New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-22
FURTHES RATE CUTTING.

UNDERSELLING ST LOUIS FARES.
IHE TICKET "sCALPERs " WELL SUPPLIED WITH
Low-PRICE TICKETS TO KANSAS CITY AND ST.
IoUIs-oRDINARY METHODS OF ENADlNo
AGREEMENTS.
The trouble caused by the cutting ofpassenger
rates between New-York and Kansas CITY, Ge-
scrbed IN THE TRIBUNE yesterday, proves to be
still more serious upon further Investigation lt
has also been aggravated by cut by the lcAet
scalpers" in the rate to 81 L"uls
by the way of the Lake Erie and Western ana the
Chicago and Alton roads Tickets were sold yeSter-
day to ST. Louis for so %, against hrs-cass iares
| of 500 70 by the New-York, Lake Ere and west
orn the New-York PENNSYLVANIA and Ohio and the
| Ohio and Mississippi roads, 1913 25-by the New
York Central routes. $24 20 by the Pennsylvania,
and 500 by the Baltimore and Ohio. The dinereh-
tiaI fare allowed by agreement to the Lake Erie
and Western line is $40 10. The new cut together
with the old resulted in brisk sales by the scapers
and correspondingy queter business In the regular
railroad offices.
The ouantity of the Kansas City lOw-rate tickets
which have been distributed is now believed to be
far in excess of the original estimate. One we'll
known scalper" was heard to admit that he hinl-
self held tickets worth $4,000 II WAS also learned
that large quantities OF these tickets have been
placed in the scapers" hands in Albany anu
Boston, there to be used in connection with trunk
line tickets from those cities to Sandusiy. 1t
is now supposed that at the East some $15O'Ooo OF
$3.50 900 of these tickets has been distributed
Allowing for the cut i'll the regular fare ana Tor the
trunk line tickets the outside brokers are believed
20 have been furnished with the eat tickets at % or
$40 apiece. Which OF the two Western roads bene-
flied by the cutting. if either Is responsible or tine
issue Of the tickets is not yet known. OF course
ii ,b,t, effected through
ary persous The route from SanduSEy BY
the Kansas City cut tickets is through
bloomington. l., where the Lake Erie and western
connects with the Chicago and Alton; 10y thls
route st. Louis is avoided, so tlat rillI3au nle'
apart from the external evidence Obtained ny thc
do not believe that the cut j. made by any employ
ment of old unused low-ratc tickets Issued by tie
Chicago and Alton during its former war WIN 1he
Wabash. Yesterday the Eastern agent OF me Zee
Line submitted his complaint against mo
Lake Erie and Western 10 Commissioner flhks
Office A meeting of the trunk-llne general
passenger agents probably will consider the whole
matter this week. No INSTRUCT MS as to ac'loh
were received by the agent OF the NaDash'Nt'
Louis and Pacific Company. The ChlcaGo roads
are likely to make common cause AGAINST tlo Lake
Erie and Western with the Bee Line ana the
Wabash. Ii was acknowledged by prominent
ticket "scalpcr" that large quantities OF the Kan
sas CITY tickets had been sold 70 himself ana ms
colleagues on snort credit BY the distributing per
some railroad men Yesterday said that the cut to
Kansas Cisy and st. Louis over the Lake Enc and
Western route could not cause extended disturbance
the passenger pool because OF the inferior IRcil-
tcs Of that route and the longer time required Tor
its through travel. Others were not So sanguinc,
and feared that at the best many low-rate tickets
would remain outstanding for long time even II
most of them should be redeemed at present and 50
maintain constant source of irritation Iii Kansas
City rates. The volume of through Western travel
at the present time Is comparatively small
and most probably will undergo further ShrnkIge
through thn winter The best m0nthS-!nosc or
early autuml-aIe over. and bcnce the disturbing
power o raie-cuttlng will be greater than II would
have been had it been experienced earlier III The
year. The present cut Is Infatuated to be the pre-
cursor Of demand by the Lake Ere ana Ne5lcln
and the Chicago ana Alton line for the allowance
ofa lower rate 10 IL between terminal dliierenla-
fare points.
by the Eastern and the Western railroads every
effort has been MADE TO stop the possible leaks III
rates Neyer;hclc 8 there have continued to he
irregularities, none of which has been rs aFpacnt-
ly serious as the present development OF trouble.
Perhaps in the matter of COMMISSIONS TO agents not
regularly connected with the roads the greatest
evasion mas been prac Used. In ONE cases salaries
by the month are pald, winch snow curious
variability and also correspondence with TIE
rate Of sales of tickets In others. COMMISSIONS arc
discussed under the items OF advertising expenses
or special services IN passenger de pa iinen' Al
Vertising has been subjected 10 regulations BY
agreement, but they are not cicctudi III preventing
something of an encouragement 10 the Zell of non
SHARED SCENTS As an Illus ration OF another way
40 avadc tariff rates, the TACT may be mentioned,
that recently passenger was CARED 70 ClnClhnatl
Oh "A thcalTcai-rate part OF the rOule and BY pass
over the remainder. 1hratIlpal passes are not III
frequently allowed to fairly large parties OF travel
lers nOt belonging TO the profession. The pool roads
have agreed to abandon the payment OF c"iLlnis-
slons ana the Grand Trunk of Canada claims 10
have paid none since September -. The Grand
Trunk Is MO n member o. ghe pool but l; has Tor
maIly cOoperated with the American hn25 to MAIN
tain the new dferentlal fares.