Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-04-29
PENNSY TO FIGHT
BOSTON ON RATES
TOWARD Chicago
Clash Between Railways Enter
ing Philadelphia and New Eng
land City Seems Certain.

NEW YORK, April 29.-Notice of q
freight-rate war in the interests oil
the port of Philadelphia is the startling
declaration flung across the horizon o.
the Atlantic port situation by the
Pennsylvania railroad. The announce
ment was inspired by failure of the
conference of h import committee OF
the Trunk Line Association n OF
representatives of the trade bodies OF
New York, Philadelphia, Boston and
Baltimore to harmonic their differ
ences over the import differentials to
Chicago. The Pennsylvania then de-
clared through George d. Dixon, its
freight traffic manager, that, firing OF
the fruitless efforts to bring about an
amicable adjustment of the contro-
versy, it would on June IL cut the
sixty-nine-cent import rate to Chicago
10 sixty-one cents, six cents lower than
the present Boston rate. The Philadel-
phia and Reading and Baltimore and
Ohio, it was at the same time declared
will join with the Pennsylvania.
The Boston and Maine railroad repre-
sentatives desired to have the confer
ence continued to another day. They
refused to advance the Boston rate
from sixty-seven to seventy cents a
hundred pounds to equalize the charge
in comparison with the siXty-nine-cent
rate from Philadelphia, which is 800
miles nearer Chicago than Boston.
As neal as meager information makes
possible, Philadelphia will be largely
responsible il the fighting is resumed.
The representatives of that city came
to New York for the conference with
the chairmen from the other cities
named, definitely instructed to adhere
to the terms of a resolution adopted
in FEBRUARY by the joint committee on
import differentials which they repre-
sen While this resolution has never
been made public. it is known that one
of its provisions demands the re-
establishment of the original relatively
of import rates in effect prior TO Janu-
ary of last year, from Boston to points
west. and from Philadelphia to the
same points. 1t is further insisted
upon that Philadelphia and Baltimore
shall be upon an equal basis. instead
of the Monumental City being two
cents lower than Philadelphia on com
modities of the first class. with CORE
spending differences on the five other
classes. and tina Boston shall take a
higher rate.
What now aggravates the situation
and points to a resumption of the fight
which means more cutting Of rates Is
the notice given by the Pennsylvania
of its purpose to put in a siXty-one-
cent scale as against that of sixty
seven cents of Boston, and which was
in effect when a truce was agreed upon
for the purpose and with the hope
that the commercial Interests of the
several ports would adjust their diff
~ferences.
Should the Pennsylvania refuse to re-
cede from this intention there remains
no other alternative but to begin fight
ing again and continue doing so until
sone one of these interests finds that
it has enough and cries aloud for peace.
There is thought to be little doubt
that the cut in rates declared by the
PENNSYLVANIA railroad will result in
the reduction of the Boston schedule
if history is to repeat itself. y rail
road fight thai the Interstate Com
merce Commission may be called upon
TO settle will likely follow.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
took a hand in the last rate war. 1t
readily saw that the fight was reducing
freight rates so low that imports were
threatening the interests of home man
ufactured. products. The railroads were
soon brought to realize the same, and
decided to return to the former sched-
ule. The Boston and Maine only he'll
out for a two-cent advantage over
philadelphia.