New-York tribune., 1885-01-17
LEFT FREE TO MAKE RATES.
EACH TRUNK LINE TO PROTECT ITSELF.

RESULT OF THE RAILROAD pREsIDENTs' coNFER'
ENcE-sETTLEMENTs TO CONTINUE.
The meeting of the trunk line presidents at
Commissioner Finks office yesterday ended with an
abandonment of ell attempts to matataln eastbound
freight rates and in the understanding that each road
should he free to make whatever rates necessary
70 protect Its interest Tho pool was not
dissolved, because the contract was made for five
years and 1t has two years to was there any
formal withdrawal Of Of its members In its failure
to take any action however the meeting marks the be-
ginning OF contest between the pool lines for
business, which, 1t is conceded by railroad will in
evtaby lead to further and heavy reductions in rates
until reorganization takes place The agreements fer
settlements under tho official percentages and the other
machinery Of the pool organization outside Of the tariffs
officially remain intact
The only trunk line presidents who attended the con-
ference were George Roberts Of the Pennsylvania,
and John King. OF the Erie Railroad. The Now-YOrk
Central was represented by vicePresdont Hayden act
Ing as president In tho absence Of James H. Rutsr the
Baltimore and Ohio by General Freight Agent Harrott,
and the Grand Trunk by Traffic Manager Scar
geant. President Newell OF the Lake Shore,
attended along with other subordinate members
OF tho Chicago Committee. Tho east bound
freight situation was thoroughly discussed. 1t has
been acknowledged that rates from the West have been
more or less domorazod for year past In spite OF
frequont efforts to provide to punish viola
tiohs Ihe trunk lines nave lald the trouble al tne
doors OF the wost Shore and Lackawanna, and the
Grand Trunk has been accused Of sharing in their cuts
through the Chicago and Grand Trunk road OF lac the
cutting has been increasing; so much so that the
Chicago merchants have complained OF the
diversion OF freight in consequence OF con
cessons enjoyed by tho st. Louis lines. The
situation has also been aggravated by the disputes re-
gardng percentages between tho roads leading East out
OF Chicago. Unable to conclude any satisfactory
Wlt tho I,ctu nj the Wast he
pool companies finally agreed that they must meet tho
rates by tho roads, whatever they might be.
The Chicago committee met Thursday and failed to
reach any satisfactory agreement Tho effect OF their
non-actlon In the disposition
shown by tho Pennsylvania ut tho out
sot Of the presidents meeting yesterday. Mr
Roberts offered resolution that the settlements OF diff
ferenccs OF pool percentages be suspended IL voted
down. The next question discussed was tho demand OF
the trunk lines that. in accordance with the agreement
made last November. tho Grand Trunk should cut of
from through traffic facilities the West shore and the
Lsckawnnnn Inc demand had been made at lnst week
meeting OF the presidents and on the reply Of the Grand
Trunk was TO depend the future action Of
Grand Trunk replied in substance that the
action requested was Illegal or that there were doubts
proof against tho the roads not sufficient to
Justify 80 severe measure Letters were then sub
mited from President soanp The lacka"annaund from
tho West shore ntimatng their Willingness Ia enter the
eastbound pool II proper percentage weTaIewed them
The other pool roads would not consider these communi-
cations ~ definite proposltitions OF negotiation,
although the Grand Trunk Insisted tlat
they such II pointed out
that the trunk lines had entered upon
tract which expressly submitted all disputes arrange
mcn of detail 10 arbitration. The final result OF the dis
css0n OF the matter % suggestion that the penalty
Of cutoff be eliminated from the November agreement
t admitted that the provision had proved ineffective;
that IN fact II Was nul! and void Wd 1t was siekch
out.
The rest OF the time spent in fruitess dis
cusslOn of means To remedy the situation. On
proposition. however, was "a vote taken IL was the
general opinion OF the American roads that the system OF
tempOrzlng with the West Shore and LtckswHnna had
proved failure and that all the measures ndoptcd for
preserving the trl had broken down. The lines which
had maintained the tarn their business carried away
by those which cut. while all attempts TO induce
the ROAD, to enter tho pool In good latin
had como nhught. The PcnDsylyania ana
the Now York Central conidont OF being ablH 10
secure their full proportions Of business terms equal
to those gdned ny the new lines and the Erie which
has suffered heavy loss bound traffic. felt able
TO compete With them II released from obligations TO
MAINTAIN tan rates. The trunk lines considered that
the line, found that their pool compo tors would
meet them every point they would soon be Wiling 10
nccopt the pooling agreement The meeting adjourned
without any further formal action but IL understood
that oach should DO at liberty to make any rates
nsoosaary to preserve ITS proportion Ia tho pool