Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-05
RATE SLASHING IN THE NORTH
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/ ST. PAUL. Mimi. Dec. THE trouble
between the railways which compete for
the business between ST. Paul and Chi
cago has assumed still more aggravated
phase, and there is now very little hope OF
staving off war in passenger rates until
the meeting of the managers, to be held
December is.
At the meeting Of the passenger officials,
held on Saturday, an agreement was submit
ted by General Passenger Agent Kenyon,
of the Burlington road, which was the
same as the one presented at the previous
meeting, with the exception that it pro
vided for a commission to be paid to brok
ers of 50 on tirst-class tickets TO Chicago
and 81 on second-class tickets. This agree
ment was signed by the representatives OF
all the lines except the Milwaukee and st.
Paul roads Mr.. Dixon stated that his in
structions were such that he could not enter
into any agreement that would give a
ticket scalper an opportunity to sell
tickets at a lower rate than could be Oh
tanned at the ticket office of the Milwaukee
road. This morning Mr.. Dixon received
the following telegram from General Pas
senger Agent Carpenter, which clearly ex-
plains the position Of the Milwaukee road
in the matter:
MILWAUKEE. Dec. 4.-W. II. Dixon, st.
L 1ul. L AC pIOpOScsl JdSStiiScI
from st. Paul and Minneapolis would be
satisfactory as to tariff rates could it be
maintained under it, but the paragraph
pointing TO the payment of higher COM
missions to ticket brokers and others
On the streets Of st. Paul and
Minneapolis nullifes all the rest OF
the agreement, and experience has
demonstrated that the moment COM
missions are paid to outsiders at our ter
npiDal r,oiptS RI soon 20 brI theca 01It-
siders cut all other rates and demoraliza-
ton naturally ensues. We want an agree
ment to maintain tariff on agreed rates
without having TO pay out one-thlrd or
more of our revenue to ticket brokers
TO secure our fair share of business.
We Will not enter into any agreement
which does not permit us to sell our tickets
right over over counter to the public at
fiat rates, without the intervention
OF middlemen. If other lines reduce rates
rates through brokers' Offices we shall act
only on the effort to protect our own in
terest. We are not aggressive, and we
have no bone to pick with any of our COM
petitors. We only ask that an agreement
be made to maintain tariffs on agreed
rates. Ii any competitors fail to maintain
such rates, we shall, II we so elect. meet
the situation oter our counters. This is
our platform. "A Y. ii. CARPENTER.
After receiving the above message Mr..
Dixon notified the secretary of the st.
Paul and Minneapolis Passenger associa-
ton that he could not sign the agreement
as it was submitted on Saturday. Mr..
Dixon stated that the Milwaukee road
could not take the initiative in cut
ting rates, but that they would sell
tickets at their Office at the same rates
that the other lines furnished tick
cts to scalpers, provided no. settlement
of the rate question is reached within a
day or two. In the meantime it is stated
that scalpers are selling Wisconsin Central,
Kansas City and Burlington first-class
tickets at the rate of 81 30, and that the
Albert Lee road has made rate of ST. 80 on
first-clasS tickets.
Mr. Kenyon, of the Burlington road, and
Mr.. Hazard, of the Kansas City, however,
deny the statement that their tickets can
be secured of scaipers at $50, and state
that they have no such tickets out There
seems to be no prospect for settlement of
the difficulty. and a general slashing of
rates to Chicago within few days is inev-
liable.