The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-08-29
THE RATES TOO HIGH.
Chicago Merchants Revolt Against
the Transcontinental Tariff.
The Freight Charges From That City
to the Coast Double Those
Frcm New York.

CHICAGO. Aug 2s.-Not since the
interstate commerce act went into ei-
feet has anything been done by the
railroads that caused so much excite
ment and iil-feeiing among Chicago
merchants as the recent action of the
tranScontinental lines in making rates
from New York The merchants OF
Chieago fail TO comprehend why the
Chicago roads should consent to be-
come parties 70 IN arrangement that
diseTiniasteS 20 oatrageously against
chicago's interests, and is ealeslate,l
70 prevent Chicago from competing
from the East for Pacific Coast traffic.
Even trunk line managers, who have
all the advantage under the tariff, have
emphatically refused to Join in the
new through rates. on the ground that
they are contrary 10 the interstate
law and that they could not afford TO
JOIN in tariff that makes rates from
interior pos.ts in their territory 10 the
Pacific coast much higher than rates
from seaboara points.
4 most energetic protest against
been submitted TO the railroad man
ayers by John V. Farwell & Co., Mar
shall Field & Co. J. ). Kirk 4 Co.
and many other prominent firms.
Some OF them declare they viii refuse
to ship any kind OF freight by lines
that accept the new California tariff
These threats are having the desired
effect. and many of the leading West
IL u hot II l.r-
has acted without authority in APP
proving the new tariff.
Three OF the roads wired Mr. Misge-
ley and Chairman Leeds. OF the
Transeoutinental Association. Satur-
day evening, that they repudiate the
nex rates and would not accept them
unless revised SO a 10 give Chicago a
fair show. 4 reply was received from
Chairman Leeds yesterday. saying
that the tariff had been revised. and
that the rates on commodities pro-
duced in Chicago would be made the
same as from New York. This however.
comprises only about twenty-five
articles. while there are thirty pages
of commodiiies on the tariff from New
York. on which rates are not more
than one half OF the rates from Chi
cotton. piece goods. sugar, gluco. e and
many other leading articles which are
shipped from Chicago; consequently
the conces sion made by the transcon-
tineutal roads does not better the sit
uation
The leading merchants here declare
they will not stand the discrimination,
and that they viii not go before the
interstate commission with their
grievances, bat bring suits in the
United states courts against any road
that charges discriminating and ur-
lawful rates. The indications are that
the roads between Chicago and the
Missouri river will Tepudiate Mr
Midceley's strange action, and will
initiate the example OF the trunk lines
and require from transcontinental
roads full rates.
Mr.. Niigeley has sent a private
communication 10 the members OF the
Pacific Coast Association. with an eN-
planation OF his action. According TO
Mr. Aidgeley's explanation, Mr..
Blanchard and members Of the COM
mittee took decided grounds against
discrimination % the pacific coast
He advised that local rates he mad.
between Chicago and 81 Louis, and
that no bills ot ladirg lie given unless
the transcontineutal lines would e.
tabli-h 4 tariff in the way ogtlined by
the trunk lines.
The Chicago people have nothing fo
10 with the personal quarrel between
the trunk and the transcontineatal
roads. They merely demand fair and
equal treatment and the protection Ol
their interests