The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1889-08-10
THE ROCK ISLANDS POSITION.
General Manager st. Johns Reply to the
Statement of Alton OfficialS,

General Manager St. Johns Reply to the
Statement of Alton Oficials.
From Chicago Times.
General Manager St John, of the Chicago,
Rock lsl;ni Il Pacific road, authorizes the
following statement in reply to assertions
McMullin OF the Chicago & Alton in pub
lshed interviews;
Mr. McMullin, in recent published inter-
view, has clearly defined tho present posi-
ton and policy of the Alton road It is
to insist on through rates being made on a
basis that Will give to it a fair share of the
traffic which goes to and comes from
points west Of Kansus City. He illus
trates his meaning by citing 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 for
a through rate somewhat less than the
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 throughrates are made by tho
American system of roads, agreed percent
ages OF the total rate, considerably less in
amount than the local rates of roadsreceiv-
Ing such percentages, are usually leading
feature, and it is eminently proper as q
general rule that this should be So !: * i
Commerce and trade require it and conpe-
tition compels it. Such rates, when rea.
| sonably 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 a larger number Of
carriers
In the rates Us adjusted heretofore
upon livestock traffic from points in KAN
9as, Indian Territory, Texas, etc, through
Kansas City to Chicago, the difference be-
| 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 u 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 Oh the
through shipment.
''This statement is certainly candid. Ills
line has no extension west of Kansas City.
The Rock Island has. He PROPOSES to make
thu latter divide with him traffic which
originates upon the extension that it has
furnished means to construct and this he
I will do by reducing the established rata
from Kansas City to Chicago. This declara-
ton follows his announcement at the COIN
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 a
large reduction in all rates Oh live stock and
products from Kansas City to Chicago in &C
cordance with the policy above stated.
Naturally and inc vitality when the Alton
reduces it's rate from Kansas City to the
division OF the through rate charged upon
the lines where the livestock Shipments
originate those lines must meet the reduc-
ton i'll 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.
i bly, be asked to cut their lines in two for
the benefit OF the Alton, nor can the latte.
Justly expect them to surrender traffic
which they have constructed long lines O!
road to secure. This step will apparently
involvo a new reduction by the Alton to
Il the level OF the new 'propcrtionate rates ::
and tho process will be repeated until ali
the lines are doing business at a loss nnd
!somebo(ly s,1rrenders
u 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 be taken, however"