lines and
their western connections IN this city next
week The object Of the meeting To
consider the dcmorazed condition Of freight
rates between the East and the West An attempt was
made call the pool railroads together to-day but Com
missioner Fink found that the representatives OF many
OF the Western lines would be unable TO attend the con-
ference. II Is generally understood. however that
consultation OF the companies will be called before long
in order prevent open outbreak OF war among the
railroads
For the last four months schedule rates have not been
maintained freights. The first decided trouble was
developed opening Of the extension TO
Buffalo OF the Delaware, Laekawanns and western
Railroad. The line took contracts for sugar ship
monts below the rates which the Erie Railway charged
Later Lackawanna secured the facilities OF fast
reghtlne Grand Trunk OF Canada and over the
"Nckel-Plate" Railroad between Buffalo and Chicago
When these connections had been established the Lacka
wanna was able to obtain east bound well as west
bound freight The low rates of the Lackawsnna were
the Erie and by the Boston and Albany out OF Bos
ton, and active competition between the three roads
and the Grand Trunk OF Canada has been carried on ever
since. Repeated efforts have been made to stop the
cutting" meeting OF all the "pool roads was held
ishing violations OF schedule rates II adjourned satisfied
according to the Official statements given out, that the
reports OF ratecutting had been greay exaggerated
Later another general conference was held and Com
missioner Fink was given authority 10
punish any Western road convicted OF cutting
rates by suspending 1t from the privilege OF
exchanging through traffic with the trunk lines Three
examples made under these provisions, of small
Western roads that had strong trunk line connection
but condition OF affairs not altered Some time
ago. after reduction OF cents per 100 pounds in grain
rates. the NewYork Central demanded that provision
rates reduced correspondngy because 1t was salts
fed that all OF the lines were not maintaining the
tariff" Within few weeks formal reduction was
made In the rates sugar mOlasses railroad iroD and
other heavy articles for the This reduc
ton. as well the previous reduction in provision
rates. left the tariff rates far above the actual figures at
which wesbound freighs being carried out OF and
east-bound traffic being brought into New-York
There Ia general denial by officers the trunk lines
that freight rates being cut by their own
roads. Friends OF the New York Central however point
the OF the New York receipts
by the different roads evidence that the Erie, the
LacKawanna aud the Grand frank not maintaining
rates In ordinary the NewYork Central brings
into the city half Of the grain and provisions received
through the railroads. For months past the Erie has
been running ahead Of all the lines The figures Tor last
week, ended July 7, are as fOllows