New-York tribune., 1902-02-02
NO GRAIN TO TAKE ABROAD.
STEAMSHIP MEN SAY THERE'S LITTLE
TO CARRY
ING TO RAISE PASSENGER RATES
is RIDICULOUS

The feeling among steamship men and many
of the shippers yesterday was that the steam
ship companies justified in refusing to
take grain. flour and provisions at less than
the minimum rates which were agreed upon. as
announced in The Tribune. 1t was not thought
that it would seriously affect prices as these
articles would not be shipped unless it would
pay to export them. The steamship men say
that there is other thing they would
like besides a reasonable freight rate, and that
is freight to move
Mr.. Moore, of the firm OF Lunham & Moore
freight brokers'. said yesterday:
1t is very hard to tell what the effect of the
steamship lines agreement freight rates will
be. There has been very little doing for some
time. You can't make less than nothing There
is nothing doing in the grain export line No
one can tell the effect of the rate on flour
Will have on shipments of that commodity. II
the lines maintain the rate and there is any
flour 10 CO. il will be sent, regardless of the
rate. Just at present there is no foreign de-
mand for American flour and the same NAV be
said about provisions"
The agent Of one OF the steamship lines which
signed the agreement said:
The tentative agreement which now exists is
a good thing as far II goes. but how are we
10 get CaTgoeS at a penny and ha penny when
We can get them at penny? AS matter OF
iact there is no grain to carry. and the agree
ment only amounts to a protective measure in
that it binds the lines which in 1t not to take
costs to handle Them
II was reported yesterday that there was a
plan on toct 20 form passenger agree
ment with advanced rates. A meeting, ii was
said would be held next Tuesday. Several
steamship agents said that they knew nothing
OF the scheme and one said that so far as he
knew no meeting would be held next Tuesday
Gustav II. Schwab. OF the North German
Lloyd Line. discussing the freight agreement,
said:
The advance agreed on is not radical rails
ing of rates and certainly is not calculated to
work any hardship TO the American exporter.
The lines have simply agreed upon a minimum
rate which can hardly be called up TO the normal
standard for this season of the year The effect
of this agreement cannot help but work to the
good of all lines Interested in the carving bust
ness. As a matter Of fact not ton bushel of
freight has been carried from this port to Eng
lish ports for months which has not cost more
than 1t brought in 10 handle IT, Our line is not
in the gree meHt because we are not an English
line, but only carry C1rgOes to continental
ports However, We naturally will benefit by the
action of tho others. Ii there is grain for to
carry We viii get the advantage Of the action.
''A this talk about a proposed pool 10 advance
or otherwise tamper with passenger rates Is
nOTsense. There has been passenger rate
agreemnt for long time which works satisfaC-
tOrily. and there is no occasion for any changes.
OF course. there are questions under discussion
between the lines all the time about certain
features of the passenger tariff but move
ment is on foot or imminent or looking to any
radical changes"
As indication OF the grain export conditions
it said that recently three steamships left
this port with 19.OO1 bushels of grain in their
holds They returned with 10000 bushels OF il
untouched The idea that on the strength OF the
raising of rates tramp steamship interests
would get together TO cut under them and that
pacity would be ordered built considered
absurd by some of the steamship men.