Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-04-01
RAILROAD TROUBLES.
No sign Of Rate Cutting as a Re-
suit Of The Recent Decision.
SALVATION IN A POOLING LAW.
A Vigorous Campaign in. Favor Of the
Measure Now Before Con-
grtss.

this morning says there is no sign Of
an outbreak OF rate cutting amo ny the
railroads as q result OF the United
States Supreme Court decisioni in the
Transnissouri freight association case.
@. ID. Simonr, general eastern agent OF
the Atohison, Topeka and Santa Fe,
said last night:
81 have been trying today to find
out II rate cutting has been done IN
the East or West, and have fai led alb
selutely to locate single instance.
have received exp lioit instructions not
to deviate from the published tariff
rate, no matter what our com petiturs
may do. 1t Is my opinion that, not
vitbstanding the dissolution OF the
associa tions, rates will be maintained,
but II they are reduced 1t will not be
secretly but by an open tariff. The
best test OF the maintenance Of rates
Is that We are getting business today
at full tariff rates that we would not
obtain II shippcTs see any chance OF
rate Decentralization"
VIM. H. Clark, general eastern
freight agent OF the Missouri Pacific,
said: "lhe Supreme Courts decision
makes 1t illegal Tor the roads TO asso-
ciRte for tine purpose OF maintaining
rates, which Ia construed to mean in
restraint OF traffic. Therefore, with.
dIawns from sucn association, IL would
DO Iust as Illegal Tor them to enter into
any Decentralization Of rates, because
that would mean to make any rate
necessary under the cifcumstsnces
regardless OF the published tariffs. The
railroad companies ali realize that 10
enter into rate war at tue present
time without the restraining influence
of u proper association to help tuem u
recover their normal condition would
mean are disaster, not only to the
revenues but ~ the persoa OF the
lines. Therefore, there is not the
slightest prospect Of any rate demorali-
cation at present."
Representatives OF the Chicago,
Milwaukee and 81. Paul AID the
Burlington road DIS said they had instruc.
tons from headquarters TO maiutain
rates.
IN FAVOR OF A POOLING LAW.
New YORK, April 1.-THE Times
tbs morning sayr; 80.
Although tbs eastern trank riiuesl
and their western connections will
continue to operate under the Joint
IT, ftlc agreement until compelled 10
Cease from 80 doing by an ADVERSE dc.
cision OF the United b stes Supreme
Court, the railroad neu almost with
cut exception, are preparing for a
vigorous campaign ~ favor Of the
passage oil q pooling law by Congress.
CDnuncey Depew, chairman OF the
joint trsfiic board OF control, says that
IN a proper pooling law lies The only
solution OF the exiting railroad
troubles. The bill introduced by Sen.
ator Foraker, he remarked, was de.
sigDeu TO enable railroad managers to
make satisfactory agreements and
keep out OF jail. One result OF the
recent conference OF railway lawyers
WAS to emphasize the unsnimiIy OF
sentiment IN iavor Of legislation that
will legalizs pooling. The presidents
OF some OF the trunk lines frankly
avow their willingness to have the
joint traffic association declared Illegal
by the Supreme Court, because they
believe that the conditions thus pre-
cipitated would force Congress TO pass
remedial measures without delay. The
Foraker pooling bill lie satisfactory to
most OF all the railroad men, and the
hObhbSio " hhS
commission as well.
The bill practically nullifies the
anti.traffic contract clause OF the
Sherman antitrust law ind gives the
railroad companies the privilege OF
making such traffic contracts under
the supervision OF the Interstate com.
merce commission. Eastern railroad
men believe that the Equalization OF
railway pooling would have better
effect on the general situation than a
Supreme court decision in favor OF the
Joint Traffic association. Even the
assurance Of the legality OF the last
named association would not help the
Western roads, for the reason that the
first Supreme court decision killed
their principal traffic agreement.
j. +. Goddard, chief arbitrator Of the
Joint Traffic association, was asked
last night bis opinion as to the effect OF
the paseage OF the Foraker pooling bin.
He said!
81 think the measure is timely and
In the direction Of the preservation OF
conservative business ON the part OF
railroads. The public is largely in
terested In this matter, net only Us
investors in securities, but In prevent.
ing a general disruption OF commercial
conditions"
Commissioner Geo. r. Blanchard
eaid:
81 think that the Foraker bill should
be supported by the public pa well as
by the railroads, for the reason tina.
under Its provisions all shippers are
put upon an equality. When rstes
have been made on reasonable stand
ard, regard 1t ns much the duty OF
the government to protect shippers
and railroads Jointly by requiring
uniform observance OF rates and fares
as 1t is to enforce the governments
Import and internal revenue tIGillc."
J. D.. Laying. vice president and
general manager OF the West Shore
ana vice president OF the Big -Four
aslii "lf the interstate commerce
commission approves OF pooling con-
tracts and has the power 10 terminate
them when they oppress the public, 1t
would seem to ms wise thing to pass
law looking IN that direction"
Henry Fink, president OF the Nsr'
iolk and Western, said that pooling
law was absolutely necessary TO the
country in order that the Interstate
commerce law can be carried out.
a. Walker, chairman OF thu board OF
directors OF the Atchisop, Topeka and
SANTA Fa Ia lr0au, and formerly CHIEF
arbitrator VI The trunk Iines, sAiu:
"fhis bill watch Ia designed to