New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-30
ONE-ROAD POWER REVOKED.
IMPORTANT CHANGE IN POOL RULES.
A PROPOSITION To ADVANCE rAsr-BoUNp RATES

A PROPOSITION To ADVANCE EAsT-BoUNp RATES
VOTED DOWN BY THE TRUNK LINE PRESIDENTS
| The result of the meeting of the trunk line
presidents at Commissioners Finks Office yesterday may
be summed IN in the abrogation Of the rule by wioh any
road could compel rates TO be reduced II II was S'
that they had been cut There were three FEATURES VI %
conference the significance of which future events wiz
have 10 determine. These were the absence o' "h!
| representatives, OF the Grand Trunk OF Cahada' uo
rcrrescntation of the Baltimore and Ohio by asuOoT
noto officer and the defeat OF proposition TO advance
bound freight rates OF the members o tho ppo'
present were President Jcwett OF inc Ne"-iorh' Ian"
Erie and Western chairman Of the meeting; PrcSldeht
Ru,cr of the New York Central aud President Roberts
| of tho Pennsylvania. supported by Their nc"-
| ,c,onts yice.Presidents Blanchard, OF the Ere
| HAYDEN Of the Central and Thomson VI
| tha pornsvIvano. General Freight Agent
/ Uarriott appcarcd FOR the Baltimore and ONO.
The conference had been awaited with great interest ny
railroad men in view OF the important bearing on the
question Of the maintenance Of the pooling agreements
and thc nolicv OF dealing with tho freight rate situation
hereafter II was called in of the demand of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad made last week, that east
bound freight rates should be reduced to the basis OF
II cents per 100 pounds on grain from Chicago
TO New-YOrk. This made under the rule
which governed tho successive reductions in rates from
80 cents grain TO - cents within the last three months
at the request of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The ruc
adopted more than year ago and was designed to
prevent cutting, the theory that a road which had
been undertaking It's competitors might change its
when threatened with the prospect that any line
that 1t iuilred could compel schedule rates
to be lowered tho basis CT the lowest
cut rate. The original rule required that the
Commissioner should he convinced that Irregularities
pracsed, but the subsequent resolution LEFT the
power OF reduction with any company that claimed to be
convinced that it, rivals were not observing the tariff
Since the reduction in to figures thai DO not cover
the cost of transportation the NewYork roads have d."
Veloped bitter opposition 10 the pool rule
The whole situation discussed at great length
yesterday. Tho New-YorI roads Insisted positively
that the rule should be set aside II has been claimed
that 10 such action in reducing rates "a has been taken
recently was justified by the rule itself but the re-
suit Of erroneous Interpretation by Commissioner
Fink Those railroad who do not far a. to say
tris. that the rule passed hastily and under
pressure brought TO by the Pennsylvania when 1t
was smarng under the loss OF business secured by rival
roads by means of emitting The principal arguments
used by the New-York roads, however,
was that events had proved that the
rule did NOT stop Irregularities. and that might be
exercised for improper purposes. II was unjust and I'M
reasonable that single company should possess tho
powcr 10 render the entire business OF half dozen roads
Improbable simply bccase there might be irregularities
on certain classes Of freight or al particular points IL
margin OF profit road might be- restrained rom cut
ting by the fact That its entire throngh
OF the lnes whose traffic II Was appropflang But Whrh
rates Iesu lowered below there proper
purpose served IN continuing the power to call fOl
general reduction in the hands OF company. Ii was
pointed that enforcement OF the pooling agree
mcnts which compel road that exceeds rs percentage
10 turn over the NJ ta rates 10 Tie road which
hae lost business a sufficient guarantee for the p0-
elton al lines. These cCDcnS were supposed 10 ne
in force and until abandoned they were tho
best security that could be enjoyed by road hat held to
rates The PENNSYLVANIA railroad reluctant TO assent
the wiping had devised itself, but the
temper OF The Eric and hc EeSNolk Central WIS mani
wa resolved complaints Of cutting holid De submit
ted Commissioner Fuk.whoSc duty II wou'i he exam
inc The proofs and submit bis conclusions to the EGccu
tive Onm"c tie trunk ,nrs. Win the Committee ali
mower OF r'oh is 30 rest Cudcr the rule which org
inaly prevailed the Commissioner decided whether tho
Ndcncc Justified lin IN calling Or reduction IN rates
Nj Fink declined to take this responsibility IN the
future .
There was little for the presidents 10 do after the
change in the rules governing reductions was made ~
the NcvlOTk Genital was opposed 10 considering any
question OF ratt-cuing. holding that that should he
dealt with by the subordinate Officers. II pro
posed TO advance east-bound poight rates 10
Il basis of 20 cents grain from ChiTi Although The
Grand Trunk not represented II informed the meet
ing that Il favored advance. The advance de-
feJtcI the adverse vote or The PcnnsyNan aud the
Baltimore ohio, thc pool rules requiring unanimous
consent io any change in Ghc opposition 10 adj
vance the ground that II would probably check
the eastward movement. II also Thought st that the
interior jnos should bc completed first hcCau With rates
Wcsc!n roads which still remain outside the pools viii
tic advantage o. H-tc1tDg to - DIVISION 81 uaIc'
The presidents adjourned without day Meetings Of thr
ST. Louis. Peoria and Indianapolis committees are cN-
pcccd be held this - complete h pools at those
points.