The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-07-11
warned Against Pooling.


Warned Against Pooling.
Numerous statements of tonnage agree
ments entered into by various railroads,
and allegations that the agreements were
sanctioned by the Interstate-commerce
Commission have resulted in the issuance
of a circular letter in which the commits
sion calls the attention of all railroads TO
the statutory prohibition OF pooling agree
ments. The question whether tonnage
agreements are actually embraced within
the language of the act relating 10 inter-
state commerce is an unsettled one and
the question has not yet been raised and,
accordingly, their legality has not been de-
cided. No complaints OF violation of the
law through the making OF tonnage agree
ments have been filed In Washington, but
the commission has sent its letter TO the
railroads in order to dissipate the idea
that such agreements were officially APP
proved or have been under consideration in
any way. The majority of the members OF
the commission are in favor of certain
amendments to the interstate-commerce
act and regard the pooling prohibition pro-
vision as interfering materially with the
enforcement of the act. AT least several
members of the commission personally are
cate it's prohibition. Respecting reports
that the commission would bring criminal
actions against railroads that are parties
to tonnage agreements. ii is stated that IL
is not within the province of the commits
sion to take action In criminal cases against
the roads further than to refer matters to
the Department of Justice. This would be
the procedure in cases of specific COM
plants to the commission that the law was
being violated by the tonnage agreements.
1t is denied that there is an intention to
bring a test case TO settle the question of
the legality of the tonnage agreements
Pennsylvania improvements.
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company this
year VIII spend i'm the neighborhood of
100000 in the way of improvements. al
terations and extension to its property east
and west of Pittsburg. The amount will
be almost equally divided between these
two sections. Last year. owing TO the
depression in business. considerable work
that had been mapped out was laid aside
and what was under way was stopped for
the time being. On the lines west of Pitts
burg the largest expenditures will be in
the construction of the bridge at Cincinnati.
The old bridge is being taken DOWN and
practically a new one erected i'm it's place.
This change will take about $500. 900. The
Marietta road, making a low grade road
out of this which will do away with the
tunnel about fifteen miles south of New
comerstown on the Panhandle road. The
company's share of the construction of the
new union depot at Dayton. o., will be
$4,000 and a like amount is TO be expended
III III uOiLs away VT dlt
crossings On the Panhandle line s200.00o
will be spent in widening of tunnels of
which there are two left in this division.
This change is made so these tunnels will
accommodate a two track road. Another
expenditure Is 10 be made I'm the building
Of 800 cars TO meet the demand for lake
has just effected a new loan OF S,000,00 o
in London at 3i2 per cent. per annum, the
ward these improvements and not for the
paying of any bonds that mature If the
company r has f fne money IN IN hand shs iron from
which fall due this and next year.
The Ohio Southern.
If reports are true the Ohio Southern Is
under a financial cloud which can only be
removed through a foreclosure sale. Several
interests In the securities of the road are
demanding the emoval OF George Saul,
president and receiver of the road. The
United States Investor ssays: president
Saul and others Of the Ives crowd should
be ousted from their positions and an en-
tirely new management placed in control.
The trouble lies not in the burden of
fixed charges, but in gross mis-
management and consequent ruined
credit. Some exceedingly interesting things
are being brought TO light in connection
with the appointment OF Geo. w. Saul as
receiver of the Ohio Southern road. OF
which he was president at the time of
the collapse. 1t Will be recalled that at
the time Of the failure of the Norfolk &
Western and the appointment of President
+. j.. kimbail as receiver in Virginia, Judge
Taft of Cleveland, refused to appoint Mr..
Kimhall receiver for the Ohio division on
the ground that. being president OF the
road. he was not qualified to act as the
receiver. On similar grounds he refused.
upon application. to appoint George w.
Saul receiver of the Ohio Southern. But
the Ohio southern crowd, recognizing the
necessity that their man should be made
receiver. at no matter how great a cost,
applied to Judge Ritchie, at Lima. and ac-
con1plished their purpose. In what manner
influence was brought TO bear on Judge
Richie is best known to themselves. but
1 may say there are rumors in Wall street
that right here may be another snake"
Postal Service Over the Mig Four.
Since the Bee-line was taken into the
Big Four system President ingalls, has felt
that the road was not properly recognized
as a mail route and was by no means car
rying the proportion of mail matter 1t was
entitled TO by its geographical position and
time its trains make. He has at last sue
ceeded in convincing the postal department
of the fact and arrangements have been
made to establish through postal car service
between Cleveland and st. Louis on Trains
IL and is. which have never before hauled
postal cars. and on Train 50. which has
carried mail pouches. but never before
hauled a mail postal car. The putting on
of this new postal service viii require
the smployment of six additional postal
VIII carry mail matter between Indian
apolis and Gallon. While this new service
is not all that President Ingalls, expects
TO get il Will doubtless soon be followed
ey further increased mail service over the
Bee-line and the ST. Louis divisions OF
the Big Four system.
In Receivers. Hands.