The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-20
sEAnoARD Air LINE BOYCoTTED.
The Southern Railway and Steam
ship Association opens "A Fight.

The Southern Railway and Steam
ship Association opens a Fight.
Atlanta, Ca. Feb. 1s.-Notice Of boy
colt has been served upon the seaboard
Air Line by the Southern Railway and
Steamship Association. The Seaboard Air
Line was not a member OF the association.
but on account of alleged Irregularities,
Commissioner Stahlman has served notice
to members of the executive board and
the rate committee of a withdrawal Of
the pro-radng arrangement and the appli-
cation Of local rates on traffic to anc from
the Seaboard Air Line. including the
Georgia, Carolina and Northern railroad.
The boycott. involving, as II does, so large
a mileage as the Seaboard's. is one of the
most important efforts Of the kind ever
undertaken by the association and it is
probable the courts will be appealed to, to
test the legality of such a boycott. The
effect OF the boycott will be to decrease
the revenue of the Seaboard road on pro-
rated business. The road carrying freight
TO the Seaboard win hereafter apply the
fun local rate, and the revenue of the
Seaboard IS decreased by the additional
amount Of the local rate over the regular
through rate. The boycott method
has been pursued in several in
stances by the Southern Railway and
Steamship Association towards all roads
which the commissioner believed tried
10 undermine the association rates,
whether within or without the association.
The boycotted roads of the past have,
however. been comparatively small ones
and a settlement was finally agreed to, but
the Seaboard is a large and influential sys-
TEN and will undoubtedly put up a differ
ent sort Of fight.
Commissioner Stahlman states in his cir
cular that the Sea board, including the
Georgia, Carolina and Northern, has not
maintained rates on cotton. He says that
during the past two months sweeping ir-
Irregularities, manipulations and rate cut
fings have been INDUCED In by this sys-
ITEM on western traffic embraced in classes
C. D. and F.
A Seaboard official denies the charge of
manipulation and Is quoted as saying that
the Seaboard can stand the boycott If the
association can.
Baltimore. Feb 19-R c. Hoffman, pres
adent of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad
Company, said tonight that he had re-
ceivsd no official advices touching the
boycott Of his company by the Southern
Railway and Steamship Association. He
stated that none Of the charges of rate
cutting and other irregularities frequent
~ made against the Seaboard company
had been sustained; at least he was not
aware OF such action by the association.
Tn the absence of more definite informa-
zion, Mr.. Hoffman declined to further dis
cuss the subject.
Tbs boycott was not treated seriously by
other railway officials. 1t is stated that
while the Seaboard company was not a
member Of the southern association, 1t
has maintained a pro rating arrangement.
There is said TO have been considerab BILE
friction during the past year. and as
result IL is claimed that the associate
IS practically dismembered. Commission
or Stahlmans action is looked upon by
some railroad men as an effort to force the
Eeaboard company into the association to
prevent its final dissolution.
Memphis, Tenn, Feb. 19.-Railroads en-
gagged in hauling cotton to the east threat
en- TO boycott the Kansas City, Memphis
and Birmingham, and Kansas City, Fort
Scott and Memphis lines because these
lines refuse to comply with a division OF
the cotton business that was agreed upon
early in the season. A physical division
Of the east-bound cotton business was
changed. The Two Kansas City roads
we're regarded as one system and were
awarded the share Of one They have
received their full quota OF business. and
now claim the quota OF another road
They persist in hauling cotton. The bow,
colt IS threatened. lively war in cot
ton rates is q certainty.