St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-06-09
ALL TO NO PURPOS Sc.
Western Freight Association
Representatives Fail to Estab-
lish a Vivendi.

Western Freight Association
Representatives Fail to Estab-
lish Vivendi.
A meeting was held in the Ryan
hotel yesterday of committee APP
pointed by the Western Freight asso-
citation to investigate the freight rate
situation and endeavor the establish a
modus vivendi The conferrees were
Messrs. Henry d. Minot, F. b. Clarke,
J. II. HIland, II. C. Wicker, w. B.
Hamblin and H. ID. Strute. The meeting
failed to bridge the breach. Absolutely
no result can be reported. and the Situa-
ton remains the same as before. The
Lake Superior lines intimated that they
must be allowed a ditferentlal, to which
the Chicago lines replied that, appar-
emily, they wanted the earth. The
statement was made that the Superior
lines are now handling 50 per cent of
the through freight, aud the. ques-
ton was asked on what basis they
laid claim to differential as
against the Chicago lines. The latter
offered to allow them ditferential rate
for sixty days, in order to ascertain how
the tonnage is distributed; at the end OF
the sixty days a committee of three to
be appointed, one selected by the Chi
cago and one by the Superior lines. these
two to select the third. To this COM
mittee the matter was to be left for settle
ment. This apparently liberal offer met
with an unqualified refusal by the
Lake Superior lines. They. were then
asked to agree to a raise in rates all
around, but this was also refused, and
there the matter rests in Statu quo ante.
How long it will thus remain is prob
lem that none can foresee, but the
peace" prophesied by II. E. Barlow
seems still in the dim distance. Every
line has ''got its back up" Mutual re-
examinations are beard in every
freight agents office. The Milwaukee
curses the Burlington, the Central
curses the Milwaukee, the Omaha
stands pat. The Burlington threatens
to cut local rates unless something is
done at once. The 500 has announced
an all-rail rate of SO cents to the sea-
board. The Wisconsin Central and
Omaha say they will meet any rate
that cali be made. The next item in
the interesting and highly entertaining
performance will undoubted be the
slashing of local rates. These are ut
terly out of proportion to the through
rates, as these latter stand at present,
ana must OIL Necessity Guilt uOWH. JuSG
OIL what basis the Lake Superior lines
can demand ditferential rate is hard
to see. 1t looks as if they wanted
to get the 90 per cent OF
the business which now comes by
way of Chicago. Not content with so
per cent, they are struggling for the
other 20, and at present seem to have
the bull by the horns. The cutting will
evidently be done by the Burlington
and Milwaukee, if they keep up their
recent record. The Omaha's position,
as defined by Marvin Hughitt, is that it
protests against the cutting, but,
in justice to its patrons, will meet
any cut made by other roads.
1t will not allow itself to be placed in the
position of demOrallZer, however, and
President Colby, of the Wisconsin Cen
trail, takes just about the same position.
The only good thing about the war is
the cheap freight rates that shippers
get, but this apparent advantage is Off
Set by the absolute impossibility of
knowing that the rate will not be re-
duced before his goods reach their des-
tinatlon and some other fellow get a
lower rate still.