St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-12
COOLEY is A CORKER,
He Reads the Riot Act to a
Crowd OF Railroad Off
Gals.
The Practice Of Cutting Rates
Through Scalpers Must
Be Stopped.
1t Is Discrimination and a
Violation of the Inter-
state Law.
Heroic Measures Will Be
Taken to Stamp Out This
Abuse.

CHICAGO, Dec. 1.-THE large assem-
bly, room OF the Central Traffic associa-
ton in the Rookery building was liter
ally packed with railroad officials this
afternoon at the hour appointed for the
meeting with Judge Cooley and Col.
Morrison, OF the interstate commerce
commission. There were presidents,
vice presidents, managers, general
passenger and freight agents. repre-
senting rot only all the roads entering
Chicago, but many outside lines.
The Texas association in session
at the Grand Pacific hotel adj
journed that its members might hear
the wholesome advice which no one
doubted would be freely given by
the venerable chairman of the COM
mission. 1t was evident when Judge
Cooley entered the room that he
was loaded for BEAR and there
was feeling prevalent that he
would bring down the game. When
he took the floor he took it for an hour
and half, and it is safe to say that
never since the interstate commerce
commission began it's existence have
the railroads had the law laid down
to them in such forcible terms.
He confined himself to the passen-
ger rate situation, and addressed
his remarks, especially to the roads
west and northwest of Chicago. con-
demDing the practice of some of the
general passenger agents in placing
blocks Of tickets in the hands of ticket
brokers to be sold at rates below those
charged over their own counters. This,
he said. was a discrimination against
that portion Of the public which pro-
cured its tickets from the regular agents
of the roads in question, and was clear
violation OF the interstate law. 1t was
pernicous practice; it benefited no
body in the long run: it kept rates in
demOraiiZed condition, and
BROUGHT ON WARS
which were disastrous to the roads en-
gagged in them. The interstate commits
sion, he said, had heretofore dealt
leniently with the railroads, giving
requirements of the law, but the time
had come when heroic measures must
be taken, if necessary, to stop the
abuses which arise from the encourage
ment given to scalperS by the
passenger agents themselves. Evidence
was not wanting that such abuses had
been carried to excess in Chicago and
elsewhere. The markets were flooded
with cheap tickets to various points
and the traveller who patronized the
brokers' Office instead of purchasing his
ticket from the authorized agent
of railroad company saved
money. This was contrary to the
law and it must be stopped.
The railroads were advised to make
none but open rates, aud they were
given to understand that if they refused
to heed this advice the law would be
strictly enforced wherever violation
was detected. The Judge explained the
construction to be placed upon the pro-
vision of the law in regard to discrimin-
alton, and intimated that in future no
excuse would be accepted for infring
ments of its provisions. The remarks
of Judge Cooley were listened TO with
marked attention. Immediately after
the adjournment of the meeting the
the general passenger agents of
the Western and Northwestern lines
convened in the same room with John
n. Abbott in the chair. The Burlng-
ton road was the only road not repre-
scented. 1t was agreed that with the
consent of the absent road ten days no.
tice would be given tomorrow of the
restoration of rates from Chicago to
Omaha and st. Paul.