The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-07-17
WHATMORE CAN WE DO2
This Is the Attitude of the Rail-
road officials.
A WRITTEN ANSWER PROMISED
TO the Formal Statements and De-
mands Made by the MinneapO-
lis shippers.

ence with the Commercial club committee
to-day. said that he did not see how the
road could, at the present time, agree to
grant any Of the concessions asked by the
Minneapolis business men. Arrangements
were made for another meeting at which
the officials of the road are to present in
writing their answer to the written ar
gument put forth by the business men. 1t
is now up to the council
The road was represented by General
Counsel Thomas Wilson, General Superin-
tendent Trenholme. and Vice President
James T. Clarke. The Commercial Club
committee was composed Of George H.
Partridge. F. F. Lindsay, E. c. Best, s. H.
Hall. and Ernest F. Smith. OF the alder
men present there were President Jones,
and Chatfeld, Merrill and Rand of the
council committee on railroads.
Mr. Partridge started the ball by reading
from manuscript the argument Of the COM
mittee stating why Minneapolis was en-
titled TO the concessions asked.
A full synopsis of this argument is given
below.
Determination DfscIaimed.
Following Mr.. Partridge, Mr.. Clarke
spoke for the road. He said that the COM
mittees statement contained too much de-
tail and statistics to allow him to an
swer it comprehensively. 1t would be un-
fair to expect it. In a general way he
did not believe that the statement that
the Omaha road had acted adversely to
the interests of the twin cities in rate
matters could be borne out. He disputed
many of the statements contained in the
committees arguments on the ground that
they were based on suppositiOns, that the
figures were incorrect.
Mr.. Clarke said that anything that he
might have to say would concern the
Omaha road only. The Omaha did not
control the North Western. In order to
serve its patrons in Minneapolis better,
the road was preparing to expand its fa-
cilities here and in that connection had
asked for small concessions. He did not
think it fair to attach to this request the
various other subjects that had been
brought into the controversy. Omaha
rates were as favorable to Minneapolis as
those of any other road. Rates from tide
water to Minneapolis were less than from
tidewater to Chicago or st. Louis. He
said that the Omaha road had not the
power to readiust rates. 1t had always
been willing and always worked to get
the best rates possible for the twin cities
as its interests were here. He, as traffic
manager for the Omaha, had no more to
do with the North Western road than
he had with the Milwaukee. Later in
the conference Mr.. Wilson said that the
Omaha and North Western were as ac-
tive competitors as the Omaha and Mil
waukee.
Distance TariR Opposed.
Referring to distance tariff such as
is in operation in Iowa. he claimed that it
would be an injury to Minneapolis 1t was
impossible to get away from the prefer
entail system of freight rates without in
Jury to many communities. He asserted
that all would concede that the adjust
ment of grain rates as affecting Mime
apolis, made by the 0paha, was salts
factory. In Milwaukee's contention for
lower grain rates, the interstate COM
meree commission had ordered the Omaha
to reduce its rates to Milwaukee, while
the Minneapolis rates had remained the
same. 1t was now in contempt of that
decision, having refused to comply. An
analysis of adjustment of rates to-day
would show an advantage for Minneapo-
lis
Whatever should pledge myself to do
in rate adjustment" said Mr.. Clarke, II
could not carry out. We are in competi-
ton with other roads. We make no pro-
gress by arbitrary action. We must nego-
tiate. If We reduce rates others will fol-
low and the relations of rates generally
would remain unchanged"
Mr.. Smith asked Mr.. Clarke whether if
Minneapolis merchandise were paying twice
as much per mile as Chicago merchandise,
it would not be better for the roads to ad-
just that matter instead of having 1t
made subject of legislation as was the
case In Iowa.
THAT course is open to you," answered
Mr.. Clarke, ''but when matter of that
kind is taken to the courts all interests
are considered. AS said before, 1 think
distance tariff would be bad thing for
YOU"
Mr.. Clarke also adverted to the quick
freight service of the Omaha to southern
points. Mr.. Partridge and others of the
committee noted some exceptions.
Alderman Merrill asked Mr.. Clarke if
it were true that Minneapolis paid twice
as much for the same service as Chicago,
as the committee claimed. If it were
true, was there any help for it?
Mr.. Clarke said that he had never heard
OF such basis of comparison in his forty
years Of railroading. He knew of no way
that the condition could be improved, as
other factors would Immediately follow up
the reduction. He contended that the
distributing rates out of Minneapolis we're
relatively fair now. He insisted that the
Omaha did all in its power to bring dairy
shipments to Minneapolis.
In reply to a question from Alderman
Chatfeld, Mr.. Clarke said that he would
be willing to specify within few days