The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-29

TO report to the joint agency or associa-
ton any departure from published
rates by a competing carrier to the end
that the facts might be fully ascertain
ed and the unfair competition stopped.
The supreme court of the United States
has now finally determined that the So
called antitrust act applies to railroad
carriers, and in legal effect prohibits
any agreement between them which re-
strains competition In any degree. wen
though such agreement goes no further
than TO secure the observance of the re-
straints imposed by the act to regulate
commerce. IL is therefore no longer
lawful for the carriers to create. by
agreements between them. joint agel-
cies or associations. as formerly. to pre-
vent the cutting OF rates. however un-
lawful. Without some impartial body
to investigate the complaints of one
competing carrier against another and
to check illegal ~rate-cutting. II found
to exist. IL will he practically impossi-
BILE for the railroad carrier alone to pre-
vent that form of competition between
them. however earnest the great major
ity of the carriers may be to stop Il.
The Interstate commerce commission
not only commands the respect of the
railroad carriers for its impaTtiaiity.
but also in lite powers to investigate
complaints of Illegal ~rate-cutting and
TO put a stop to all illegal practices IL
far surpasses any association which the
carriers have ever treated by agree
ments between themselves. We see no
reason why the commission should re-
fuse its aid to the carriers in an effort
to prevent competition from taking the
form or Illegal concessions through se-
cret rates, drawbacks. rebates and 9TH
er devices: and we see no reason why
the carriers should not seek the aid of
the commission in such an effort Iy
reporting to the commission any de-
parture from published rates. to the end
that the facts nay be fully ascertained
and h Illegal practice stopped.
The receivers of the Baltimore &
Ohio Railroad company will maintain
on and after January I. 1899. upon the
line operated by them, the rates. fires
and charges shown OF the tariffs pub
lished and filed with the commission as
required by law. We believe that all.
or nearly all. OF the railroad carriers
within h territory above mentioned
will likewise maintain their published
tarih rates from that date. To prevent
a relapse. however. to the conditions
now existing. IL Is necessary that no
important carrier shall long depart
from the published tariff of rates.
should such a departure occur. TO the
detriment OF the interests i'm our
%AAa So W. eAhaAA liNtht NIt dlu w ~
commission to stop IL. We hope and be-
lieve that many other carriers Will Co
the same.
In anticipation that the other railroad
carriers formerly associated with :he
Baltimore a. Ohio Railroad company I'm
traffic associations will adopt the
course decided upon by us and above
mentioned. We have taken the liberty
Of transmitting TO each such carrier a
OF this letter"
A spokesman for the receivers has
authorized the following statement re-
garding this letter:
While the letter IL self-explanatory.
there may be an impression that IL was
written simply TO make a grand
stand" play. This is not the case. as I
am In a position to know. For some
time rates have been getting lower. and
the receivers believe that something
should be done to stop the downward
tendency. 1t seems impossible for the
railroads 10 get together and agree IN
rates As economy In operation has
reached the point where IL Is almost inn
possible TO lessen the cost OF transpor-
tation without cutting Messrs.
cowen and Murray feel that radical