The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-02
HAVE NOT DEFIED THE LAW
Railway Managers Say They Have Not
Established Traffic Pools.
Their Agreements Do Not Conflict with the
Interstate Commerce Act-A Way to Stop
Rate Cutting-The vandalia Line.


In view of the reports extensively pup
1ished after the meeting of the trunk-line
presidents in New York. Nov 1t. to the eff
feet tina the Eastern roads had decided to
establish q pool. representatives of interest
ed lines in Chicago think that on explana-
tion is due to them and to the public. As
IL well known, the Trunk-line Association.
j. f. Goddard, commissioner, has TO do
with the traffic between the Atlantic sea-
board and Buffalo. Pittsburg and Wheel
ing; the Central Traffic Association. Geo.
X. Blanchard, commissioner, with
traffic between the latter points
and Chicago, Indianapolis, st. Louis.
etc. The joint committee. composed
of the presidents and chief executive OFF,
GERS of lines in both associations. deals with
through traffic In which both associations
are interested. Heretofore there has been
no separate chairman for the joint commit
tee. and in this respect the appointment Of
A. +. Walker to that position marks q new
departure. Mr.. Walker has assumed the
duties of his new office and established his
headauarters on the eighth floor of the
Rookery, Chicago. Both these associations.
as well as the Joint committed. came into
existence In their present form in 1887. con-
tem~poraneously with the taking effect OF
tie Interstate-commerce law, and
constitute the machinery necessary
of the law in the matter of the establish
ment and publication of rates. In order
that less direct lines might obtain Q por-
ton of the traffic q series Of west-bound
set, giving shippers an opportunity of OBJ
tanning reduced charges in consideration
of a little longer time and of facilities in
some respects q little less desirable. In
posed to give this ditferential system some
what greater ~fiexibility by changing the
differenfials from time to time. and q diff
ferential basis may possibly be introduced
east-bound if the conditions affecting the
movement of traffic shall ultimately seem
Co SO require.
The statements which have been made
that the trunk-line and joint committee
presidents had decided to establish a pool
on worlds fair business. or a blind pool of
freight. or any other kind of q pool. in dis
regard of the provisions OF the Interstate
Law f~orbidding the pooling OF freiRhts, Is
entirely incorrect. No such action has
been taken. On the contrary. the plan now
agreed upon does not differ In this respect
from that which has been in existence ever
since the law took effect. and which has
never been claimed by any intelligent Der:
It's provisions. At the same time it
may be said that the anti. pooling
section Of the law 10 believed by railway
take, and Its introduction is claimed by
them to have practically rendered the
leading objects of the law impossible of at
tainment. They. therefore. hope for the
~yection. not regarding this as IN attack
npon the law, but as a method of strength
ening Its provisions. 1t 10 believed that
agreements of this nature. now prohibited,
-~-l1 -.hlA an~a~ Aa
among themselves such a fair distribution
of the business as would minimize the in
ducement for illegal rate cutting and would
enable the provisions OF the law against
the payment of rebates, commissions and
other forms of unjust discrimination to be
more thor oughly enforced.
The special committee of managers ap-
pointed to report o plan for q division of
journed last evening until next Monday.
At yesterdays session an agreement was
reached regarding the territory west of the
Missouri river to be embraced in the pro-
Northwestern territory will receive consid.
alton.
The vandalia System.
The Terre Haute & indianapolis Rail
road Company now, through ownership OF
by lease. operates $40 miles of road. and
every mile of it Is so located that it's bust
" otChuily iuCAOooC. III tbO nO'
distant future the favorable terms or
which Its leased lines are operated will be-
como apparent. and no one of the leased
lines gives better promise than the Terrs
Hsute q Peoria, which, thirty days ago
game into full control of the II. 81 1. Ths
I. ii. IL i. Railroad Company owns FROM
Indianapolis to Illinois State line, 76 miles
with coal branches, 45 miles; total, IN
miles. Leases Terre Haute IL Logansport
1s3 miles; ST. Louis. Vandalia d Terrs
Haute, 15s miles; Indiana * Lake Michigan
Mich. 20 miles: Terre Haute * Peoria [lesa
7milee l. H.. ~ /. t~rackagel, 165 miles: to
tal. $40 miles. Leases the ST. Louis. Van
dalia q Terre Haute on JOINT account witt
Louis. at so per cent. of gross earnings. bn'
guarantees the frat and second-mortgag,
bonds. In 1890 o general settlement wa
made with the st. Louis, Vandalia * Terr,
the payment of s2S7. Isl in cash and Sf57, Cos
in notes. payable SIS, 900 monthly, begin.
ming with Aug. 1, 1890. This company own.
$4,000 common and s326.O0O preferred
Haute. The Indiana x Lake Michigan il
leased for ninety-nine years. and Its bonds
guaranteed principal and interest. Tbs
Terre Haute 81 Logansport owns from
lensed Rockville to Terre Haute. % miles
total operated, 1873 miles. Leased
by Terre Haute & I~ndianapoli
Tor ninety-nine years from December. 1879
at 25 per cent. of gross earnings and frs
mortgage bonds guaranteed by that com
pany. The Terre Haute IL Peoria is oper
ated from Terre Haute, Ind. via Decatur
TO Peoria. Ill. 172 miles. of which LA mile
are owned and % miles Is By trackaRe owe
other roads. liz was formed In January
1887. as successor of the Illinois Midland
In September, 1892. it was leased for ninety
nine years 10 the Terre Haute a. Indianap
oils at a rental of so per cent. of gross earn
ings. with n minimum sufficient to pay III
terest on debt. The stockholders of tn
Terre Haute 81 Indianapolis have bee
paid dividends since 1876. q portion of th
time \ per cent. per annum, and In no yea
less than q per cent.
How Can Be Stopped.
James Charlton. general passenger agen
of the Chicago & Alton, has made himsel
as prominent in the last few weeks In hi
efforts to bring about maintenance of rate
as he was in the generalization of the.
two years ago. and il is stated that many O
she general passenger agents of the West
ern lines are inclined to his policy ms re
CARDS the Chicago and Ohio River Trafii