The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-05-08
POOLING,
Ito Advantages Recounted at
Some Length
BY Leading Railroad Men-How the
Interstate Commerce Law
Affects Trunk Lines.

Interesting Testimony Given Before the
Senate Committee Investigating the Re-
latlons of Canadian to American Rail.
roads.
NEW YoaK, May 7.-The Senate commit
tee to investigate the relations OF the Cana
dian TO the American railroads met yester-
day morning at the Fifth Avenue Hotel,
Senator Cullom, Of Illinois, in the chair. AL
bert Fink, chairman Of the Trunk Line AS
sociation, stated that he was the represent
atiye Of tho trunk lines running from the
eastern seaboard to the Mississippi river.
In answer TO questions regarding the Grand
Trunk road, what it controls and how 1t
ships freight to New England and New
York, Mr.. Fink said:
"Freight TO New England is shipped over
the Boston g. Maine apdfitchburg. To New
York IL comes in over She New York Cen
trail Going further West, freight 10 shipped
over the Delaware & Lackawanna, West
Shore and Lake Erie, Ontario & Western.
The Grand Trunk has q whole network OF
roads running into It, both from the north
and south. Tho Chicago & Grand Trunk 10
the principal American road which the
Grand Trunk controls. A great deal OF bus
mess is done on roads over which theG
Trunk system has no control"
In reply to further questions Mr.. Fink
said. .'The trunk lines In the United States
are the New York Central, Erie, Ontario
g. Western, Pennsylvania, New Jersey Cen
tral, Baltimore g. Ohio and the Lake Shore.
The Western roads have an association OF
their own, but when IL becomes necessary
| for the mutual benefit of all the roads to ar
/ range freights, etc., joint commission, Of
which am chairman, meets and arrange
ments are made"
| 'Is there any difference in the manage
, ment Of the pool now and before the pass
age of the Interstate Commerce lswp
q There is. The pool does not now attempt
/ to direct freight, nor does IL divide prohts.
t In other respects the pool snow as 1t always
. has been.n
"Is there any discrimination In rates made
among the roads in the poole"
: ''The Canadian Grand Trunk Is allowed 70
: make discount on all freight. 1t always
y has done so and II IL was not allowed To
make reduced rate 1t would have 10 goou'
!, Of business It's road is longer and It's ship
! pers have always had low rate and they
. expect It,"
y In reply to the question why the Canadian
roads Of late have been steadily increasing
. their freight business, Mr.. Fink said he die
= not know unless II was that they had th'
: advantage OF carrying freight brought b!
|. subsidized English steamship lines.
" HAS the Canadian trunk line any natura
:, advantages over American roadsln
" mo, sir"
~ ,, 'Then why do some Of the roads need dif
a ferential ratesi"
sin most cases because they are not frs
class roads"
''Then Is not the manner in which tn
railroad business OF this country Is cor
o' Quoted an argument in favor Of the consol
!, dation OF all the various roads under on
central management by the Statel"
In THAT is what we are coming to," reptile
,r Mr.. Fink, "but for the PRESENT. believe thi
n. II is better for the roads TO remain undt
Ia the present management"
4, BY Senator Hiscock k-'After two years {
ia prohibition against pooling, please give Z
az your views upon its effects and reasons,
na any, why pooling should be legallzedi"
on Answer-"It Is the object Of the Inte
ny State law 10 make fixed rate and maintai
ho II by furnishing those who break Il. In poo
he ing the same end was arrived at, but instes
Of furnishing offenders the pool was so o
th ranged that every road in the pool could g
at an equal share In the profits and freigh
By Since the law against pooling has been
an force there has not been o single punisl
He mont for violating II. The reason Is tn
lin there are only flv6 commissioners and thei
es are 10000 miles Of road 10 look out for, on
rs, since tho passage Of that law there has bee
Iat more scheming and triclfery 70 evade u
ry law than ever before. Under the system,
hs pooling the rates were fairly maintains
nj and II II Ia everlegalized they will be again
ng Tho next witness was President King,
on the Erie road He stated that the passas
Iy Of the Interstate Commerce law and u
OF abolition OF pooling has cost the Erie 70.
IN. about ono million dollars. Under the poe
le, ing system the Erie road received s500,0
year as It's share In the profits Of the poo
When the Interstate Commerce law vi
passed this income ceased, aud although u
~, Erie road now has differential rate TO u
~ Westlt can get none Of the eastward boun
~ Mr.. King was unable TO explain why Il
,ou Canadian Grand Trunk road was able 10 z
W 30 much business unless because IL was
W. the habit Of giving rebate.
~ BY Senator Blair-"Do you know OF al
liu good that the Interstate Commerce law b
H donei''
'Yes IL has shown the roads that there
q stronger power than they are and h
on forced the roads into practical competiti
no with each other"