The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-23
WILL RESTORE RATES
Freight Tariffs to Be Increased
on the LIST of January.
Discrimination Against Local Shippers
Tine Pennsylvania Company Cut
ting Down Its Working Force.

Tine Pennsylvania Company Cut
ting Down Its Working Force.
The Central Traffic Association lines yes
terday announced that, on Jan. 1, the rate
on poultry will be put at 30 and that on
butter at 45 cents. Both rates are an in
crease Of 6 cents over those now in use.
Notwithstanding this proposed increase in
rates. the east-bound freight tariff Is thor
oughly demoralized and there Is no telling
when 1t will be better. For the last two
days rumors of drop in grain rates, Chi
cage to New York, TO 10 cents have been
numerous. Several lines declare that the
agreement to restore rates on Jan, 1 will
fall through for the simple reason that
there is not enough freight to go around
and the scramble for it is bound to keep
rates down.
A dispatch from Philadelphia says: The
Pennsylvania Railroad Company will re-
store all It's freight rates on Jan. /. 10 the
circular price, which was in effect prior to
the cut In rates made 10 meet the reduction
made by the Erie. This was agreed upon
at a meeting of the Joint committees Of the
trunk liEes and the Central Traffic Associa-
tton held in New York, Thursday, the Erie
company being party to the contract 1t
Is. however. understood that the Erie re-
serves the right to make open reduction
whenever 10 finds that another road Is max
ing a secret cut. The meeting was long
Dne and some plain talk was INDUCED in.
Uhe situation was thoroughly canvassed,
and 1t was deemed for the interest of all
that the Ratchet should be buried on the
work in harmony once more. The freight
business ar this time of year is very good
but IL is only a spasmodic revival which, 1t
Is feared, will soon die out.
Cutting Down the Forces.
The reduction OF expenses to conform to
the recent order OF President Roberts, of the
Pennsylvania lines, is now in progress. and
there have been 50 many of them in the
last year that ii is getting down to the
older employees who thought they We're pretty
safe. Said an official who was compelled
10 dismiss several men at this point this
week: 1T is the hardest job have had to
do for some time. When l say to myself I
can get along without such a man. and go
70 look into the matter, find that this man
has been In the employ of the company for
fifteen. twenty or thirty years. and is
trustworthy. valuable man; then go back
and look my list over and see who could be
better spared. This week several men have
been dismissed in the yards and freight
house at this point, and the shops cut down
urday." 1t is stated that, not since 1870. has
there been an order issued on the Pennsyl-
vania lines as sweeping in its character.
The circular sent out by President Roberts
says: "The present panic is one of the most
severe in the history of the country. For
some months, as you know, we have been
reducing our force. but we want our share
holders TO understand that we are fully
alive to the Importance of further economy,
and We now tell them so in unmistakable
language. Our company Is in an easy finan-
cial position, and We intend to keep ii SO.
1t Is not always an easy matter to regulate
the business or a great corporation, the
credit of which is good. The management
Is tempted TO buy properties and TO make
heavy expenditures, which, while they are
consistent with good business foresight in
volve heavy outlay. This company, in COM
mon with others, has pursued business
Ike policy, and that has necessitated the
expenditure of large sums OF money for
various purposes On the other hand,
company whose credit Is bad, or which is
pursue a different policy: The common no.
ton of running railroad such the Penn
sylvania is. that II Is plain sailing, but this,
as have said. is erroneous"
In subsequent interview Mr.. Roberts
was asked IL the reduction in expenses or
dered would be all that was necessary. He
IN all directions will find marked inn
provement in our net earnings. OF course,
as you know, the manufacturing Industries
throughout the country have been depressed
BY the panic and our earnings have, con-
sequentiy. fallen on; but | am hopeful that
business will revive again"
Discrimination Against Indianapolis.
The Pennsylvania yesterday instructed
SITS Western representatives in the freight
department to meet the 15-cent per 100
pounds rate made by the Erie from Chi
cago TO the seaboard, and make the same
rate apply to all points which would be
higher than the Chicago rate. This IS dis
elimination against Indianapolis, which.
under the rules OF the trunk lines and the
Central Traffic Association, takes SO per
cent OF the Chicago east-bound rate, and
by the order OF the Pennsylvania lines
Indianapolis shippers must pay the same
rate does Chicago. This discrimination
against indianapolis should at once be
looked after by the shippers here, lest this
slight infractiOn OF the agreement OF the
trunk lines and Central Traffic Associa-
ton leads TO making the same rate from
Indianapolis to the seabOard which Chi
cago gets~ 1t was many years before In
dlanapolls secured its rights in this mat
ter. and it behooves shippers 10 be on the
alert in preventing any deviation from the
rule that Indianapolis takes IS per cent.
OF the Chicago rate.
Work of the Inspection Bureau.
Following Is District Inspector Eckman's
report of revenue at the various stations
comprising the Indianapolis district Of the
joint rate Inspection bureau or the trunk
lines. Central Traffic and Western Freight
associations for November:
IndIanapolis-Actual gains from weighing
carload freight. sE.sly.zz; platform freight
sl.1Ss-36; classification changes and rate IN
spectiOn, S2S324 total. $T.19l.Sz.
Louisvilie-Actual gains from weighing
carload freight, &.13S62. platform freight,
<1.959.l2; classification changes and rate IN
spection. S7S5.3S: total, $l0S33.12.
Esvansvflie-Actua1 gains from weighing
carload freight. S.O6265; platform freight,
S6l21g: classification changes and rate in
spection- S3sS ga; total, $4.02S.z5
Nfncennes-Actual gains from weighing
carload freight, s25365; platform freight.
<a42G5: total, $3s56S-
Terre Haute-Actual gains from weighing
carload freight. $37lS42; platform freight,
Ss62 10: classification changes and rate in
SECTION, s2S1. 0S: total. S3.4l226.
Grand total for the five stations, go, $50. Is.
Another once for Russell Harrison.
Russell b. Harrison, who recently be-
came president OF the Terre Haute street
railway Company, has received word that
NNgysER's TssEKD