New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-28
TILE K1R IN RATES.
CONDEMNED BY RAILROAD
MANAGERS.
THE CAUSES or THE CONFLICT AND TIE IN
poRTANT ISSUES INVOLVED.

rs ~ THE CONFLICT AND THE M
PoRTANT ISSUES INVOLVED.
cy,c,co. Feb 25.-It Is very difficult to find among
railway managers here an apoiogst for the cAlsuhs
rot, war ON the contrary, tho sentiment Is Heev
.v,re.sed that a condition of things which can pro
- spch a wides pread and bitter conflict, at
r,o1 when tho transportation business is unusually
active must necessarily bctohcn great inherent I'M
,o,rmcut OF tho methods OF railway management III
Tho West aud Northwest generally. gluse VINO nave
,rofered their services and expended much NaiuaDo
to in efforts TO harmonic tbs flc:ion5 engaged IN
Tho nrcsent strife do not attempt 10 cohccal theH
ch.grln nj the outcome of thcar work The cry oil
con hogan t." which pcrsstently kept up between
ho 81 Paul and tho Burlington roads. IL OF little con
seouepce lust now. 1t has even ceased to be anus
ing m for short time It was, owing to its resem-
Msnce to a juvenile quarrel Important issues are
involved aud the main question now IS. "What shall
We do to bring the fight to speedy end"
Railway managers possessed Of high regulations
for ability acquired by long years CT cxacting labor,
Iook upon tho present condition OF things as in
large though not always Just, measure a reflection
unon themselves. They realize that tho picture pre-
sented IS not acceptable 10 the Investors In railway
properties and certainly no. crcdtable to thor own
skll in the management OF trusts committed to their
charge They feel that the different roads must either
perform their functions In manner that shall satisfy
not only the public, but those whose capital Is en-
barked In the bus mess, they must all share alike
the censure ard oidm inevitably resulting from tho
continuance OF warfare and the betrayal OF bad faith
among themselves. They know that matter how
consc.entiously they, individuals, may have sought
to discharge theg duties, their critics will not pause
to discriminate but all VIII be judged alike under the
general classification Of railway managers.
To review the remote causes which have led to
these disturbances would simply be to repeat what
has been many times already said, just as the results
were long ago foretold The rapid development OF
the country has led the extension of the older lines
into and through and unsettled sections and The
construction OF parallel loads far In advance OF
the requirements of the times. The gradual exten-
son Of old established lines Is natural growth, in
esponse to the needs OF an advancing cNilizat'on'
and much Of this has been in recognition OF appeals
from pioneers, who though widely scattered, always
desire railway facilities for reaching the distant mar
kets. these facilities once secured, demand for
con rcllon follows, which Is TOO often met and
struggle ensues between the roads, one OF which,
Ii confined TO given territory even oi vast extent
could hope to operate IT with profit for years TO come
on any basis of that IL might be found practical
bic 10 exact Tho situation FOR long tiihc has Also
been complicated by local legislation unfriendiJ TO me
roads. Much of this has been OF uiufsHhaole orisi
and disastrous to the wealer lines BANKRUPTCY ana
absorption by other Interests have resulted, mo sh
tho competition has been unendlnS ana 9IWays III
creasng. until state Of rivalry exists when reSoni
bles a dcS lcTaic struggle for existence Itself on the
part Of those engaged IN it. AT the same Time there
Is no lack Of tralic there Is oniy an apparent Isch
Of skill In operating the roads that the business may
done without friction ana on 4 OASIS OF equity
The present comes. too al period when all the
roads are occupied through their mcnagers, In shap-
ing plans for the conduct of their business in accord
ance with tho requirements OF The Interstate com
Inerce law This law IS yet on trial, ana gucs-
tons are constantly arising which IL IS necessary 10
adjust pnptly conformity to lis provisions; Tor
IL has already had the effect Of rcvolufionizng Ill
many respects the method of railway transportation
II may be charitable perhaps, TO assume thar some
of tho differences between the lines involved In me
existing controversy might be traced 10 the fact tha
the reimbursement Of methods undo. the new conh-
lions has not been completed and theif Availability
thoroughly tested. ,,
that some basis Of agreement must be reached or
which tho Hines be operated with pr0ft 10 their
owners and Justice To the public Those VINO are
endeaV0ring 20 effect that result cannot Lopo 10 ac
compIish anything II the few who are either Directly
or remotely res pOnsiblc for the present trouble meet
In captions spirit OF OPPOSITION every 8dVaufe ,ha
is made looking TO agreement for the reesaolish
mcnt of rates. This appears 30 have been the spirit
thus far manifested in tho meetings already held'
Tho Chicago Burlington and Northern led the pro
ceSsion III the wayWard direction Ihs Chicago, Bur
lngtOn and Quincy, which had long stood 10 inc ~.
discipline on the plea Of lack Of responsibility the
ST Paul agsins. which The action Of the first named
company seemed 20 be especially directed. accepted
the challenge that had been thrown down, and the
others have followed in concert with to Leaders III
the movement How far socalled controlling sys-
TEN can control Q branch o. that system Will probably
he one Of the questions answered In the progress OF the
negotiations for peace which are still pending, and
whatever tho answer may be II viii have an impor-
ant bearing upon The permanent Character OF Ifsinc
associations in the future. Meanwhile the pool sys
tenn having been abandoned. the weak roads must ne
the greatest sufferers masmUch as there Is now no
provision heretofore, for their compensation.