New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-26
HELP FOR MEXICAN ROADS
AUTHORITY TO MEET CANADIAN PACIFIC
RATES GRANTED.
PENDs THE LONG AND SHORT HAUL
CLAUSE on ALL PASSENGER TRAF-
FTc FOR WHICH THE CANA
DIAN ROAD COMPLETES.
rBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuxE.l

tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE1
Washington. Feb. 25.-The Interstate Com
merce Commission this afternoon issued an i'm
portant order suspending on passenger traffic
the long-and- short haul clause Of the Interstate
Commerce act in favor Of such American rail-
roads as have been affected by recent cuts In
through passenger rates by the Canadian Pa
cifc BY the terms Of the new order American
roads will have the privilege Of fixing rates from
the East to the Pacific Coast at the same terms
as the Canadian Pacific. regardless Of the tariffs
charged between intermediate points.
To-days decision marks the climax OF a strug
gle for passenger traffic between the American
roads and their Canadian rival which has been
raging, more or less under cover. for over year.
Even longer ago than that. application was
made by the American SYSTEMS for permission
to fix lower through rate 10 compete with the
Canadian system on passenger travel from
points east Of Detroit to the mining regions Of
British Columbia. This request was granted for
three months. renewed and then renewed again.
Soon II was found that the Canadian Pacific
was making A special rate to Manitoba and i'm
migrant points in Northern Minnesota and
North Dakota.
To meet this attack the American roads only
few days ago asked leave TO lower their through
rates to Manitoba from points on the Detroit
anu 81 Louis rivers. ana from lhdb fol tl'H 'A
the England States reached by the Grand
Trunk Railroad The Commission. after a care
ful hearing again suspended the long and short
haul clause so as 10 give the necessary relief
For the last three days however. argument
has been continued 10 impress on the Commits
sioners the desirability OF still further suspend
ing the long g-and short haul provision. in order
to allow the American roads to compete with
the Canadian Pacific for this springs travel
toward Alaska. The Canadian Pacific under
an agreement with the American systems, was
formerly allowed 10 enjoy dinerential Of
81 30 in its passenger tariffs from the Atlantic
Coast TO San Francisco. Having a longer route
by several hundred miles. X was thought only
equitable 70 allow the Canadian railroad 10
take a part of the traffic al a cheaper rate.
But with Vancouver. Tacoma and Seattle the
chief points Of destination. the Canadian Pa
cihc has almost direct a line from the At
lantic Coast any other transcontlnental syS-
TEN.
The American railroads having therefore re-
fused again this year 10 grant the - ~ dliier-
ential. the Canadian Pacific recently responded
by cutting the old through passenger ,allU 10
the coast to S40-about half Of the established
rate. The new rate to go into erect from
all points in New-England and in the territory
north OF Philadelphia and east or the Lehlgn
Valley Railroad. The American railroads could
not hope while maintaining their old rates, 10
secure any Of the spring travel 70 the far
Northwest and they promptly made applica-
ton for the relief which was granted to-day.
a war OF rates 10 the Pacific slope may there
fore be expected to begin within the next rev
days.