The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-08-21
THE ROCK ISLANDS POSITION.
0eneral Manager st. Johns Reply 70 the
Statement Of Alton OmcialA

0enerai Manager st. Johns Reply TO the
Statement OF Alton OnacialA
IFror the Chicago Timesl
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 J. q.
McMullin of the Chicago 4 Alton In pub
Mr.. McMulIin, in recentpublished inter.
view, has clearly defined the present posi-
ton and policy of the Alton road 1t 10
TO insist on through rates being made on .
basis that win give to 1t fair share of the
trafhc 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 shipment the tariffs Of all the
lines as heretofore adjusted provided for
sum Of two locals This practice was
In accordance with well 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 the local rates of roads receiv-
feature, and 1t Is eminently proper as Q
general rule that this should be So =
Commerce and trade require 1t and compe-
tition compels 1t. Such rates, when rea.
eonably and fairly adjusted to local bust
ness, are greatly favored In the law, be-
cause they furnish cheapened rates and
greater facilities to the public, while at the
same time they give Increased employ.
ment and earnings to larger number Of
carriers.
I'm the rates as adjusted heretofore
upon livestock traffic from points in Kan
sas, Indian Territory, Texas etc, through
tween the sums of the locals and the
through rates was an entirely reasonable
difference, and the tariffs in question were
precisely upon the line of the resolution
which Mr.. McMullin quotes approvingly.
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 Hi
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 it ha.
furnished means to construct and this hi
will do by reducing the established rate
from Kansas City to Chicago This declara
ton follows his announcement at the com
mencement of the same interview that the
Alton does not cut any rates; 1t only reduce
when necessary to meet cut rates of Othel
roads Yet the Alton has Just forced
large reduction in all rates on live stock ant
products from Kansas City to Chicago In 40
cOrdance with the policy above stated
Naturally and inevitably when the AltOl
reduces it's rate from Kansas City to tn,
division OF the through rate charged upol
the lines where the livestock shipment
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 in two TO
the benefit Of the Alton, nor can the latte
Justly expect them to surrender traffi
which they have constructed long lines @
road to secure This step will apparentl
involve a new reduction by the Alton t
the level OF the new proportionate rates
and the process will be repeated until a
tho lines are doing business at loss an
somebody surrenderR
1.-THE association has no desire to punis
the Alton for its withdrawal nor for an
thing else. Action necessary for the pre-
lection of its lines against the Atoms raj
will probably be taken, however"