New-York tribune., 1885-01-17
BITTER WAR IN STEERAGE RATES.
FIGHTNG,THE HAMBURG PACKET LINE.
THE CONTINENTAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE sUs-
PENDED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

THE CONTINENTAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE sUs-
PENDED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
The Continental Conference, composed OF the
North German Lloyd, the Red star. the Rotterdam,
the Carr (Hamburg) the Italian, and the Thing
valla steamship lines which was organized on
January /, exists in name only. as tne estaDished
schedule of steerage passenger rates has been sus
pended in order that a fierce war may be waged
against the Hamburg American Packet Company,
which refuses to re-enter the conference. An
agreement was framed by the conference lines that
none of their agents or sub-agents should be per-
mitted to book any passengers for any steamer OF
the Hamburg Packet Company and the rates @ ior
outward steeTage passage were fixed at SlS, $2O
and 500. to Contneni ports. with condition that
the Carr Line could sell tickets by their steamers
at $2 loss than the other Hamburg
pany ao we're s "sehfs authorzed e to sell tic cts
TO Hamburg Mt as low rates as any other line'
hence they redu ed to the rates of the Carr Line,
and this has forced the other conference lines 10
meet the cut rates.
Yesterday it was declared that the rates OF the
various Continental lines were open that Is. eacn
line could charge such rates they chose without
regard to the conference schedule As result,
each company sent out circulars to their agents,
and posted notices Of reduction in outward steer
age rates the basis of S14 to Bremen ana
Hamburg. 1t was learned, however, that
of the lines secretly cut under this rate 10
$12. The Hamburg American Packet Company
issued circulars to their agents that the Sontl
mental Conference. seemingly envlons OF our
position and for obvious other reasons" had been
re-estabshed, lone of the main objects being TO
The circular then states that it is decided to fore
stall the attempt of the Conference lines 10 lower
their rates, and the agents authorized 10 con-
tinue selling passages by this line at as cheap
rate as is offered by anv of the Conference lines
soliciting passengers to Hamburg. and at the same
time to book passengers TO Bromen by way OF Hah
burg at 81 % additional The reason gwen Tor
not Joining the Conference is because the company
deem 1t incompatible with the interests OF our
line" and attention is called to the fact that TINS
is "A fight for the rights and interests of an old
reliable and well established line and It's represent
atves against the assuming dictates OF a
agents to sell tickets to Hamburg, by way OF Ant
werp at Sl4, which with the 81 commission al
lowed to agents at all points with the exception OF
hose at Chicago who are allowed 20 conimlssl0n
brings the net rate down to $40 and ~ I.ae me
profit from this ratio to the Red Star
Line is so cents a passenger. Inc pront
to the other lines is little more than this IN the
saving of railroad fires, but with a further reduc-
tlon threatened to-day and IN the future IL Will De
that the comeanies may eventually lose
money. As each stserage passenger Is allowed one
hundred cubic feet of room, II TINS could he occn-
pied by freight, the company would receive Slo
and be at no xpense for provisions. bedding. etc.
Ii was reported yesterday that at meet
ing of the directors of the Hamburg Nmerlcan
Packet Company, held in Hamburg on Saturday.
three members of the. Board resigned and an ,iiort
made by the Carr Line people To- substitute
three of their own representatives. The meeting
was adjourned without filling the vacancies tlIi
February 4, when the Carr Line people hope 10 be
successful in their efforts. Another clement to dis
turb the steamship people was developed yesterday
through "A letter sent to the several agents by As
sistant Pool Commissioner Pearson 10 the effect that
the railroad rates for immigrant passengers bound
westward had been reduced -. or on the Dasls OF
IS to Chicago This prevents them from selling
prepald tickets for any leIeth of time ahead. The
agents however, had a new schedule printed of The
rates from New-York TO Western points and Lad II
mailed TO their agents.