The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-27
SEATTLE, FRIDAY, DEC. 81.
THE RAILROAD COMBINE.

The great railroad combine. concerning
which so much was said few weeks ago.
when it was entered into by the principal
railroads operating between the Atlantic
seahoard and the Western states does not
appear 10 have been such an Ubiquitous
thing after all. The interstate commerce
commission in response to resolution of
Senator PETER on Wednesday said that as
yet no final agreement has been reached
between the great trunk lines. and thus
far the commission is unable TO find that
the joint traffic contract has resulted in
an increase OF charges or lessened the
facilities for transportation.
The original agreement az drawn up by
the railroads was something OF a monopo-
listie affair. but as ultimately toned down
and accepted u need be no more dreaded
than a great many other agreements that
have been entered into by sae railroad
managers. only 10 be broken AZ the first
opportunity. IL was first provided that
the hoard OF managers should offer re-
wards for violations OF the interstate law
IN the matter OF special rates, etc. but
this provision was stricken cut II Was
originally provided that the companies
should put up 5000 as guarantee Of
good faith. but this was reduced 10 5000
Ia the beginning there was provision
that II any company withdrew without
the consent Of all the others. e should
forfeit all the money paid In. bat those
who have examined the compact say that
this provision viii practically ne dead
4 4 q
voluntary Withdrawals. As matter Of
fact. the whole agreement is hut slightly
different from SO many 81 the past the
execution OF which has been left 20 tho
"honor of gentlemen" and how little this
ssEt OF honor has amounted 10 IN railroad
Tx when there has been warm comreti-
ten 80 secure business is too wen-known
70 he dwelt upon a. any length.
Nothing IL farther from the truth than
that The new combine VIII prevent compe-
tirlon. Each trunk lire VIII have is own
rate. as before. and, though that rate Will
he noBinally fixed by a central board. IL
Will Re sech rs the management % the
road thinks calculated 70 attract the lsrE-
esf possible amount of business. As 20 its
reaaeua bleness. the Interstate commerce
commission remain. as now. the Judges.
and IN the event 81 their ruling being ap-
pealed from. the courts % the United
states. The competition which has been
ended ls that which goes on 81 defiance %
law That IS 20 say. n the great shipper
with a hundred or two o. car leads 10
move induced one road 20 give large re-
tate on the published rate. the cut had 70
lie met by competing Iiaes and 50 ruin
Gus competition was kept up, fer the hene-
at 81 the great shipper and e fhe mani
fest dotrimert ~ ghe small oce. The lat
ter. who had - orcr merely single car
loads had 60 - content with the punished
rate Under the new nrranreu,eut the
shipper or a Thousand var loa3s Viii - no
better or than the shipper * single car
Toad.
II may seem contrary 20 sound business
policy that the IRAN who could make =
large purchase of transportation should
be able 10 make no better terms than the
man who required but very little The
allowance - THIS discount has shown.
however. that IL really serves e. bring
about a Jeaih % competition ia business.
TX the difference between ore merchants
rates 81 freight ans those 81 another =
equivalent 90 a pTofr. the merchant Who
is discrtninate& against must Eo "a the
Wall THE natural result vauld he 70
place the command % most e. the sta9ls
products II the country n the bazts Of
fsvs powerful combinations, able 70 dictate
rot only she price az which taa consumer
should buy. bvt Also tha prize ~ which tbs
producer must scll The DRESSED beef
sTsonabine- accomplished the latter feat