The morning call., 1892-08-25
RAILROAD AFFAIRS.
The TranScOntinental Association Discuss
the Rates and Pacific Mail Subsidy.

NEW YORK, Aug "a The meeting Of
the lanscontineStal Association, the re-
suit OF the general call sent out from the
ST. Louis headquarters by Chairman Vning
on August 9, was called to order this morn
ing. The principal obi ct of the meeting is
to settle the question relative to the matter
Of the division of the payment Of the yearly
subsidy to the Pacific Mail Steamship Com
pany. The general impression seems to
be that the Southern Pacific Company will
be asked to pay the entire amount.
Chairman NniDg presided at the meet
Ing, at W hich there were represented nearly
all the continental lines. The association
devoted the day TO discussion OF the re-
duction Of eastb0und freight rates and the
Pacific Mail STEAMSHIP subsidy, and also
the question of adjusting over and under
charges and establishing uniform bill of
ladiDg. George Oids Of the Canadian Pa.
clhc failed to arrive, however, and no final
action was taken in any of the matters con-
s!deTed, as Mr. Olds' presence is desired,
and the taking of the vote was postponed
until tomorrow.
+. L. Vlning presided, and there were
present w. b. Bidden of the Atchison, To-
peka and Santa Fe. w. II. Bissel of the At
lautlc aud Pacific, Robert Kerr of the Cana
cag0, Rock Island and Pacific. j. NJ. Hama
ford of the Northern Pacific, 5. II. Babcoek
of the Denver and Rio Grande, j. c. S.ubbs
and {. 5. SmuFr of the Southern Pacific ;
5. Is. Hynes OF the Southern California, T.
ID. Russell of tile 81. Louis and San Fran
cisco, and j. A. Monroe of the Union
Pacific. The meeting IS one of much
Importance, and there are serious differences
OF opinion among the members OH several
important matters The question with re-
gard TO the Pacific Mail subsidy was dis
eussed, but no definite action was taken.
The association says the subsidy to the Pa
clic Mall Steamship Company is TO make
up deficit IL the steamship company's
yearly earnings fall below SS500O0. 1t Is
said that the Southern Pacific COMPANY
while paying its assessment as 4 member
of the Transcontineutal Association, is
charged with diverting a large amount of
the traffic from the other roads to its ocean
line. to the detriment of the association.
The subject of the reduction in east
bound fTeights was also deferred until to-
morrow. Chairman Viniug denied that the
Denver and Rio Grande Railroad wished to
withdraw from the association. He said
that the report originated in Il misunder-
standing. Many of the roads desire a re-
duction in Eastern freight rates In order to
compete with the clipper line passing
around Cape Horn.
During the meeting the sound of angry
voices was heard frequently. AT the close
OF the session most of the representatives
hurried away. Chairman Vining smiled
peculiarly when he said that the meeting
had been harmonious
The discussions were Informal. that
concerning the redueti n of eastbound
freight rates so that the roads Of the asso-
citation could compete with American
clipper ships sailing from San Francisco to
New York taking up most OF the aftern oon.
The subject OF the adjustment of under and
over charges was referred to a committee to
formulate q report. 1t is hoped by the
association members that some plan can be
arrived at where such under or over
charges can be adjusted at the association
headquarters instead of being done by the
present method. which involves a volumin-
Gus and long-drawn-Out correspondence be-
tween the roads separately. Regarding q
uniform bill of lading, it was decided that
nothing could be done, as the many efforts
Ia this matter heretofore had proved use
less