Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-27
ST. PAUL NEWS.
TRANSPORTATION NOTES
RUKORS THAT THE ST. PAUL Road
is SICK OF III Il FIGHT
But They are Generally Diseredited in
hallway Circles hata Few of the Lead
ing Officials Think-G eneral Track Cos
said 10 be Backing Dotcn.
ESPECIAL Telegram to the Globe. |

ESPECIAL Telegram to the Globe.
CHICAGO, Dee 26.-it wes reported yes
tsrd " that the Chicago. Milwaukee & st.
PauI road had thrown up tbs sponge in
the contest between the eastern and west
ern lines, and it naturally created consid-
cradle excitement. The ST. Paul had been
one of the most aggressive in the fight
now il progress, ana it seemed incred-
IDLE that such step should
hava been taken. From the
fact that all general officials of the St.
Paul road are located at Milwaukee it
was in possible to learn whether the report
was true or false. General Patten, of the
Burlington, put no credence in the runner,
al hough he had no positive knowledge
that IL was not true. lie thought it would
be astrazge proceeding on the part OF the
st, Paul road after the position they had
taken in the fight. He did not think the
terms of the triple alliance would necessa-
rily force the Rock Island to follow the
example of the st. Paul. He said Mr..
Lowell, general passenger agent of the
Burlington, had gone to New York, bat
what his mission to go might be Mr.. Pat
ten was not advised. He saw no reason
for any change of bass on the part of tho
western lihss and did not think any would
be effected for some tina. General Pas
senger Agent st. John, of the Rsak Island,
did not believe the report to be true.
''If it is, will the action IF the st. Paul
affect the position of the Rock IslaEd!"
'The Rock Island stands upon an indl-
vidual footing, ana is entirely distinct
from the st. Paul. We take no interest in
what that road does, and will
n consult with its management
regarding any contemplated movement on
the part of the Rock Islapd.''
Vice President j. G. Mcmillan, of the
Chicago 4 Alton, said that he had positive
knowledge that the report was bese!ess,
viz: chairman Pierson, of the eastern
pool" said he, photographed each of the
western roads, asking that the matter be
left III statu quo for certain time.''
General Passenger Agent A. V. Fl. Car
penter, of the ST.. Paul, construed this into
proposition to restore rates on tickets
and the privilege of paying commissions
and answered Gail right" he had no in
tention whatever of giving up the contest,
or of recedlng one whit
from his former position. His reply
TO Mr.. ] ierson was Of course accepted as
a"backdown," and in that way the repor,
originated. Mr.. Persons proposition was
absurd. he wanted the western lines to
agree to a cessation of hostilities on their
part, while he proposed during the inter
val of the truce to leave the tickets still
turned to the wall and his part of the
issue unchanged In any respect We very
naturally could not see the justice il the
proposition al refused to agree to it.
General Manager G. FL. Chappell, of the
Alton, did not think the reported ''bzok-
down. of tie St. Paul to be
true regarding the outcome of the
conflict. He said: The Alton is still 6e-
termined to fight the eastern lines alone
if necessary. We claim to have the right
to regulate The payment of commissions
by our agents, and disclairo the right OF
the eastern or any other roads TO interfere
We will not recede in any particul r from
cur position.
II have heard the report OF the ST.
PauPs weakening" said an eastern gen
eral passenger agent, "and if it is true, il
ia an evidence OF failure on the part Of
contestants, who know themselves to be in
the wrong. These western lines send agents
to New York and authorize them to
pay such enormous com missions that tasy
take our business right away from US and
transfer it to the ssalpers. Any of tha
western lines is willing to lose so much of
its share of that sicket in order to gas the
passengers that il has become more profit
able for the public to deal through ths
scalpers than through the Offices of the
eastern lines. Where things are run at
such extremes it is not strange that ths
managers should interpsss serious objec-
tions. Suppose the Milwaukee agent of
the Michigan Central should pay such
exhorbitant commissions in o5dar to
beat the Lake Shore and
Fort Wayne that the business should be
transferred bodily from the offices of The
Northwestern roads TO scalping shops,
don't you believe tdsre would be vigor-
Gus kick on the Northwestern lines? Well,
that is what these roads are doing in our
territo.y. An effort will be made this week
to bring the war between eastern and vest
ern iiuss TO an end, and it would seem
from tina fact that the first step 10 taken by
the eastern lines, that MI. Pierson is any
loue to effect settlements as soon as pos
sl5le. Mr.. Pierson Is now in Cleveland,
and will be in Chicago tomorrow. He
telegrsphed yesterday to the various
managers asking them if joint confer
ence IN Chicago would be agreeable. They
all returned the answer that they would
be willing To participate in discussion of
tbs situation and tho meeting will be held
when Mr.. Parton arrives in the city.