The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-21
RATES ARE MAINTAINED
COMMISSIONERS GODDARD REPLIES
TO MARTIN KNAPP.
Says the Situation as to Railway Tar
IFS Is Better Than Ever-The
Noncommission Agreement.

Commissioner ]. +. Goddard, of the
Trunk-line Association, was asked yester-
day at New York If he shared the pessi-
mistic views expressed by Interstate Com
merce'Commissioner Martin Knapp regard
ing the railroad rate situation. mo, L do
not" said Mr.. Goddard. II have no evidence
that the rate situation is as bad as 1t has
been represented. There is no trouble with
west-bound rates. The present situation
lis that respect never was better than 1t Is
now. All of the roads are sticking to the
tandard tariff and business is very good.
with regard TO e~ast-bound rates l have
heard no complaints OF irregularities o
the part of any of the trunk lines. A few
weeks ago there was more or less cutting
Of grain rates from Chicago and st. Louis,
but from all that / can learn hat situation
Is mending. The principal railroads inter-
ested have just agreed on a slight advance
Ia grain rates, effective April l. That cer-
tainly does not look as though there was a
disposition to wage a rate war. In my
has gone by. 1 do not believe we shall see
any more such rate disturbances as we used
To have. The community of interest which
now prevails among the principal lines is
a safeguard against rate wars. The inter-
change of representation in the various
railroad directorates canno fail to operate
advantageously. The railroad interests are
brought closer together and there Is less
chance for misunderstanding and differ
ences of opinion.
1.-The new freight classification is work
ing very well. The notifications made by
the classification committee appear to give
satisfaction. At any rate 1 hear no COM
plants regarding 1t. The general advances
made in the freight rates are very slight.
There are two or three commodities of
large tonnage. such as sugar, soap, etc..
on which an advance was considered justi-
fable. On the general run of freight,
however, the increased rates are so slight
that the consumer, who generally has 10
foot the bills. will not notice any differ
ence. While not prepared to speak with
exaction, / will venture to guess that In
the main advances in rates on genera
freight will not exceed 1 cent for 10o
pounds"
Congress OF the Cullom bill amending the
interstate-commerce law so as to permit
railroads to form pools will give s~atisfac-
ton to the railroads."
II do not think 1t will. AS I understand
the measure the Cullom bill practically
places the r~ate-making power I'm the
hands of the interstate-commerce COM
mittee. While / do not care TO speak of.
fcially on the subject and, in fact. / have
no authority to speak for the railroads.
will say that l do not believe any of the
railroad companies would object to having
the Interstate-commerce Commission ex.
ercise a supervisory power over whatever
pooling arrangements might be made. But
the railroads would certainly like TO have
the right OF appeal to the courts. To be
sure the right of appeal to the United
States Supreme Court is allowed them
but that would be of little use if the
United States court adjudicates only ques.
lions of law and the railroads would be
likely to appeal on rate questions which
are questions of fact"