Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-09-01
TERRIBLY DEMoRALlzED
Are Affairs Among the Trunk Lines CO.
Ing Out of New York.

ing Out of New York.
New YoRK. September l.-The Times
nys: Affairs among the trunk lines have
for many months been in deplorable
state OF decentralization, and every effort to
fix things" and bring unruly lines under
more complete subjection have met with
signal failure. So fur has this state of ex-
isting decentralization gone that now there
is no hope of reconciliation, no chance left
for the signing Of new agreements more
binding than exploded ones. 1t Is too late
to mend, and in word, the trunk line pool
or association is doomed.
Affairs are in such condition now as to
stigmatize the association as an absolutely
useless and worthless expense, which has
failed utterly TO accomplish any of the OBJ
iects for which Ii was originally formed,
practically a number of years ago, when 1t
was not illegal to call such an association
by that name Which is now SO repugnant TO
the ears of roailroad man, namely, "a
pool"
1t is charged BY members of the associa-
ton that there is no territory in the Uni
ted States where "a number of railroads COM
pete for freight and passenger business,
where the business is so loosely cond ucted
as it has been in New York during the
past year. and to-day this business is in
even worse condition than it has ever
been before. There have ere this been
wars in both freight and passenger business
among the trunk lines, but there has never
been such an utter disregard for the rules
of the association or such universal dis
play of disrespect for those persons at the
head of that concern as is shown to-day by
the lines represented in it. Every line is
making its own freight rates to all points;
every passenger agent signs an agreement
one day. only TO break il the next and
when caught by one OF Mr.. Persons de-
tectives. the agent is called before the COM
missioner Hhd asked for an explanation,
upon which promise is made to reform,
and the Irregularities are continued.
The trunk lines are thoroughly dissatis-
fed with the way in which affairs have
been managed i'll the Association. 1t is
even said that President Roberts has possi-
lively stated that he would never again
enter into an agreement with any other
railroad company. This is not believed,
but it is true that the gentleman has ex-
pressed his dissatisfaction at the present
management and fayors final dissolution
of the pool. A dissolution is favored by
the managers of every line, with the posi-
BILE exception of one or two. 1t may be a
month, perhaps longer, before this is ac-
compllshed. though some of those who
know say that the day is very near at hand
At the office of the association, OF course,
it was positively denied yesterday that
there was any sign of collapse. The
gentleman who has charge of the lmmigra-
ton clearing house department, on the fifth
floor, and who expressed the wish that his
name should not be printed, said that Mr.
Piersoa had not resigned, and did not in
tend to resign. He said there was no talk
among the employees of any impending
trouble whatever. As a matter of fact, a
number of the employees are now looking
for other positions, and the gentleman re-
ferred to expects to leave within two or
three weeks. Il is quite likely that Mr..
Pierson has no intention of resigning until
asked to do so He may not be requested
at al. but il Il still certain that the associa-
ann & In such dsplorable state shat Il has