Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-12-12
Travel BY Railway.
Chicago Officials Given a Les
son in Rate-Making.
JUDGE COOLEY EXPLAINS THE LAW

Oukhly Ignored IN thS "tuuy
cursion'' Tickets as Limited by the Inter
State Commerce Act-The Business OF
soaipers -Row tho Agents Received the
Chairman's Lecture.
CHICAGO, Dec. l2-Judge Cooley and Mr..
W. r. Morrison of the interstate commerce
commission, have been here for a few days
holding secret sessions and taking a great
deal of testimony Monday they asked the
railway officials here to attend little soiree
they had prepared to be held yesterday, and
at the appointed hour the large assembly room
of the Central Traffic association in the
Rookery building was literally packed With
railroad officials. 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
John n Abbott, chairman Of the Western
States Passenger association. was chosen to
preside He announced that the object of
the conference was 10 obtain from the inter-
state commerce commissioners authoritative
opinions upon the various methods pursued
by the railways in the conduct of their pas
senger tratiic-some Of which methods have
led to the existing decentralization in
passenger rates Messrs Cooley and Nor
rison would point out the cause
of the decentralization and the
duty OF the railroads in the premises, and If
they failed in the performance Of this duty
they must expect to be dealt with according
to law. Ek.s
Chairman Cooley stated that he had dis
covered that one fruitful source Of disturb
ance or decentralization Of regular rates was
the misuse OF / ,0G0 or 2, 900 mile tickets. He
suggested that steps be taken to prevent
snch abuse Of privilege, and speculation in
these tickets should be stopped. Another
source # trouble was the issue of round-trip
tickets commonly called excursion tickets,
but which are not excursion tickets in the
sense intended by the interstate commerce.
law. The railway companies have erred in
assuming that any ticket good for a round
trip is an excursion ticket in the legal
sense. The ordinary round "trip ticket for
local use or summer or winter tourists
tickets that are customarily sold to
various places Of health or pleas
ure, should not be denominated ex-
cursion tick cts but were a class of tickets
the rates for which must be published ac-
cording TO law, and filed with the inter state
commerce commission, and which can not
be raised without ten days notice. TIE
term Excursion tic.set," he said, is only in
tended to apply 10 such tickets as are issued
| for large gatherings Of people for which
there is a general and popular demand A
| stricter adherence to the intent of the law
/ with regard TO excursion and other forms
| Of tickets was enjoined upon the companies
as necessary safeguard of the regular pub
! lished tariff rates, the maintenance Of which
is required by law.
Attention was called to the fact that some
of the railroads We're apparently selling tick
| cts to the scalpers at lower rates than they
sold them over their own counters to the pub
/ lie, and the plea that such action was neces-
sary TO protect themselves against similar or
other methods adopted by their competitors
would not be recognized by the commission
No such assumed necessity could justify a
violation of the law The duty of railway
managers was to set good example to their
employees and to the community, Of respect
and obedience to law. While railroad pool
ing is not permitted by law, nor is there any
adjustment of traffic that was formerly
brought about by such methods could not b,
permitted to be brought about by dealing
Win scd pefs UT OtBeI ulithN9u III HielnDus-
3 Attention was called to the fact that tn,
so-called commissions paid in many case.
were excessive and illegitimate and coult
have been paid for no other purpose than tc
enable the recipient to reduce the tariff rates
The authority to handle such moneys and to
quote rates had, in the judgment Of the com
mission, been intrusted by the managers t.
too many subordinates.
Chairman Cooley said that neither morali,
nor legally could they sell tickets TO scalper
or other persons at one rate and charge
other patrons a higher rate. The price tina
is charged one must be accorded to all, aut
il railroad companies are discovered T.
be making discriminating rates they need mo-
he surprised if the lowest rates thus mad,
are adjudged to be the highest rates tina
they may thereafter be permitted to charge
He characterized the issue Of tickets q
scalpers, or dealings with scalpers havin.
the effect of reducing lawful rates, as Illegal
demoralizing, injurious, and discriminating
and said that there shouid I've no furthe
dealings by railway companies with tbi
class OF people and all railway manager
} should feel in honor and duty bound to fol
ever hereafter refrain from such demora
izng practices or allowing them to be il
dulged in by their subordnates
Commissioner Morrison followed Judg
Cooley, confirming his remarks and sugge'
lions, and further stating that rectiicatio
OF the demoraliznd state OF the passenger fare
that has been complained of must be hrougf
about by the railways themselves by the il
reference Of the commission, or it would /
reached by additional legislation
At the conclusion of his remarks heart
vote Of thanks was rendered by the meetin
to Chairman Cooley and Col Morrison f,
= their attendance and for their able and il
structive addresses.
. Immediately after the adjournment OF Il
4 meeting the general passenger agents of tt
A western and northwestern lines convened
g the same room. with John \. Abbott in u
q chair One or two lines were not repr
/. sented, but those present agreed, provide
q the consent CT the ahsentees could lie o
n tanned, to give notice to-day of their int
!. ton to restore passenger rates to st Pa
>. and Omaha ten days from date.