St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-12-02
IT IS NOT A POOL.
Eastern Roads Deny That
They Entered Into a
Combination.
Officials Believe the Anti
Pooling Section to Be a
Great Mistake.
They Hope for the Repeal or
Amendment Of the
Section.
Dee. 81 VIII Witness the Com
n1OSiOn of tho Ct-oof
Dee. 81 VIII Witness the Com.
pletion of the Great
Northern.

CHICAGO, Dec. LIN view of the re-
meeting OF the trunk lines presidents
in New York, Nov. II, that the Eastern
roads had decided to establish pool,
representatives of the interested lines
here think that an explanation is due to
them and The public. As is well known,
the Trunk Line association, j. +. God
dard, commissioner, has to do with traf-
tic between the Atlantic seaboard and
Buffalo, Pittsburg and Wheeling;
the Central Traffic association, George
r Blanchard, commissioner, with
traffic between all latter points and Chi
cago, St. Louis, etc. The joint commit
tee, composed OF the presidents and
chief executive officers of lines in both
associations, deals with through traffic
now, as both associations are interested.
heretofore there has been 40 separate
chairman for the joint committee. and
in that respect the appointment of AL
dace F. Walker to that position marks
"A New Departure.
Mr.. Walker has assumed the duties of
Lis new office and established his head
quarters on the eighth t'0Or of the
ROOkery, this city.
Both these associate, as II as the
joint committee, CAME 5tence in
their present form in 1891, cuntempOra-
neously with the taking effect of the in
terState commerce law, and constitute
the machinery necessary for conform
ing to the requirements of the law in
the matter of establishment and placing
in effect Of rates. In connection with
the present movement it is proposed to
give this dliferential system somewhat
greater HeXlbllIty by changing the diff
terent!als from Time to time, and diff
ferentlal basis may possibly be intro
dGced east bound If the conditions af-
fectlng the movement of traffic shall
ultimately seem to so require.
The statements which have been
made that the trunk line and joint COM
mittee presidents had decided TO estab-
fish pool Oh worlds fair business. or a
blind pool of freight or any other kind
OF a pool in disregard of the provisions
OF the interstate commerce law forbid
ding the pooling of freights 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
person to be in contradiction of its pro-
visions.
AT the same time it may be said that
the anti-pooling section of the law is
believed by railway officials generally
to have been a great mistake, and its
introduction is claimed by them to have
practically rendered the leading objects
of the law impossible of attainment.
They therefore hope for the immediate
repeal or amendment of the fifth sec
ton, not regarding this as an attack
upon the law, but as a method OF
strengthening Its provisions. 1t is be-
lleyed that agreements of the nature
now prohibited would enable the several
lines to secure among themselves such
a fair distribution of the business as
wolld minimize the inducement fol
illegal rate-cnttIng and would enable
| the provisions of the law against the
payment of rebates, commissions ano
other FORMS of unjust discrimination t.
be more thoroughly enforced.