The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-23
M. E. INGALLS, ON POOLS
HE DECLARES THEY WILL NOT REM
EDY EXISTING TROUBLES.
Directors Should Make the Tariffs and
lily Fined-RaiIway Notes.

M. e. ingalls,, president of the Big Four
and the Chesapeake & Ohio, spent yester-
day in the city, in the morning visiting
the shops with Superintendent of Motive
Power Garstang, then attending the confer
ence of the heads of departments, and re-
turning to Cincinnati last night Mr.. ingalls,
says that freight rates in all directions are
better maintained than a month ago, es-
pecialiy is this true of st. Louis. He thinks
the general passenger agents, if the agree
ment shall be observed, have hit upon the
mileage book plan that will be satisfactory
to the roads and a good thing for the per-
son who is entitled to travel on mileage.
In this connection he mentioned what
came under his observation when last in
Europe. Some friends wished to make
trip and there were three competing lines
they could choose from. He investigated
matters to see what could be done on rates
and found that the representative of each
line extolled the advantages of his route,
the superiority of it's equipment, etc, but
when the question of rates was preached
the answer was, 1T is the same by all
lines. If we sold a ticket at less than tariff
off would go our heads" Mr.. ingalls, went
on to say: Pooling will not settle this
rate question. AS soon as you get pools
the fight will begin over per cents. What is
needed is that Congress pass laws which
will place the making of tariffs in the
hands of the directors of the roads subject
to the approval of the interstate-commerce
commissioners, not even allowing the pres
ident of the road the general manager or
any other official to deviate from the fixed
tariff. l would wipe out the clause of the
interstate act that makes it a criminal Of
Tense and substitute a heavy fine for the
cutting of a rate below tariff, and enforce
the payment of the fine whether the road
is solvent or in the hands of a receiver.
This done, the Interstate-commerce Com
mission would experience much less trouble
in ferreting out rate cutters and Furnishing
them. No official would like to charge that
q competing line is cutting rates, knowing
that If proven, the agent who did 1t must
go to the penitentiary, but We're the rate
cutting road subjected to a heavy fine there
would be trouble in convicting rate-cut-
tiers, as every road that was maintaining
rates would act a detective and the inter-
state-commerce act would be of some avail.
The proposed legislation would strike at the
root of the evil, as, after a road had laid
two or three fines, it's president and gen
eral manager would see that rate cutting
was stopped. When in New York last week
] said to Commissioner Blanchard that were
NOIASlS oS " pass q Dtll pei lIllIblliS. pOOl-
ing the results would be disappointing.
Make directors responsible for the maint9-
nance of rates and then compel a road
which deviated from tariff to pay heavy
fine. Under this arrangement the rate queS-
ton would soon be adjusted and rates
would be the same to all classes of ship
pers.
Mr.. ingalls, said that he was much en-
couraged over the outlook for business on
the Big -Four lines. AT the meeting yester-
day every division was represented, and
with one exception, the Michigan division,
the reports were of the most encouraging
ri q