The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-18
PLENTY OF BUSINESS LEFT
THE PENNSYLVANIA BIG CONTRACT
EXCITING MUCH COMMENT.
The Earning Exhibit of the Panhandle
Indicates Prcsperity-The Inter-
ChangeabIe Mileage.


as has the Pennsylvania in the Letter wheat
pool, it naturally excites more or less i'll
feeling on the part of less fortunate trans
portation officials; still, every agent knows
that enough grain is left to keep all lines
busy, arc in this case it is claimed that the
Big Four, in connection with the Chesa-
peake & Ohio made a similar contract with
ST. Louis men on export grain. The differ
ence between such cut rates at the present
time and the slashing of rates at the close
of 1885, when the country's wheat crop was
125, 900, 900 bushels less than this years yield,
is too obvious to need comment Nobody
has as yet suggested such thing as lock-
ing President Thomson or President ingalls,
in the parlor of a Wall-street banking
house and extorting pledge on their hon
or as gentlemen to hold the scheduled
freight rates. This deal, however, between
the Joseph Letter wheat pool, the Penn
sylvania and the five steamships to carry
the grain to Europe is the largest operation
ever undertaken in this country, and it
should tend to quiet the apprehensions of
the New York Produce Exchange that New
York has been wiped out an export point
by the dfferentials Philadelphia, Baltimore,
Newport News and Norfolk are allowed.
Meeting of Freight Commissioners.
The first regular meeting of the National
Association of Freight Commissioners was
held in Washington yesterday for the gen.
eral purpose of effecting a permanent or
ganization. The members of the association
represent commercial bodies in their re-
spective cities, and are charged with the
duty of securing equal justice for shippers
in their dealings with transportation COM
panies. 1t is not, it is said, essentially an
tagonstic to the transportation lines, but
acts in the capacity of mediator between
such lines and shippers. Another purpose
of the organization is said to be the proper
presentation of the shippers side of the
questions which may be at any time under
consideration by Congress. Those present
at the meeting were N. B. Kelly, of the
Trades League of Philadelphia, chairman;
W. +. Trickett. of the Kansas City Trades
Bureau, secretary: l.. A. Boswell of the
Quincy Qll) Freight Bureau; George A
Schroeder, of the Milwaukee Freight Blu
reau; F. w. Maxwell, of the ST. Joseph
(MoD Commercial Club and Jobbers' Trans
rortation Bureau; e. p. Wilson, of the Gin
cinnati Transportation Bureau A. j. Val
andingham, of the st. Louis Traffic Blu
lean Export Association. of New York;
George A. Anderson. of the Pittsburg
Chamber of Commerce: j. A. Smith, of the
Charleston S,h a,d g. g. Freight Is Bureau; j. a.
reau; f. l.. Brown, of the Pacific Coast
Hardware and Metal Association.
Addresses were delivered by Messrs Kelly
and Trickett The former advocated rail-
way pools. In concluding, he said: 1T is
my belief that the carriers as rule, have
had no actual control over the rates, either
individually or collectively, during the past
few years; they have been made for them
by the force of competition which is far
more dangerous and remorseless force than
is likely to inspire any commission consti-
tuted by the United States government to
do justice between the parties. We must
all realize that no permanent material pros
perity can ensue unless the transportation
companies as well as the merchants are re-
muneratively employed.
Mr.. Trickett said, among other things:
"While pooling laws might remove some
discrimination between shippers in one To-
cality, it would create unjust discrimination
between localities as whole. Therefore
in viewing the matter as We should from a
stand point as representatives of our re-
spective cities and the territory tributary
thereto, we should take into consideration
the fact that the possibilities of loss far
greater than the possibilities of gain. The
prompt movement of freight by lines desig-
mated is of much Importance to the shipper
In the fulfillment of contracts, particularly
in the grain business. Briefly stated, the
inevitable results of legalzed pooling would
be: First. the loss of power to restrain UNI
Just discrimination against localities; Sec
ond, service, both freight and passenger, in
adequate 10 the needs OF the country; thlro,
performance of minimum service at max
imum charge; fourth, decrease of legal LA
bility of individual lines; fifth. the mortgage
ing of the traffic of our entire country to
the railroads, vesting in them absolute
power to handle it as thew see fit. In addi-
ton to these. there are other reasons which
would be apparent under the practical
workings of pool"
Resolutions were adopted urging that adj
ditional power be conferred on the Inter-
state-commerce Commission to meet weak
judicial
decisions. requesting all railroads to adopt
uniform freight cassitications prior to Jan
/, 1899. apd indorsing the pending anti
scalping BILL Eastern delegates submitted
a resolution favoring, and Western dele
gates resolution opposing pooling bills. An
agreement being found impossible, the as
ISOLATION adopted a resolution referring the
resolutions offered back to the members of
the association.