The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-06-10
THROUGH TARIFF SLASHED
Freight Rates Cut by the Kanawha Dis.
patch and the National Dispatch.
Business Of Trunk Lines from New York to
the Mississippi AfIected-iOcsl Fat
Preighta6ise Men Disturbed.

There has been big reduction of freight
rates out of New York 20 all Mississippi
river points. This Will be regarded as the
first serious menace 10 rates in the terri
tory of the Trunk-line Association and that
of the Central Traffic Association. The re-
ductIons were by the Kanawha Dispatch
and the Savannah steamship line. They
made q clean cnt of 30 per cent. on dry
goods and certain other tirst-class
products from New York to the
Mississippi river. which is the juno
ton between the Eastern and Western
80 cents per one hundred pounds. the old
rate being 72cenrs. The kanawha Dispatch,
which runs over the Chesapeake ~ ohio
road. went one better and put In o rate of
IS cents. The National Dispatch. which 10
N Grand Trunk line, anticipated the low
rates Of the above mentioned ompenies by
making on Wednesday q rate OF 30 cents.
lts fofmer rate was 81 cents. The object
Is TO reach points west OF the Mississippi
river. so that the standard rates OF the
Western roads had TO be added to these re-
duced rates. From the mississippi river TO
Kansas City. for example. the hrst-class
rate 10 to 81 cents. The same rate cutters
have also reduced the tariff on ali cotton
goods from the mills. The National Dis
patch has also pnt into effect n 33-cent rate
between New York and the Mississippi
river. and its competitors are shipping
goods for - cents It Will be readily seen
that the trunk lines cannot long resist this
warfare their own country without
being effeeted and being ultimately drawn
INTO it. The National Dispatch menaces
the Northern and the KenRwha Dispatch
the intermediate territory.
An Imporrnnt Investigation.
An investigation into railway manage
ment will be commenced by the federal
grand jury at Chicago on Monday next.
This promises TO be the most far-reaching
and thorough inquiry in to the affairs of the
big railroad companies that has ever been
undertaken by the lnserstate-cOmmerce
Commission. and it Is said the present in
quiry Is only to be begun after diligent
study of the situation by the commission
ers and Attorney general Olney. Some of
those on whom subpGnas have been served
are: g. b. Blanchard, chairman Central
Traffic Association; +. G.. Donald. vice
chairman Western Traffic Association; Il.
w. Caldwell chairman Western Passen ger
Association; w. X. White. passenger traffic
manager of the AtchisOD; G. 5. Crane. as
sistaDt passenger agent Wabash railway;
George j. Charlton. assistsnt passenger
agent of the Alton; Maj. w. H. Smith. man
ager of the Lackawanna line. Most, If lot
all, the ticket brokers in the association
have been also served with notice to be
in attendance. Complaints of both
passenger aud freight determinations have
been made to the commission. it is
said, about the Eastern, Western and
Southern lines. New York was said to be
profiting at the expense of Chicago and
Western points. Rates between these two
points favor an eastward traffic and it is
charged that some of the passenger lines
are sending blocks of return tickets good
from Chicago east to brokers here. Immi-
grafton business will also be subject If
inquiry and the rates fixed by the various
fast freight lines. The Attorney general
has detailed attorney A. q. Stafford from
Washington to aid District Attorney Mil.
christ in the work.