The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-06-04
THE RATE WAR A LIVELY ONE.
The Fight May Be Kept UP Until the
Aggressive Roads Come to Terms.

There is no doubt that the present rate
war between the eastern lines is going to
be hummer before it is concluded and a
basis of settlement is agreed upon.
Already complaints have;been heard from
some of the. lines, those which do not do a
big business at best, and which have TO
work hard at all times to pay out.
Some Ell those who are kicking against
the reduction made by the Southern
Railway and Steamship Association are
the very lines which were instrumental in
bringing about the cut, but the com
plants are doing no good. and it is prOba-
blethat they will cry still louder for
peace before the old regime is restored.
The sweeping reduction of 65 per cent.
made by Commissioner Stahlmau was
brought about by the action of some few
OF the lines which insisted on doing Sc
cret rebate business and afterward began
to cut openly. 1t was believed that the
best way to Sickeu them was to put the
rates down to basis which would be
non-profta ole for all the lines and which
would make it impossible for
the aggressors to cut lower
and make expenses. Some of these
lines it is said were unable to secure a
good share of the business in any way ex-
eept by lowering rates, and when the
rates are so low by all lines that they
cannot reduce them any further without
becoming almost bankrupt, it is hard to
see Just what those lines will do No
wonder they want to call a halt when
they are forced to a starving basis
An idea of the extent of the reductions
may be obtained by the following rates
from Boston, Providence and Philadel-
phia to Atlanta First class, 40 cents /;
second class, "a cents; third class, 80
cents; fourth class, 70 cents; fifth class,
q cents; sixth class, II cents.
The rates from Baltimore have been re-
duced correspondingly. They are as fol-
lows First class, 80 cents; second class,
81 cents; third class, 2S cents; fourth
class, "A cents; fifth class, 20 cents; sixth
class, l6 cents. The rate on frst-class
freight from these points to Atlanta was
formerly $1.l4
The lines which conduct their business
in legitimate manner are determined, it
is understood, to force the others TO do
likewise or fall out. For this reason it is
understood that the reduction is not TO be
exactly temporary one, but may extend
over thirty or even sixty days if neces-
sary to carry the point.
1t is understood that some of the lines
which find they are playing at a losing
game will endeavor to patch up the diffi-
Guilty at the meeting of the as
ISOLATION, June r. If they do
not succeed, Commissioner Stahlman
is quoted as saying that there will be
some lively times at the annual meeting
which will take place two or three weeks
later. The western lines did not desire
to get into the fight, butit seems that the
reduction affected them in many ways,
and they were obliged to call for certain
reductions to protect their interests.
The reduction made of about the same
per cent. from the South Atlantic ports
to interior points, which are affected by
the cut in the through rates, was made
also rs protective measure. The reduction
in through rates would have given the in
terror points an advantage over the
merchants of these ports, had the rates
from the ports not been reduced to equal
iZe matters. -.