New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-05
RAILWAY INTERESTS.
THE DECENTRALIZATION IN RATES.
THE NETWORK CENTRAL AND IT'S WESTERN LINES
RESOLVED TO LOSE NO MORE BUSINESS.

Great doubt is felt by railroad men as 10
whether the meeting called by Commissioner FINK lot
Thursday to consider the freight situation viii De heid
What is contemplated il conference OF the trunk INC
presidents and the managers OF their inheoualc con
Meeting roads President Rutter of the New-fork Cen
trial. is expected to be in Montreal on that day Inc D
terness OF feeling among pool roads is 30 great that
IL i feared that satisfactory gathering OF the prom-
nent officers may not be secured. Few railroad men
believe that the meeting Is held. 1t VIII result III an
open reduction OF The sentiment on THIS point ~
well expressed in this statement, made by prominent
trunk line officer Il" should be reduced to the OASIS
OF the actual figures would be open confession that
the pool organization had broken down entirely We
must try to effect agreement TO MAINTAIN rates.
IL generally understood that hereafter each roau Will
protect its own business at any cost and since the ocal
advance OF eastDOund rates TO the basis OF 80 cents on
grain from Chicago NewYork regard has been pla
10 the published tariff At the last meeting OF the JOINT
Executive Committee Mr. Fink in addressing the mem
hers remarked that one curious result Of the correspond
ence on the subject rate-cuttng that every ROAD
denied that It had cut rates. and yet as was well known
to the members rates had not been maintained MI
Fnks conclusion was that must De devised 10
enable managers to control rates.
In the correspondence and interviews had blythe Com
missioner recently an emphatic statement OF the position
of the New-York Central and its Western lines has Deeh
made The Michigan Central has declared that ~ was
not cutting The Lake Shore refuses 10 ne in.t
a
IL has said to the Commissioner that Tor eght hOuts
last year IL held the up and suffered us Vais 70
take away s busness its only reward for utilizing the
pool agreements 10 have its percentage cut down. IL
now proposed protect It's clients and lose no more
business The position has been taken by the New
York Central Railroad. IL claims that, While IL ocay
proved the Erie had cut rates, 1t has challenged
proof against itself In vain Its managers have put ~
POSITION before Mr. Fink I'm this wise: From March 70
October la year not only maintained rates but ed
up connections to the established tarl Ihe result
was that lost business by the irregularities OF our
competitors Our forbearance has not stopped our NV aus
from cutting rates and rObbng us OF our business. VIC
are willing maintain rates. provided the ERE does 80
Lat from now on the Central will not lose pound OF us
business no matter what the rates may be- We nave
partly recovered lost business we intend to gc ~ an
back. and will not renquish pound OF the Iel@hI
we have recovered 80 . =. II,
A person prominently identified with the New YORK
Central was asked recently what guarantee could ne
given at the meeting Thursday that rates would mere
after be maintained Rates would probably be MAIN
taned" was the reply, ~ gave the Erie guarantee
that on every made our business we would make
a cut 30 per cent greater" ,., -
The New-York Central has not been presented with
single voucher cut rate by its ST. Louis connection
the Cleveland. Columbus, Cincinnati ana lhubihhpOlS
road-nOr has it been asked In any way TO snare III cut
But the Cleveland road is understood TO he meeting ue
the Fri at every point ana II Is uhctaOou INV
the business of tic NcwNOrk Centrals system Will po
fully protected in every part Of the country.