Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-25
TIE POOLING BILL.
senator FOrakcr's Explanation OF
Its Purpose.

CGath," in Philadelphia Times)
Mr. Senator, what is the pooling bill
that you have introduced%'
"The immediate purpose Of the bin Is
to authorize pooling; TO enable railroads
to maintain reasonable rates. What the
shipper wants 10 know H.. not only what
he himself must pay. but that his COM
petitor in business IS paying the same
II one secretly secures from the ralFuaa
a rebate. he will i'm that manner acquire
an unjust advantage over his compeu-
tor. The bill is aimed at unjust discrimi-
nations. and in accomplishing this it will
not only benefit the railroads. but VIII
also benefit the whole business coinmu-
nifty"
Are not the railroads prohibited by
law from making determinations and
giving rebates?
such are the provisions of the inter-
state commerce act passed in 1884, but al
though severe penalties are provided
for the violation of the law. yet It's
violation is constant. Our railroads nave
grown from small beginnings. ~
the start they were short ana small.
Finally they were blended into lines ana
systems. Then came sharp competition
with each other, and there was much
Improvement in railroad building. In
consequence. some roads coulu NOT w.
under natural conditions, properly ope-
rated: they struggled for business; the
stronger and more favored roads would.
However. take most Of the traii1c; the
weaker lines. to secure the business,
having all to gain and nothing 10 lose,
especially where they were already IN
solvent. resorted to the giving of rebates.
cutting OF rates. shippers passes anu
various other devices 10 attract Dnsl-
ness. The solvent roads, hndlng their
business leaving them, and ascei tanning
the cause. resOrted to similar practices.
in held what they had and recover what
they had lost. These rate wars were
frequent and always more or less dlsaS-
troug. The fluctuations OF rates as
turbed all kinds of commercial business
Lower rates than were prontaDle lost
money to the roads; some OF them were
unable in consequence to make proper
bctterments ana at the same time Keep
up their equipments; others went mo
the hands Of receivers, and the result
was prejudicial all around.
could not the railroads extrlcate
themselves n.,
.SThe first step taken by the railroad
,,on.oers IA modify this evil was to iu-
di,ce competing lines TO enter into tIaihc
agreements between competitive poln,''
Certain rates for each road shouIu DC
charged to all aliks ana there was ho'
10 he any cutting Of rates. giving or re-
botes or making OF determinations OF
anv sort. There were not at THIS time
any statutory provisions on the sun
iect and such agreements were lawful
- common law. II these agreements
had been kept they would have accom-
nlished the purpose of the managers OF
the roads and the chief purpose oil tle
,',,si,, nov were not kept; the rivalry
Of the roads continued. the weakest INES
strove to take business from the strong
est. the old practices were again -
sorted TO. The railroad manase's. l.'', ,,e,
r., ,,.re traffic agreements were not
snf6clent to break up Determinations
them r,,,' resorted to pooling. The first pool.
Ing agreements were entered into aoou III
ISL after the great strikes anu rio'S u
that year."