The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-26
RATES CUT OPENLY
no ATTENTION PAID TO TIE TARIFF
BY CHICAGO RAILWAYS.
East-Bound freight Taken at Almost
Any Figure Named b. shippers
Finances or the M0non.

The railroad reporter of the Associated
Press at Chicago, who Is one day a ram
pant optimist and the next a sorrowful
pessimist, ID responsible for the following
5eremiad on the situation at Chicago and
in the West:
'The freight lines of the Central Traffic
arrange divisions and at the same time to
stiRen rates a little have failed to do
either one. No new divisions Will be made
and no backbone will be put into the rates
at least not at the present. There Is no
longer the least semblance of any effort
siashed openly. The roads are simply
carrying grain for just what the shipper
will agree to pay--and tine shipper Is feel
ing too poor just now 10 pay much OF
anything, comparatively speaking. The ex-
ecutive officers show no particular inclina-
BY every indication. viii run along in the
present free anu easy style for some time
western passenger affairs are for the
time being very c0rpse-like. There seems
to. be not the slightest disposition on any
Western lines passenger association. The
Alton and the Wabash, the two lines whose
squabble over p cents in the East st.
Louis rate blocked the entire game two
get together and are making not the slight
Is more, the other lines do not seem to
particularly. care whether the Alton and
the Wabash ever settle anything. Vice
President Newman, OF the Northwestern,
who for some days diligently endeavored
to inject some spirit into matters, has
closed his work, and Is doing nothing. No
BODY is doing anything, nor will any. Of
them do anything until some fellow slices
q few dollars Off a rate Then
there VIII come a. grand uproar out of
which some action may be evolved, but
somebody must set Off a bomb tok rouse
the interest of the Western lines In their
practically dead association
Ford Wood, general freight agent of the
Peoria a. Eastern, returned yesterday from
Chicago. He says that. despite all reports
10 the contrary, east-bound freight rates
out of Chicago are being held firmly by the
ten east-bound lines, and that after May /
ne does not think a pound of east-bound
freight will be carried below tariff by any
lire out of Chicago, Peoria, st. Louis or
indianapolis. The Chicago Times-Herald
says: Unique proof was obtained yesterday
that east-bound lines were maintaining
beginning Monday. The proof was obtained
by a ahippex who at different times has had
c~ut-rate. deals with all the eastern roads.
AT the instance of one of the strong lines
on a bOna-f1de shipment for export. He
personally saw the highest freight official
III the city of each or the ten east-bound
lines, and failed completely to even get
charges, Interested shippers are continual
ly reviving the rurnors Of cut rates, but
railroad officials are still firm in the belief
that the money pool, which goes into effect
rates. The executive officials are con-.
WINGED their own positions depend largely
on the success of their attempt to maintain
rates. They believe equally that the only
Is to get on each shipment exactly what
the tariff pfOVideS.n