The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-10-31
RAILROAD POOLS
ARE A NECESSITY.
CHAUNCEY VI. DEPEW REVIEWS
THE JOINT TRAFFIC. DECISION.
He Advocates Congregational Ac-
ton Allowing Railroads to Pool
Their Business. but With Govern
mcnt Supervision, Through the
Interstate Commerce C0mmix-
sion, They to Regulate Rates.

NEW YORK. Oct s0-Chauncey NJ.
Depew. having made a study OF the deci-
sen by the supreme court on the traffic
associatioils, gave his opinion as follows
The DECISION Of the supreme court ne
eessitafes the dissolution OF the Joint Traf-
sle Association at present constituted
broadly stated. the decision means there
snail he no more association among rail-
rcaGs by which they have any agreement
in regard to rates. either in the main
tenance Of rates or the prevention of rate
cutting, or the prevention of discrmina-
tions against weak shippers in favor OF
strong ones, or against small localities and
those along the lines in favor of the ter
miual lines. The object of the Joint Traf-
tic Association was. first, TO assist the in
terstate commerce act second, 10 prevent
secret rate-cutting. and. third to prevent
the favoE!tism to great cities and 10 great
shippers which are gradually wiping out
intermediate towns and the small business
man.
'1E is absolutely necessary for the rail-
roads OF the country 10 know the move
ment of traffic and freight conditions as
10 freight which Is 10 he moved az the
different reservoirs where IL is concen-
trated. 1t Is also necessary that they
know whether and why this frelgh; Is se-
curing an outlet. II for export, through the
Gulf of Mexico. or by the Canadian route.
or by the Atlantic seahoard
IT VIII he necessary, therefore. that
some association should exist as a statisti-
cal bureau for the purpose Of gathering
this information and presenting IL IN fire.
quent reports to the lines which are MEM
bers All that the railways ask is that
under form of voluntary agreement or a
pooling law they may he permitted 10
arrange among themselves so that there
shall be uniform rates to everybody who
ships over the various lines for the same
service. In other words as the railroads
are seni-public corporations. then the pub
lie should be treated upon lines the same
as the government; treats people who use
the postofhce. or the same men are
treated who use telegraph lines viz,
Uniform rates and the same treatment
10 everyone for like service. The great
error OF the people who framed the inter
state commerce act. was in suppos,ng that
in preventing the railroads from agreeing
upon rates and having n pool they are
getting lower rates for The purpose and
preventing Determinations. Their iegis-
lation proceeded on the thought that there
IS but one line. FOR instance between New
York and Chicago. whereas there are eight
lines. Now. X Is Impossible for com
hinati0n Of capital to take the weak line
and ship ts product over that line upon
an agreement much below the current
rates. The weak line may be in the hands
Of q receiver and have no obligations to
pay. either upon It's stock or upou its bonds
in other words. upon invested capital
which built IT, The other lines cannot af-
ford n 90 into bankruptcy hy following
this rate. ana so they let the weaker l!na
have this traffic. or they conduct their own
traffic upon regular and reasonable rates.
THE effec, II this Is very soon evident
The rates which these big shippers get
over this bankrupt Inc enable them 70
make their product 50 much cheaper than
the people VINO are situated upon ffo othe-
lines or who send 10 market from other
places than the terminus of th.. ba0krunt
line that they drive them on. of business
Then the antitrust. anti-corpoTat.on. anti
combination people by their own device.
have created 2 combination ard "A truaf.
This process has heen going on ever lnce
the Interstate commerce -ct end the anti
pooling provision were enforced II the
process continues the present rapid prog
ress OF the consolidation ~ every product
into the hands Of ore concern or few
man wlll continue. until both tire producer
and consumer Of The country will have
.hrir prices fixed BY the combination IN the
various aro3uCfs of the people. II ire
eight lines. however. were ~ position
where :hey could protect each Other and
me public IN giving equal options by all
rai lines thsn the enterprise and energy
ana lAr43@fttAS bI t4AsF FtIitfl4ats kttsFtt AtkN
smaller exseTs so and les- capital IN their
business w:th the owners attending 70 their
own affairs would result IN q wsde distr-
button - independent buz3Gass. 81 the
farmer finding many com ps'Itors for ths
pro luce ot MS farm and The railways hay
ing thousands Of customers instead II
very ssw.
The objection - a pooling law has al
ways been that he railways ould com
hine 20 raise prizes Il - apparently use-
less for1 fhe railroad man "a say what he
know= h r. q fact. thar tae demands %
the different markets. the competition u
the waterways and Ene conditions of ne
different centerx a. which freight ia gath
cred make II Impossible fer 4 &c railways
N raise rsfas But the II i&ays are rot
only willing bu; anxious taat this danger
should 10 ohvlatet by giving The govern
y-,ent supervision and control over all pool
ing RATES T7as railroads ask sor no pooling
isw except upon tAsse conditions
"Y1sst. tle pooi.cg contract shall Tot "a
Continued On paSs ~aEea