St. Paul daily globe., 1888-01-08
Some Of the Chicago Railroad
Men State Their Objee-
tions and Opinions.

enforcement of this order will cause to
the sleeping-car companies who operate
in that state still remains to be seen.
Neither the Pullman nor the Wagner
company anticipates much trouble, and
the Woodruff company does not run any
line at present through that section.
Minnesota is the first state that has ever
tried to regulate the management of
Sleeping-car. corporations, and the out
come of the attempt will be watched
with interest. None of the managers
seem to have given much thought to the
matter, though the Wagner company
has had its attorneys busily engaged
in looking up. during the last day or
two, the legality of the ORDER, says the
Chicago Tribune.
Haven't thought much about the
matter" remarked j. A. SpOOr, the di-
company, when the subject was brOach-
ed to him. "NO, don't expect we'll
meet with any trouble whatever. We
look upon this question in a different
light from the railroad commissioners.
They consider us in the light of common
carriers, which we are not. We simply
provide sleeping accommodations for
passengers travelling over the railroads
of the state; we do not provide trans
pOrtation. We endeavOr to furnish the
travelling public with every possible con-
yenienee, but there our business ends"
What do you think about the legality
of this order?'
Cranky, believe the railroad COM
missionerS of Minnesota expect alto
gether too much of US. Only short
time ago they insisted upon our placing
two Ofire-extinguishers in each car: then,
later on, additional apparatus. Now. if
it is their intention to dictate in what
way we shall control our business; /;
what rates we shall make; what meth
ods we shall pursue, l will say right
here that we do not propose to submit
to these arbitrary demands"
''Then you intend to disregard the
order?"
Il don't say that, for we have no in
tention of avoiding doing what is re-
Quired of us" -
But you will resiSt?"
sWell, don't know. We are opposed
to this order, but you had better talk it
over with our attorneys"
'.On what grounds do you oppose the
order?"
You had better see our attorney; he
can tell you more than | can. AS said
before, however, we are not common
carriers, therefore / do not think that
the law upon which the Minnesota COM
missiOners base their authority for this
order applies or can apply to us. We
have not done anything, nor do we in
tend to do anything, in compliance with
the order. The fight, if there is any, is
between the railroad companies and the
commissioners; we have nothing to do
with it."
A
said F. S. Winston, the legal adviser of
the Wagner company, "reSOlveS itself
simply to this: we are requested to give
double accommodations for single price.
am perfectly satisfied that this order
is unconstitutional, and for two reasons:
The Sleeping-car companies are not COM
mon carriers; and, secondly, recent
decision of the supreme court of the
United States held that. when sleeping
cars are used under the regulations of
the Interstate commerce law no state
has any power to interfere. l am clear
that the order is invalid
''What led the Minnesota railroad
commissioners to issue such an OrderH'
The law which was passed by the
last state Legislature, which gives the
state railroad commissioners authority
over common carriers. 1t is on this au-
bIOllty tildu W LUZ
sleeping-carS."
would not the provisions of this
order remove much inconvenience to
the travelling public?''
Il don't see how it would. Usually
the beds in the cars are not made up
until the passenger is ready to retire.
We expect our pOrterS to prepare the
beds by 1O:30 o'clock, anyway. That is
certainly late enough for any traveller
to sit up. If the upper berth is occu-
pied, why the inconvenience to the oc-
cupant of the lower berth can't be
avoided, whatever he may say; and if it
is not occupied his own bed is made
only when he is ready to retire. Really,
as matter of fairness, the company
claims that no person is entitled to the
privileges of a whole section by simply
paying for the accommodation for one
berth. Moreover, you will readily see
that if the Minnesota commissioners
order was carried out it would give rise
to series of contests that would be
neither pleasant nor dignified."
''In what way?"
'Imagine yourself snugly in bed and
sound asleep. About midnight the por-
ter comes around, pulls down the upper
berth. rattleS the chains, and creates
not little noise. What would you say?
Would it be agreeable to be awakened
in this way? You pay very liberal rates
to be given comfort while travelling. Is
that returning your moneys worth? I'll
venture to say few men would stand
such interruption"
"We expect this order to be rescinded
before long," remarked Mr.. Meagher.
who had been listening to the converse
ton. "Under the law which Mr.. Wins
ton has just quoted to you the attorney
general of Minnesota is eX-Offici0 the
legal adviser of the state railroad COM
missioners. Now, when his attention is
called to the illegality of this measure,
have no doubt he will see the mistake
which the commissioners are making
and will cause the order to be reScinded.
Don't you see." continued Mr.. Meagher,
''that both berths must be made at once?
No? Well, I'll show you. In the first
place, the sleeping car is so constructed
that only just enough bedding is carried
along to make the two beds. The upper
berth always holds it. To take it down
the upper berth must be lowered. Yes,
it could be showed up again, but how
are we to know when the section is 0c-
cupied?"
Though the point made appeared
rather weak to the reporter, Mr..
Meagher insisted upon his view OF the
matter just the same.
"The fact that no other state has ever
tried to bring about such law" again
remarked Mr.. Winston, sis conclusive
evidence that they doubt its legality.
The whole matter is simply question
as to who shall be the least inconven-
fenced; the travelling passenger or the
company"
Neither T. FL. Wicks, the general SUI
perintendent of the Pullman company,
nor Mr.. Pullman was in his Office when
the reporter called, but A. B. Kinnan,
the assistant to the general superintend-
ent, kindly volunteered to furnish what
ever information was desired.
''I'll tell you right now," said that
gentlemen, "that we don't intend to
take any notice of the above order. In
the first place, strictly speaking, we are