Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1889-08-09
THE ROCK ISLANDS POSITION.
General Manager 81. Johns Reply to the
Statement of Alton oGioiais.
.n.. I.a.L- MI

GBrom the Chicago Tlmesl
General Manager Sc John, OF tho Chicago,
Rook Island q Pacific road, authorizes tho
following statement In roply to assertions
recently made by Vice President ]. O.
McMullin OF the Chicago & Alton in pub
lished interview;
Nh McMullin, In q inter-
view, has clearly defined the present posi-
tion md policy of tho Alton road. 1t Is
to Insist on through rates being made on q
basis that will give to II a fair share OF tho
traffic which goes to and comes from
points west OF Kansss City. Ho 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 a shipment tho tariffs of all the
lines ms heretofore adjusted provided for
through ratio somewhat less than tho
sum Of two locals This practice was
oiples OF rate making as universally prac-
ticed by carriers, and has beon approved
by the interstate commerce Commission,
which in recent case used the following
language: As through rates are mado by the
American system OF roads, agreed percent-
ages of the total rate, considerably less in
amount than the local rates of roads reoeiv-
ing such percentages, arc usually leading
feature, and IL is em!nently proper Us q
general rule that this should be so n
Commerce and trade require 1t aud compe-
tition oompels it. Such rates, when rea-
sonably and fairly adjusted TO local bust
mesa, are greatly favored in the law, be-
causo they furnish oheaponed rates and
greater facilities to the public whllo Mt the
same time they give Increased employ
mont and earnings to larger number Of
carriers
"ln the rates az adjusted heretofore
upon livestock traffic from points in KAN
sas, 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, ho says that he pro-
poses to get what he calls n 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 His
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 1t has
furnished means to construct and this he
will do by reducing tho established rhte
from Kansas City to Chicago This declara-
ton follows his announcement at the com
mencement OF the same interview that thr
Alton does not out any rates; IL only reduces
when necessary to meet cut rates of other
roads' Yet the Alton has lust forced
large reduction in all rates on live stock and
products from Kansas City to Chicago In ac-
cordance 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
the lines where the livestock shipments
originate those lines must meet the reduc-
ton In the local and at the same time re-
dues their through rate correspondinrly.
This is necessary for their preservation;
they will not think that they can reasona-
bly, be asked to cut their lines In two for
the benefit Of the Alton, nor can the latter
justly expect them TO surrender traffic
which they have constructed long lines of
road to secure This step will apparently
involve new reduction by the Alton to
the level OF tho new proportionate rates'
and the process will be repeated until all
tho lines are doing business at loss and
Eomebody surronders
''Ihe association has no desire to punish
tho Alton for its withdrawal nor for any
thing else. Action necessary for the pro-
lection OF its lines against the Atoms raid
Will probably be taken, however"