The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-16
The Minority Report.

II. NJ Bronson, general passenger agent of the
l., B. & W., feels that he stands before the coun-
try, though the report of the meeting of general
passenger agents, held in this city last week, as
the champion rate-cutter, and he asks chat his
defense be published Mr.. Bronson states that
THE Pennsylvania and G.. G., c. & I. companies
started out some time since to force us into
withdrawing all our outside agencies, and have
repeatedly declared they would never let up on
us tin they accomplish this They have en-
deayored to make therepresentatires Of Western
lines believe land have no doubt in some eases
suecsedecll that the l., B. & W. has been cutting
rates, and forcing them to do 50. 1t was neces-
sary for them to do this in order to carry out
their programme A meeting was called here
week or two ago for restoration Of rates at
Indianapolis and vicinity. 1t was claimed copy
of the notice was sent me, though I never re-
ceivvd it, and was absent from the city that day
and for several days after. When the meeting
assembled. no representative of the L, B. q w.
was present OF course there was big row,
and it was likely to make matters worse than
ever Our general manager being informed of
the situation, instructed my chief clerk to go to
the meeting and agree to restore rates, which lie
did. The night before this meeting was to take
place Il am informed by one who saw the dis
patch) Mr.. Ford telegraphed Mr.. DeriDg, his as
sistant at this place, not to agree upon any
restoration of rates unless the l., b. & W. com
painpany would agree to dismiss all its outside
agents BY some means this got into the hands
of Journal reporter and was published, and.
although / did not know anything about it till
to-day, its publication. the knowledge on their
part that the contents of the dispatch were in
the hands of the press, and would probably be
used prevented them from insisting upon the
| ultimatum, and rates were restored at Indianap-
oils and other points within q radius OF fifty
miles and have been pretty generally main
tanned since that day. The Pennsylvania and
line kept on cutting rates at all other points,
ard their agents were instructed to beat any
rates offered BY the 1, B. 81 w, no matter what
they might be- Then, when they had brought
the rates down so low that they were themselves
frightened, they induced Mr.. Lord, Of the b. d
o.. to unite with them in call for a meeting at
Indianapolis to restore rates. Mr.. Ford came to
this meeting with printed agreement, which he
had fixed up to suit himself In this agreement
was embodied the same matter that he had m
tended to insist upon at the previous meeting,
but which, from prudential reasons, was not pre-
sented
ssWe agreed to all essentials necessary to a res
tofati0n of rates; to bind ourselves under heavy
penalties f0E each and every violation, agreeing
TO make money deposits to secure the payment
of the penalties. But this was not enough, we
must sgree to discharge our outside agents
withdraw from all territory not actually on our
own limo Of road, and pay all our men fixed sala-
ries. We must agree to act as a unit with the
Pennsyivania and Bee-liHe against any Western
OF friendly line that presumed to sell It's own
6alSets or hire agents on commission ia our ter
ritoty. AS, a concession we agreed 70 withdraw
cur agents from all territory strictly local to
other lines, but would not consent to discharge
our agents, or withdraw our tickets from com
petitive territory unless connecting lines would
agree to give us the same representa- that we
could get by fssinR 0ttr own tickets. Nor would
we agree to prohibit any other line from doing
what we claimed the right to do ourselves Nor
would we surrender the right to pay our men in
any manner we see ft; in coin or greenbaeks by
the day, month, or year, or by a percentage on
the business they secure. But this WIS the III
timatum, and unless we should agree TO do all
this Mr. Ford and Mr.. Smith declared there
could be no restoration Of rates and Mr. Smith
had the assurance to get up and offer resolution
to the effect that, owing almost wholly to the OBJ
position of the l.. 3. & W., it was impossible to
restore rates. and that the meeting adjourn
and turn the matter over to the general mana
gers
Immediately denounced this resolution as an
insult, not only to the &, B. q w. railway, but
to me personally; that it was lie on its face an
emphatic no such thing; that had agreed to all
that was essential to a restoration Of rates, and
was anxious for the meeting to accomplish this
results but MOI we must give way entirely and do
just what they wanted us to in every particular,
or nothing would be done. We declined abso-
luteiy to be forced into any such disgraeeful p0-
sition Although Mr. Smith resolution was pass
ed after my earnest protest against its Injustice
1t was reconsidered, and another passed, towhich
acceded, though felt the meeting might have
accomplished its purpose without referring the
master to the general managers. The meeting
adjourned, and what apprehended came to pass.
1t was teiegIaphed to the Chicago and other pa
pers, appearing as the report Of the passenger
agents who had returned from the meeting; that
the opposition of the 4, B, u W..
prevented restoration of rates, and