The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-22
SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION ATT THE
TRAFFIC OFFICIALS MEETING
HERE TODAY.
LAKE AND CHICAGO LINES
HAD AN UNFORTUNATE MIsUNDER-
STANDING WHICH HELPED TO
COMPLICATE MATTERS.
INTERSTATE COMMISSION, TOO,
May Prevent the Attendance at To-
days Meeting From Reaching
the Desirable Fulness.

The meeting to be held In the city
this morning Of the traffic officials OF
the st. Paul-C Chicago lines for the pur-
pose OF coming to some agreement
about the flour rate situation does
not promise WELL as many Of the roads
interested will send their traffic men
to the session of the Interstate COM
MERGE commission in Chicago, which
meets simultaneously with the st. Paul
meeting. However, Chairman Midg-
ley, of the Western Freight associa-
ton, Is making great effort to have
all the officials interested on hand.
The meeting Is one of considerable
Importance, as the question Of proper
tons to be paid to Eastern connec-
lions by the Western lines will come
up for settlement, as well as the mat
ter Of the adjustment of rates. 1t Is
likely that the present proportions of
SO per cent West and GA per cent East
will be maintained.
Some Of the inside history Of the
reasons for the action of the 500 In
cutting the rate on flour from the
Twin Cities to New York from 25 to
221a per 100 pounds, are coming to
light, and the general opinion from
unprecedented freight officials seems to
be that the 500 was justified The
fact that the 500 would make a cut
was known some time before the for
NAL notice thereof was sent to the
other lines. Efforts were made to
induce the 500 to withhold it's notice
Of the reduced rate. but the request
was not granted by that line. Upon
the receipt of the notice, therefore,
and when the news reached Chairman
M1dgley, Of the Western Freight as
ISOLATION, that the Lake Superior lines
would meet the rate Of the 500, the
chairman concluded to issue notices
meeting the rates via all the Lake
Michigan lines operating In Chicago,
Milwaukee, etc. A notice to that ef-
feet was sent to Commissioner Mccain,
of the lake lines at Buffalo. Commits
sioner Mccain Immediately replied
that several of the lines had not au-
thorized the reduction either via Du-
luth or Chicago, and that in view of
previous message, he would give no.
t1ce when such reductions took place.
The commissioner requested that
Chairman Midgley's notice be recalled,
in view of the incorrect information
furnished the latter
The request was based upon the
statement by Commissioner Mccain
that several Lake Michigan and Lake
Superior lines had not, and might not
reduce their rates, and that before the
matter could be settled the lake man
ayers and the board Of managers
would have to pass upon the matter.
However, 1t was found out that more
than one Of the lake lines had ex-
pressed willingness to join the ST.
Paul Chicago lines in meeting the
Soo's rate, and the rates, Of the other
lines via Lake Superior, and later the
lake managers decided to join the
Western roads. Among the lines which
expressed a willingness to cut were
the Lehigh Valley and the Union
Steamboat company. and others. Con-
seQuently, the matter stands practical
ly settled SO far as putting the 221a-
cent rate into effect today, but 1t Is
thought there will be restoration at
an early date. even though today's
meeting should prove unsuccessful.