Omaha daily bee., 1889-11-03
TIE NEBRASKA COAL RATES.
Railroad Representatives Fighting
the Proposed Revision.
CHIEF POINTS IN CONTROVERSY
Yesterdays Conference in This City
With the Members OF the State
Board of Transportation
-Lccsc's Views.
Object to. a Revision.

OHJeCt 10. " teVtStOn.
just now the representatives OF the rail
roads doing business In Nebraska are en-
deavoring to explain to the state board Of
transportation wherein the latter made
mistake in issuing mandatory order in.
structing the roads TO reduce the rate on
anthracite coal between local points, so as to
make II the same as the present rate on soft
COAL At a meeting held In this city yester
day, for the purpose of discussing the issue,
the following representatives of the roads
interested were present:
Union Pacific by Assistant General Traffic
Manager Munroe and Assistant General At
torney Kelley; the Burlington by Thomas
Miller and A. Is. Smith, general and assist
ant general freight agents. respectively: the
Missouri Pacific by j. o. Philhppi, assistant
general freight and passenger agent and d.
Il. King, contracting freight agent; the Elk
horn BY General Manager Burt and General
Freight Agent Morchouse; the Rock Island
by s. s. Stevens; the st. Paul & Omaha by
General Agent Pool. The Santa Fe was
also represented.
Messrs. Glchrist and CARRIER, secretaries,
and Thomas II. Benton and Attorney. Gen
eral Lecse, members OF the state board,
were also present.
The substance of the order affecting the
coal rates, u full report of which has pre-
viously been published in THE Bee calls for
the revision Of tho local rates-the rate on
anthracite coal To be reduced so as to be
made the same as soft coal The difference
as regards the existing rates IS about Is per
cent.
The situation was discussed behind closed
doors. The stand taken by the railroads
was that a difference should be made in the
rates as regards hard and soft coal; the rate
on the latter should be lower, because it is a
more common commodity. The members
of the board declined to enter into any con-
tr0versy, giving as u reason that quorum of
the board was not present; and that they
did not come with the understanding that
they would be In anv way called upon to act
In an official capacity, but on the other hand
as spectators.
Nevertheless the railway officials argued
the situation, stating that If the rates, as
ordered by the board, were to be put In,
money would be lost handling the material.
They claimed that the rate estimated by the
board was lower on hard coal than 1t would
be II established on the distance tariff of
Iowa.
1t was agreed that the railroads should
prepare a reply and forward the same in
writing to the board. The railway officials
then went into executive session, the mem
bers OF the board retiring, and, after passing
the following resolution, adjourned to meet
hgain in the afternoon:
Resolved, That the chairman be instructed
10 request the board of transportation of
Nebraska to modify their order of October
20, so far as 1t applies TO hard coal. it being
understood that, pending their decision, the
railroad companies are not to be required to
publish any rates on coal under said order.
In the afternoon the railway officials again
conRregated, ana discussed the situation
further. The actual result of the conference
could not be asccrtained, but one of the Off
c,als stated that a revised tariff had been
agreed upon by the railroad element. 1t
provided, he said, Tor u distance rate, and
would be material reduction in the present
tariff on anthracite coal. The new rate will
be based on weight and distance, the latter
to be regulated on a scale Of 100 miles. This
action will be conveyed to the board, and
the latter will be asked to pass upon it Off
cally within the next ten days.
Attorney General Leese, who is member
O. the board, when questioned concerning
the action Of the roads regarding the rates
on coal, said:
81, for one, have made up my mind to
bring the roads doing business in Nebraska
to terms. They have played around the
bush long enough. As to the revision OF the
coal rates, the action of the board should be
carried out, and the roads should be COM
PEELED to live up to it, They claim that if
our order is not revised the hauling of coal
will be loss to the roads; that the rates
would then be lower than they would be
under the Iowa distance tariff. They even
had the audacity to say that the rates
charged were the proportion of tie through
tariff. Now, l say that when they made
these statements they grossly misrepre.
sented the true facts in the case. On the
other hand, the rates under our order are
IA cents higher than they would be If the
Iowa distance tariff were recognized in the
making of the rate IL L am not BADLY mis-
taken the local rate on hard coal has no
bearing whatever with the through
rate under the existing regulations.
want to say this, that il the road furnish
indisputable evidence that the board has
erred in the provisions of ivs order, then
will be willing to qualify our action; but
unless this is proven, /, for one, will stand
by the order, a1d will do all within my power
to see that 1t is enforced, and lived up to-"
Secretary Gilchrist did not manifest any
desire to express himself on the question in
controversy. He declined to answer the
questions propounded TO him by reporter,
and, assuming a Sulivanic attitude, stated
that he was guest of the railroads and had
nothing to say"