St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-09-28

0oaeeal Manager o. Jehab Reply - tAo
Oento0ono a Alsoo OOeiola.

osasssl Manager o. JsAas Reply - ~
Statement Il Alsoa O0eialA
tFrou The Chicago Tinsa.l
Book lsland 4 Pacific road, author1sss thi
following statement In reply to assertions
Eeoently made BY vice-Preaident J. q
Hc4ulhn Of the Chicago Alton IN . pub
mi: HcNaliis. In . recent published inter.
view, has clearly defined the present posi-
ton and policy Of the Alton rod II 4
TO 'lnsist on through rates being made On {
basis that win give to II fair shars Of the
points west q KANSAS City. Hs illus:
tratss his meaning By citing q shipmsnt Of
i've stock from Topeka on the Rocn !sland
road through Kansas City 70 Chicago
Upon such . shipment the tariffs Of all the
lines - heretofore adjusted provided foz
. through rate somewhat less than the
sum Of two l0calA This practice va
in accordance with we'll recognised prin-
ciples OF rate-making - universally pracs
decd By carriers, and has been approved
BY the intsEstats commerce commission,
which IN arecent case used the following
language: As through rates are made by the
American system OF roads. agreed percent
ages OF the total rata, considerably less in
amount than the local rates Of roads receiv-
Ing such percentages. are usually leading
general rule that this should b so . .
Commerce and trade require It and compe-
tftion compels Il Such rates. when req.
sonaoly and fairly adjusted TO local buai-
cause they furniah oheapensd rates and
greater facilities to the public, while at the
same time they give Increased employ
ment add earnings 70 . larger number q
I'm the rates - adjusted heretofore
Nx~ 49, fra 20 a..
ssa. Indian Territory. Texas. etc, through
Kansas City to Chicago. the difference be-
tween the sums OF tho 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 approvtnGly.
Notwithstanding this. he says that he pro-
poses to go1 what he calls . fair share Of
the tariff by reducing the local rate from
Kansas City to Chicago to the amount Of
the propoTtiOnato rate between these
points charged By the Rock Island ON the
''This statement In certainly candid His
limo has no extension west OF Kansas City.
The Rock Island haA He proposes to make
the latter divide with him txafdo which
originates upon the extension that It has
furnished means to construct and this he
will do BY reducing the established rate
from Kansas City to Chicago This declare
ton follows his announcement 1t the COM
mencemeut Of the same interview that the
Alton does not cut any rates; It only reduces
when necessary to meet cut rates OF other
roadA' Yet the Alton has just forced .
large reduction In all rates on live stock and
products from Kansas City to Chicago In &C.
cordancs 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
tho lines where the livestock shipmonta
originate thoaD lines must meet the reduc-
ton In the local and ut the same time re-
duce their through rate eorrespondinQly.
This II necessary for their preservation;
they will not think that they can reasons.
bly, be asked to cut their lines In two for
the benefit OF the Alton, nor can the latter
Justly expect them to surrender tTafa0
which they have constructed long lines OF
road 70 secure. This atep will apparently
involve . new reduction BY the Alton %
tho level OF the new proporti0nate rates.
and the process will DO repeated until an
tho lines are doing business ut . loD and
somebody surrendera
The ass0ciation has NO desire to punish
the Alton for its withdrawal nor for any
thing else. Action necessary for tho pro-
lection Of its lines against the Atoms raid
will probably bs taken however"