Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-05-11
DAILY POST.INTEluGENCER
DIyIDING THE sPeILsi


which, It will be remembered was
last autumn. shortly AFTER
rail communication had been es-
tablished with Portland via the North
arm Pacific. has for several days been IN
session at st. Louis. This association
was formed with the undisRuised object
and avowed purpose of keeping up the
ruling rates for passenger and freight
transportation existing at date OF KS
oroanization, or in other words to
strange the competition for through
traffic which naturally resulted from
the opening TO business of third trans
continental line. Il has effectually per
formed the iniquitous object or its orig
inators and members. From time to
time the Northern Pacific has erumbled'
not because it was opposed 10 the prin-
oiple, or even the plan Of enforced con-
tributiou which the association vas
formed TO perpetuate. bot because II
fapeied it vas getting the worst OF the
bargain; that IL did not receive due
proportion of the 'swaR." IL has
threatened several times to withdraw
from the pool, and has even given the
s,ipulated notice of such intent, which
is required of parties to the scheme.
The association in st. Louis, day or
two ago, appointed subcommittee to
investigate the matter. who recommend
cd a gross, or money pool, to succeed
the present physical or divertinR pl7n;
that ia to saw that instead of divertine
proportional amount of traffic to each
road in the association, proportionate
an,oupt of the "loot" shall be distrib-
uted in lieu thereof, while freight - per-
mitted 10 take its natural route. Nv Is
understood. says a dispatch, that
two roads in the association oppose the
pool. chiefly the Northern Pacific.
which is not able to deterinine now
much of California business II can
handle. The roads favorable to the
pool, however. thought this trouo.e
could be obviated by leaving tho North
ern Pacific out for the present, and
paying Il specified sum for maintaining
the rates established By the pool"
This will undoubtedly he the basis OF
settlement. The association will raise
its payment of blood money sufficiently
20 satisfy the greed Of Its disaatisfis d
member, and the Northern Pacific will
stop erumbling. Meanwhile, IN the
classic Language Of Mr.. Vanderbilt, "the
public be DID, They have nothing TO
do bat grin and bear IL. They must pay
Just such charges AZ the rapacity OF the
Northern Pacific management imposes
they must divide with this corporation
the proceeds of their toll, In enforced
compliance with its policy OF charging
all the traffic will bear" Merchants
and consumers at interior points along
It's line must purchase goods and sop
plies at places designated by its man.
agemsnt, and any effort at obtaining
Justice and fair dealing for the people
be at once fiercely denounced as an at
tempted interference with vested
rights" Vested rights to whatS A
coterie of railroad managers. agents oil
corporations organized to do the busi-
ness of common carriers, cody sit in
conference In an Eastern city, aud dis
tribute the business of q Territory en-
bracing swo-thirds the area of the United
States, and holding at least one sixth its
population. Not only do they parcel
out this vast domain to suit their pur-
poses and ends, but In furtherance of a
rapacity unparalleled, to maintain
schedules of rates exorbitant and utter
iy unjustifiable, they openly resort 10
bribery. What else is il? II the North
ern Pacific Railroad, by reason of supe
rior location and facilities. can haul
freight across the continent cheaper
than can Its rivals, the public are en-.
titled to the benefit of such reduction
To pay that company for keeping up it,
rates lie a glarinR public wrong, deserv
ing and demanding 4 swift and vigor'
Gus remedy. This heing true, what
shall be said Of q company which by 40
eepting such bride. becomes party Il
bsrefaced robberyf A company bull
by the sale Of mortgage bonds based or
grant Of lands belonging TO the peo
pie whom II thus aids TO shaokle and
oppressf Was II fer tho completion Of
such railroad that 100000 acres OF
the public lands were dedicated" 7 I,
this the sort Of development and aid e
settlement which Congress- contemplst,
cdr Let corporation organs answer.