The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-06-19
From Cedar Rapids Daily Republican, June /
WAR OF RATES.
PASSENGER AGENT HANNEGAN,o OF TIL
b. e. II. NJ, INTERVIEWED ON THE
CARPENTER LETTER. APLAIN,
UNVARNIsHED TALE OF
HOW THE WAR BEGAN,
WHO BEGAN 1T AND
WHAT IT MEANS.

Having made coplous extracts inWed-
nesdays paper from Passenger Agent
Carpenters letter, setting forth the bel
ligerent views and purposes of the
Chicago, Milwaukee & ST. Paul, the Re
publican editor yesterday sought out
Passenger Agent Hannegan, of the Bur
| lihgton, Cedar Rapids & Northern, to
whom Mr. Carpenters letter was ad-
dressed, TO learn if possible the albert
lea" side of the controversy. Mr..
flanagan, reticent at first, finally gave
what was desired, a history of the pre-
sent war of words and OF rates and the
causes thereof, as seen by him. Without
numbering up the article with questions
and answers, the following is the sub
stance of Mr.. Hannegan's clear and
candid statement:
You were correct" said he, Sin your
Inference that the Carpenter letter was
meant more for the public than for my
fesLeeial edification. Passenger agents
are not constructing nine-paga letters.
type-writing measure, simply to crafty
their own feelings or to post up the pas
senser agent OF another road.
The fact is the Albert Lea route,
which he seeks to belittle in public esti-
nation, has been doing very large ST.
Paul passenger business. How large.
! do.you ask? Well, from % to 33 per
cent of the entire passenger business
that centers at st. Paul and Minneapolis: /:
and the st. Paul Tor as you call ii here,
the Milwaukce) has determined to
freeze out the Albert Lea--which you
understand is the combinedRock Island.
b., c. Il. ~ n, and NJ. S st. L..
The impeIling causes of the present
walT Let us go back little. About
year age an association was formed of
all theiints running into Council Bluffs.
Pie SS- Paul people soon.sfter took the
position that unless they could force the
l'ock Island to come into st. Paul
association, and accept terms of their
dielation. they would withdraw from
the Council Bluff association in which
they have avery light business.
The Rock Island never refused to 90
into the ST. Paul association but simply
refused TO be bulldozed into il by the
threats of the st. Paul people.
when the ST. Paul road drew out of
council Bluffs association tJan. l., 1861
the preteXt they made was the finding OF
a ticket in brokers' office which gave
cut rate from Chicago to st. Paul over
the Albert Lea route. The st. Paul
people met that sO-called cut and went
farther-they made the same rate to
Council Bluffs. That was in January
last. The Rock Island refused TO meet
these rates for over two months.
Next, the ST. Paul, some time ago,
went into commission agreement with
all he other lines running out of st.
Paul and Minneapolis ON east-bound
business. This agreement they evaded
! by paying duplicate checks. The Albert
Lea people finding this out Withdrew
from the commission agreement.
| I'VE are now down TO about three
weeks ago. Soon as this action was
] taken the st. Paul people began lower
Jung rates between 81. Paul and Chicago:
tdnd ia every instance they made the
Y same rates from Council Bluffs as from
~. Paul, thus carrying out their threat
that II the Rock Island continued its
support OF the Albert Lea route they
fssoDid make the Rock Islands large
4 toADcil Blufs business so unprofilable
\ shat IT'S 81. Paul business would have TO
oe abandoned in self defense.
"At this juneture the Burlington, Ce-
aaf lapids a NOn hrrn came in 20 the
assistance of the keck-Islaai. Wesinl-