The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-07
A BITTER RATE WAR
Southern Roads Engaged in
Slashing Freight Schedules.
Railways North of the Ohio River Likely
to Be Drawn Into the Fight-With-
draWaI of the AtchisOn.


The rate war which has been inaugurated
by the roads south OF the Ohio river through
the withdrawal of the Louisville & Nash
Vile from the Southern Railway and Steam
ship Association increases in bitterness, and
indications are that roads north of the river
liable 10 be drawn into it. A meeting
has been called for the officials of the roads
interested. to be held in New York on the
18th inst Rates from Western TO Southern
points have already gone off cents per
one hundred pounds and it is stated that
further cuts will be made, possibly bringing
rates down 10 . cents per one hundred
pounds. The Atlanta Constitution says:
Commissioner Stahlman refuses to talk
about the situation, but simply says IL is
serious. He says that he hopes even yet
10 see the time come when harmony will
prevail. and trusts that the association VIII
stand hrmiy together. Further than this he
viii not talk. The rumor has revived again
that Commissioner Stahlman will resign
from the Southern Railway and Steamship
Association. one thing is certain, the situa-
ton before the Southern Railway and
Steamship Association is a very serious one.
The time has come for the railroad manipu-
latOrs in the South to give grave considera-
ton TO the questions that are being thrown
uD to them for settlement. This is time
OF all times when the need of an association
OF this kind is felt by the roads of the South
ten BY President Smith. of the Louisville 81
Nashville. To the members or the executive
committee of the association, which has
caused so much of a half suppressed sensa-
tton will probably be allowed to get into
the newspapers after the New York meet
Ing of the executive committee next week
An effort IS being made to suppress il even
then, however, and the sensational docu-
ment may never find it's way into the pub
lie prints. IL Is quite a lengthy letter and
IS printed in pamphlet form. It is sensa-
tional and spicy from the beginning to the
end and conveys many serious charges
against the roads OF the association that
have been cutting rates in violation of the
rules and laws of the association. Presi-
dent smith makes no bones about accusing
receivers Of roads in the South appointed by
federal courts with doing all in their power
TO throw solvent roads in the hands of re-
ceiverS.
Samuel c. Meier, commercial agent of the
Richmond & Danville, and Il. l.. Fitzgerald
travelling freight agent of the Louisville &,
Nashville lines, were in the city yesterday.
The presence of these representatives of the
roads named at this particular time led to
some speculation as to the object of their
visit, and indicates that there is a posi-
bllltv Of the rate war of Southern roads
Denenting this territory, as a good deal of
gram and provisions is shipped south from
1t is now definitely known that the Illi-
Withdrawn from the Southern Railway and
Steamship Navigation Company and that a
formal announcement of the fact will be
made at a meeting in New York on
March Is.
The AtchisOn's Withdrawal
As predicted. the Atchison road has with
drawn from the Western Passenger Asso-
citation. 1t assigns as its reason for with
drawal that the association agreement af-
fords it no protection, and is a failure as
far as protection against outside lines Is
concerned. 1t alludes, in it's notice of with
drawal In a sarcastic manner to the way
the boycotting clause of the agreement
works against a feeble line, like the Jack
sonville Southeastern and refuses TO work
against a powerful line, like the Southern
Pacific. The notice of withdrawal from the
association does not carry with IL with
drawal from the emigrant clearing house
Of the Western Passenger Association. 1t
will stand by the clearing house for some
sion at Chicago yesterday when the notice
OF Withdrawal was received. 1t was in
the general opinion being that the lines
should stand by the association for at least
short time. All the members admit, how
ever, that the usefulness of the association
will be greatly impaired.
At yesterdays meeting of the Western
Passenger Association il was agreed TO
make summer tourist rates the usual
basis of 50 per cent. on double locals for
the round trip. Tickets will be on sale
from May / to Oct 81
The AtchisOn has been quietly collecting
evidence against the lines which so severe
~ condemned the AIcTllSOn Tor refusing TO
call in the annual passes it had issued. 1t
had secured evidence that almost every
road which censured the Atchison had at
the very time the cenSure was passed g.
long list OF annual passes placed where
they would bring the best returns in bus
mess. A list Of sixty annual passes issued
by road TO "land agents was dis
played, and the majority of the alleged
land agents are rated In Dun and Brad
streets as jObbers. bankers and shippers
generally. If the interstate-commerce law
was operative the AtchiSon could make 1t
amazingly interesting for those who cen
Sured it.
Chairman Midgley, Of the Western Freight
Association, received a long telegram yes
terday from President Reinhart, of the
Atchison, which declared that the AtchisOn
WIS and always had been willing TO re-
sumo the negotiations where they had been
indefinitely postponed by Vice President
Croker of the Southern Pacific. AS Pres
ident Huntington, Of the latter line. has
shown willingness to negotiate il is pos
sible the row may be patched UP.
To XIII Ticket ScaIping.