The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-04-08
THE BIG EXPRESS WAR.
American Express Company Will Fight
to the Bitter End for Its Rights.
QUESTIONS THAT ARE AT ISSUE.
Claims That It's Contract is Castiron
One and Cannot be DisreGarded by
the New England Road-The Part
That Tom Platt Plays In the Case.

II looks as IL there Is lively war be-
tween the United States and the Ameri-
can express companies on. The battle
has been carried into the New York su-
preme court, and SO far the American
company is ahead In legal points.
The question at issue is which company
shall enjoy the privilege of having the
New York aud New England railroad to
carry its packages. The railroad seems to
favor the United States. The rival COM
pany says the railroad men have displaye ed
their partiality by driving express en-
ployes from the trains aud throwing off
property in their charge.
Judge Barrett of New York issued a
temporary injunction on Thursday, re-
straining the New YORK anu New Eng
land railroad and the United States Ex-
press company from interfering with the
privileges OF the five-year contract of the
American Express company of Decem
Der 5, 1892. This prevents the United
States company from doing bus mess on
the railroad company's lines.
PIatt's Fine italian Hand.
Railroad men say the fiue Italian hand
of ex-senator Thomas C. Patt is to be
seen in the present complication. The
United States company, of which Mr..
Plstt is president, made contract on
Monday with the New York aud New
England by which the road agreed TO
carry its express matter The first the
American company knew OF this step was
on Tuesday, when it ecsiyed word that
the railroad refused TO handle its pack
ages.
1.-The contract male on Dec. last"
said Mr.. Ledyard, counsel tor the Amer
lean company, between the New. York
and New England road aud the Ameri-
can Express company gives that COM
pany exclusive control OF the business
over the road for five years. BY virtue
of that con ract the railroad had no right
TO make the arrangement with the United
States. We shall fight 20 the bitter end
to prevent bsing shut out"
"The New York aud New Eng land gave
orders prohibiting the presence of Amer
lean Express company messe Dgers on
any New T. gland traius. In one case
the railroad men put the money safe off,
aud when the Americans messenger re-
fused TO leave four employees grabbed
him and threw him from the train. The
railroad has refused 10 handle the
American Express compauy's packages,
thereby causing them o suspend a great
deal OF bus ness"
Was the Deal frearranged
The American company before the in
junction was obtaiued issued orders 10
all agents to return To its owners all ex-
press matter which would 60 over the
New YORK and New 4 igland. but under
no circumstances to allow it To 20 into
the hands of the United States company.
Az several places in Connecticut the
local agents OF the American threw
all the business they could not handle
into the hands of the Adams Express
company, and 1t is said the Adams is
looked upon to help the American IL the
fight against the United States.
In ilroad circles il is believed the
New York and New England's shut out
of the American was prearranged, aud
that when Ex-senator Patt was placed
in the railroads directory it was with
the direct purpose of efecting the ar.
rangement.
Officials of the American say their con
tract with the New York and New Eng
land is a castiron one, and cannot be dis
regarded AS lightly as the United States
people seem to think.