The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-06-03
EASTERN RATES
ARE RESTORED
Baltimore and Ohio Pressed Into Line
by the Association.
THE LIBERTY OF RECEIVERS
Do Not nays to Observe Traffic Agresneats
Supreme Court Decision Cause
Of Much Trouble.

New York. June 2-The Herald says:
The Joint Traffic Association, through
a committee consisting OF President
Thompson OF the Pennsylvania and Pres
ldent Depew OF the New York Central
has succeeded in bringing sufficient pres
sure TO bear upon the Baltimore & Ohio
road to stop cutting freight rates and
prevent the threatened dissolution OF the
association. The committee conferred
with Receivers Murray and cowan Of
the Baltimore & Ohio at the Offices Of
the Joint Traffic Association here last
night. They were authorized TO use any
power that was necessary in order 10
adjust the situation. The Baltimore &
Ohio was the agressor in cutting rates,
but as the receivers were not a party
to the association agreement, II was diffi-
cult to reach them, both because a COM
pany in the hands OF the court is not
supposed TO be party to a pooling ar
rangement, and because the supreme
court decision holding that all traffic
agreements similar to the Trans Missouri
Association are illegal
Ever since the receivership OF the Bal
timore & Ohio. officials have been active
In securing as large a tonnage as pos
sible. regardless OF the percentage TO
which the company is entitled under the
pooling arrangement. Its allotted share
OF west-bounA freight Is "a per cent, ?
the actual tonnage carried by 1t during
the last three months is said to have
averaged nearly twice that amount. the
loss falling on the Erie and Pennsylva-
mia railroads. The receivers made the
excuse that they were not members OF
the association and could not DC held
to the agreement that bound the former
management of the company. The other
companies answered this claim by sayirg
that II II came TO a scramble for business
the Baltimore & Ohio would be COM
PEELED to carry traffic at loss and the
result would be disastrous to all con-
cerned. The discomfort among the trunk
lines became so great at the unfair ad-
vantage taken by the Baltimore & Ohio
because Of II being in the hands OF the
court. that It resulted finally In de-
mand being made by certain OF the
other companies that there be a readjust-
ment Of tonnage or rates so that the
companies falling behind would have 6
chance to make up their losses.
stin others suggested settlement ir
money as the only way in which the
competitors OF the Baltimore & Ohio
would ever be able to even up percent
ages, But this. Of course. the courss
would not sanction, and the suggestion
was dropped. What other influences were
brought to bear which caused the re-
ceivers to agree to conform to the ex'
listing rates without being members Of
the association have not become known
The result was a surprise to everybody
Several other companies charged witt
cutting rates had stated at a recent meet
ing that II the Baltimore & Ohio woulC
restore rates they would do the same.
The decentralization will, therefore, enc
at once.
The tonnage remains to be adjusted
according to the amount formerly al
lotted under the pool.