The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-08-21
THE ROCK ISLANDS POSITION.
General Manager st. Johns Reply to tho
Statement of Alton Officials.
IErOm the Chicago Tmosl


Statement of Alton Officials.
From the Chicago Times.l
General Manager St John, Of the Chicago,
Rock Island Il Pacific road authorizes the
following statement in reply to assertions
recently made by Vice President }. q
McMullin Of the Chicago Alton in pub
lished interview;
Mr.. McMullin, in recentpubltshed inter-
view, has clearly defined the present POSI-
ton and policy of the Alton road. 1t is
to insist on through rates being made on
basis that will give T. it fair share OF the
traffic which goes to and comes from
points west OF Kansas City. He Illus
trates his meaning by citing a shipment OF
live stock from Topeka on the Rock Island
road through Kansas City to Chicago.
Upon such a shipment the tariffs OF all the
lines as heretofore adjusted provided tor
through rate somewhat less than the
sum OF two locals This practice was
in accordance with we'll recognized prin-
ciples of rate making as universally prac-
ticed by carriers, and has been approved
by the interstate commerce commission,
which in recent case used the following
language: 'As through rates are made by the
American system of roads, agreed percent
ages of the total rate, considerably less IN
amount than tho local rates Of roads recciy-
ing such percentages, are usually leading
feature, and 1t is eminently proper as !.
general rule that this should be SO.
Commerce and trade require it aud colnpe-
tition compes it; Such rates, when 1sa-
sonably and fairly adjusted to local bus!-
ness, are greatly favored in the law, be-
cause they furnish cheapened rates and
gr eater facilities to the public, while at the
sane time they give increased employ
maui and earnings to larger number OF
carricrB'
I'm the rates as adjusted heretofore
upon livestock traffic from points in Kan
sas, Indian Territory. Texas, etc, through
Kansas City to Chicago, tho difference be-
tween the sums of the locals and the
THROUGH rates was an entirely reasonable
difference and the tariffs in question we're
precisely upon the line of the resolution
which MIR. BIcMullin quotes apprOy1ngly.
Notwithstanding this, he says that he pro-
poses to get what he calls fair share Of
The tariff by reducing the local rate from
Kansas City to Chicago to the amount Of
the proportionate rate between these
points charged by the Rock Island on the
through shipment.
''This statement Is certainly candid. His
line has no extension west of Kansas City.
The Rock Island has He proposes to make
the latter divide with him traffic which
originates upon the extension that 1t has
furnished means to construct and this he
will do by reducing the established ate
from Kansas City to Chicago. This declara-
ton follows his announcement ut tho COM
mencement Of the same interview that the
Alton does not cut any rates; it only reduces
when necessary to meet cut rates of other
roads Yet the Alton has Just forced q
large reduction in all rates on live stock and
products from Kansas City to Chicago in ac-
cordance with the policy above stated
Naturally and inevitably when the Alton
reduces its rate from Kansas City to the
division OF the through rate charged upon
the lines whore the livestock shipments
originate those lines must meet the reduc-
ton in the local and at the same time re-
duce their through rate correspondingly.
This is necessary for their preservation;
they will not think that they can reasona.
bly, be asked to cut their lines i'll two for
the benefit Of the Alton, nor can the latter
Justly expect them to surrender traffic
which they have constructed long lines Of
road to secure This step will apparently
involve new REDUCTION by thu Alton to
the level OF the new proportionate raten;'
and the process will he repeated until all
tho lines are doing business Mt a loss and
somebody surrendrrs.
THE association has no desire to punish
the Alton for it's withdrawal nor for any
thing else. Action necessary for the pro-
lection OF it's lines against the Atoms raid
will probably DO taken however"