St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-03-17
THE BURLINGTON STRIKE.
The Rock Island Declines to Help the Bur-
lington Senator CuIlom Non-Comn1it

The Rock Island Declines to Help the Bur-
lington Senator CuIlom Nom n-Commit
tai
ST. JOSEPH, Mo, Marcn 9.-The officials
of the Hannibal q St. Joseph yesterday
took steps to compel connecting lines to
handle it's freights to points west and
south. The first move was against the
Chicago, Kansas & Nebraska. In the
afternoon w. K. Adams, local freight agent
of the Hannibal & st. Joseph, addressed a
letter to o. o. Brooks, joint agent of the
Rock Island & Chicago, Kansas & Ne
braska, calling his attention to four cars of
lumber billed to points in Nebraska and
Kansas on the Chicago, Kansas & Ne
braska, which had been set out at the
transfer. subject to the action Of the Chi
cago, Kansas & Nebraska. The letter
closed as follows: "If you refuse to accept
and forward these cars full indemnity will
be claimed against you for all damage or
loss which may accrue from such refusal.
Bills have been forwarded to you after the
manner of doing business heretofore fol-
lowed between the two companies"
On receipt of the letter Brooks at once
made verbal answer that he would refuse
to accept the shipments, and said: 'Those
cars were put into our yard by you one
week ago to-day, and were put into train
for transportation, but our engineers re-
fused to haul them. They were according
ly sent back to you. We are powerless to
haul them, and have not yet reached that
point at which we can perform physical
impossibilities. We are satisfied that in
this case no law can touch us"
Before making formal answer he tele-
graphed to headquarters at Chicago for
fresh instructions. stating the case and the
receipt of the letter. The following i'm
perative orders were telegraphed him at
once:
o. 0. Brooks, agent, st. Joseph:
CHICAGO, March 8.-Since the inauguration
OF the strike Of the engineers and firemen on
the Chicago Burlington g. Quincy system it has
been the policy of this company to remain
strictly neutral as between the two parties
This condition will be continued until you are
further advised. Representatives of this COM
pany are not sustained in switching or handling
the cars OF the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
railroad OF it's allied lines under present condi-
tions This company declines to injure all of its
connections as well as the public in attempting
to help any one OF them. H F. ROYCE,
General Superintendent.
An answer in accordance with the above
was at once sent to the Hannibal Il st. Jo-
Scpu dScut. lAo OIduu 1sltuu diSu IeiuScS
to Interchange freight, and the embargo
still continues.
CULLoM NON-COMMITTAL.
WASHINGTON, March 9.-Senator Cullom
being asked this morning for an express
sion of opinion upon the probable operation
Of the Interstate Commerce law upon
roads which might decline to interchange
traffic with the Chicago, Burlington &
Quincy, said: "a Ii that deem it proper to
say, under the circumstances, is that the
third section of the Int State Commerce
act contains the following provision:
Every common carrier subject to the
provisions of this act, shall, according
to their respective powers afford
all reasonable, proper and equal facilities
for due interchange of traffic between
their respective lines and for the receiv-
ing, forwarding and delivering of passen-
gers and property to and from their several
lines and those connecting herewith In
view Of my connection with the framing Of
the law, / don't want to be placed in the at
titude of seeming to influence the decisions
of the tribunals which the law itself has
provided for the determination of questions
relating to the construction Of the law or
its violation, and therefore must decline to
be interviewed on the subject"
THE PANHANDLE.
CHICAGO, March 9.-Relations between
the Pan Handle Railroad Company and its
engineers are greatly strained by compli-
cations due to the Burlington strike, and a
meeting of the mems grievance committee
was convened this afternoon to decide the
advisability of declaring strike on the
Pan Handle.