The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-05-29
To FIGHT THE POOLS.
4 Heavy New York Combination to
Prevent Various Determinations.
An EntimatiOn of How the Fight Is
To he Won, If Nccessary-What
Commissioner Fink Has TO
Say on the Subject.

New YORK, May 29.-Seventy-four bust
ness men OF this city, members Of an associa-
ton whose charter has been subscribed to by
thirty different interests, representing $780,
0O0, 900, have held an important meeting.
The union has been formed for the purpose
of preventing determinations by the rail-
roads, telegraph and express companies. The
meeting was devoted to an interchange of
views and the relation of instances where the
REALTORS thought they had been discrimi-
mated against.
wholesale cotton dealer said: 'Freight
shipped from the mills in the east can be sent
through to the south and west cheaper than
we can send it from this city, though it must
pass through here on the journey. Western
merchants can buy goods cheaper in Chicago
than they can buy them here. The differ
euce in freight alone is profit on the goods"
Other instances were quoted in different
lines of business, and it was agreed that the
| only way to fight the mshopoly was to work
il unison.
"The railroads tell u.s." said one speaker,
"that if we will not let them ship our goods
under their pool arrangement, but insist on
sending them over the roads we wish to, they
will carry them only to the extent Of the par
ticular line named in the bill, and we must
have men to make the transfer at all
changing points. Very well, we will do that
if necessary We are thoroughly in earnest
in the NATTER
81 do not think there will be any difficulty
| in agreeing upon PLAN" said Mr.. Abel
Crook, off Mr. Fink will meet our board of
| directors and talk the matter over. He might
| have to abandon some of his tenents; but
| then he ought to abandon them. 1t is simply
| question between the railroads and the men
| vino furnish them with their business"
"But supposing the roads in the pool decline
to treat with you, what can you dol"
will answer that supposition by
supposing something else. Suppose that
we all agree to send our freight
| over one road, would that road find it
| for its interest to remain in the poola What
| is to hinder Mr.. Vanderbilt from sending all
| we give him through to the west or the south
| in spite Of the pool if he chooses tol He has
all his connections"
@Does Mr.. Vanderbilt know of this move
ment"
81 do not think be does We have not con-
suited with railroad people, though think
Commissioner Fink has heard of it. Mr..
Vanderbilt will hear of it, though"
"How many firms besides the incorporation
have expressed desire to join your
II should say at least 400 1t is the frs,
movement of the kind ever started in THU
country, but it is well started. We have moi
decided yet how many outsiders will be ad
mitted, but fair play will be shown them"
what are your plans as regards telegraph
and express companiesT
Il am not at liberty to tell you any more a
present. Our plansSyill unfold themselves a
we go along The freight pool is not oil WI
have to fight against"
"How soon do you expect to begin work.?
eve have some more details to arrang'
vet. think we shall be ready for the fal
trade.
So far as the complaint against the freigh
pool is concerned, Commissioner Fink said
j an few cases we have been told Of good
delayed by sending them over other road
than the shippers intended. But, under tn
contract we have right to send freigh
marked for particular road over an,
|, other road in the pool, when it shall b
considered necessary This is always speci
, fed in the bills of lading. OF course, we ar
responsible for any delay or pecuniary los
incurred thereby. ! think, however, tina
: nearly % per cent. Of the freight shipped OF
our roads goes over the lines for which it i
marked In some cases 1T is necessary t
send it otherwise, and undoubtedly the bus
7 ness men have a perfect right to combin
, and find remedy for it if they can"