The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-11
CARVING THE RATES.
TranScOntinental Lines i'm Con-
ference at st. Paul.
REPORTS OF HILLS INTENTIONS.
A Forty Per Cent. Cut Said to Be in
Prospecf-He VIII Rush the Port
land Line Through.

ST. PAUL, Jan. lot was 1870 this
morning before the representatives at the
great rate meeting, now being held at the
Gre at Northern Offices, got together. The
forenoon's session was spent in discussing
rate sheet for both freight and passenger
traffic. A committee of freight men is
working away on a freight traffic sheet
that shall meet with the approval Of all
the lines interested, and like committee
ofpassenger men Is performing similar
service for their department. 1t Is de-
clared that the present discussion was one
OF the greatest i'm portance to all lines.
Every representative will bring his best
efforts to bear on the vexed question of
rates, hoping to evolve rate sheets that
will stand the test. Every possible light
is being shed on matters and the confer
ence is marked by a spirit of fairness. AS
yet the discussions have not chrystalized
into anything definite and the matters I'M
der consideration are not likely to reach
any conclusion for some time yet. The
conference may continue in session for sew
eral DAYS before a satisfactory conclusion
IL reached.
PogTLATD. Jan. 10-[Special.l - The
transcontlnental freight meeting now III
session in st. Paul is creating great deal
VI men anu iilcT-
chants of Portland, especially the latter
who hope the result Of the conference will
be largely IN their favor, although they
have no good reason to expect very much.
Ii is stated by well-posted railroad men that
there are 400 car loads of freight for Port
land merchants being held in the East I'M
til the result of the transcontinental
meeting is known. An important factor
in the freight problem is the clipper line OF
ships between New York and San Francisco
and Portland. These ships are giving a
rate OF 81 cents per 100 pounds without re-
gard to classification. This rate includes
insurance and demurrage, and the result
Is that, owing TO the present situation OF
affairs, Portland merchants are receiving
little dunnagc no freight by rail- They
are simply waiting Tor an equitable sched-
ME OF freight rates To- he established. and
this they expect viii be the result of the
transcontintal conference.
IL is claimed that the present condition
of affairs has been brought about by the
threat Of President Hill, of the Great
Northern, to reduce rates from the East
to Spokane. Should this be carried
out. it will seriously effect Port
lands trade in Spokane and vicinity.
II is reported that Great Northern officials
have been circulating III Spokane sched-
ule of rates which was 10 go into effect
this evening, no matter what might be the
result of the st. Pau. meeting On one
class of goods, 1t is SAID, this schedule re-
duces the tariff from $500 to $3.50 per 100
pounds from St. Paul to Spokane. The
reduction on all rates. it is claimed, is
about 40 per cent. Whether these reports
are true remains TO be seen. Perhaps the
whole thing is bluff on the part of Hill
TO influence tho action OF the transconti-
mental meeting.
The roads represented besides the Great
Northern are the Northern Pacific, Cana
dian Pacific Union Pacific. Southern Pa
cihc, Santa Fe, Denver & Rio Grande. The
st. Paul Pioneer Press. Of January 6, printed
the following interview with prominent
railroad man on the probable action of the
conference:
81 DO no: apprehend any serious rupture az
the result of the meeting. Mr.. Hill has large
vested Interests in the West, which / imagine
will make him particularly chary Of any policy
calculated to destroy or reduce their value. of
course any reduction in rates which he might
inaugufate would be promptly met By the other
roads. This would prevent mis- getting any
larger share OF the business than would fall To
his lot under the present arrangement, whilo
the actual revenue derived therelrom would be
considerably reduced. At the same time, there
will be reduction in the prevailing rate sheets
This is neeessitated by the decision OF the in
tcTstate commerce commission in the spokane
case, IL by nothing else. Whether the reduc-
ton Will be TO the full extent OF Is per cent.
provided in regard TO Spokane, is doubtful. l
think it viii not; hut the reduction will be
sufficient To satisfy the merchants, while
rot entailing on the roads a positive loss. An
other point concerning which agreement
viii be imperative is that of through rates to
the Coast to meet the competition OF the clip
pers. The interstate commerce commission per-
mits, by its recent decision, a discrimination in
rates on through tralfc on all classes of freight
which comes in direct competition with the
clipper trade. That is discrimination as
against the rates on the same classes of freight
20 interior points The complications. however,
are so numerous that il will take days. in my
JUDGMENT, 10 reach a satisfactory agreement"
DO you consider the Canadian Pacific po-
teutial factor IN the situation."
"Nost certainiy. 1t is fortunate for the tran
quil.itv az the transconinental interests that
mat road considers itself bound by the inter
stale commerce law. Being government road,
aud havtgs the entire country a. its back so TO
speak, BE- rould play havoc with rates IL its man
scement 80 desired. 80 far ii has displayed no
such intention"