New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-19
PASSENGER RATE PROBLEMS
CHICAGO AND ALTON ON ITS MUSCLE
SPICY REPLY TO MR.. PIERsoN RESPECTING

A SPICY REPLY TO Mr.. PIERsoN RESPECTING
THE IMMIGRANT RATE REDUCTIONS.
Since the corresp ondence which passed between 9.
f. Person. passenger commissioner Of the Trunk lima
Association and James Charlton, the general passenger
agent Of tho Chicago and Alton Railroad, August
and 10, which published at tho time, Mr.. Char-
ton has received another letter from Nr. Person.
Mr. Charlton in letter Of August 16, has sent the fol-
lowing communication TO Chairman Abbott OF the west
States Passenger Association and 10 all general
passenger agents OF Western lines in competition with
the Chicago and Alton:
Dear Sirs: For your information and for the purpose
Of making plain the position Of the Chicago and Alton
give you below copy Of letter Of August H. from s. p.
Person and copy Of my reply him Of this date, the
Immigrant rates and commissions.
The copy OF the letter from Mr. Person 10 Mr.
Charlton, dated August Ii, reads.
Dear Sir: have your telegram and mailed copy u
same, dated 10th Instant, my return from the country.
To prevent misapprchenson, beg say that the
present difficulty IN the immigrant business grows
Of the Of commissions rad by roads Of Chicago
and St. Louis 10 Nicholas Muller. Peter Mcdonnell and
railroad agents. boarding house keepers, runners
etc. NewYoFk, who the commissions thus furnished
TO divert an undue share Of immigrant business
lines which furnish thcm and to the prejudice q
the other trunk lines and their connections.
The other trunk lines their Western connections
that so long commissions paid TO these people,
similar commissions be paid to them to enable
10 meet competition with tho understanding that
commissions shall be paid 10 Immigrants, and not
railroad steamship agents boarding house keepers and
runners the effect Of this proceeding will be 10 give n
the party transported loves; fare charged By
carrier.
I have made position clear. The trunk
lines will certainly be much pleased 10 have tho
cooperation OF yourself the Chicago and Alton
road in these matters. Yours very truly
s. f. PIERsoN.
Mr.. Charrn's answer Mr. Ficrson was dated
from Chicago, August 10. II was as follows:
f4tb
which you have inauQuraed between
and Chicago and Louis and which, with the
Western lines you endeavoring 70 extend
west and Chicago and 81. Louis IS the Dcson
Chicago and Alton is set forth about as plainly as
can forth my dispatch Of 10th ms. do
that there Is much more to add
New that you ask US 20 pay you COMMISSIONS
- enable you to cut rates we cannot
understand why you have boycotted Va for sN-
teen months why you continue boycott because
we decline to abolish commissions; and you will 70
your chief objection to the payment OF com
missions that they would be used 10 cut rates You
present before the Interstate Commerce Commission
when the lawyers Of Jour lines described the
payment Of commissions every Of yilihca-
ton II It Is vile and utterly demoralizng for MS to pay
commissions as was contendcd by the advocates and wit
your line, that time how has Il become any,
thing else now at this time you demand commissions
for the express purpose cutting anc why have
punished months and continue 10 punish
Il. for paying commissions when you now demand CON-
the express and avowed purpose OF cutting
rates to benefit newly imported foreigners, thus openly
discriminating their favor against American citzehs'
We have never been able that II Just 20 paw
commissions immigrant business TO foreign ticket agents
and unjust 70 pay commissions purely American ous
ness TO American ticket agents We have always been
opinion that ought at least to be no dscrm
nation. To temporary purpose you may put the
commissions which you require 10 be paid these COM
missions have certainly tho knowledge OF every one IN
tho business always hitherto been paid TO agents ana
country and In other countries for the pur
pose securing immigrant business and when this cruel
war IS oycr presume these commissions VIII easily DRIFT
into former channels.
Wo cannot understand why newly imported foreign
worklngman should be carried at less rate than the
American wOrkngman why any American citizen
carried low rates American railways
as you propose Gang foreigners The course you are
adopting and attempting force the railways OF this
cocntry unwise unfair and completely anti American
In principle as It IS possible 10 be.
As outlined my message you Of 10th inst, tho
policy OF Chicago and Alton will be carry American
citizens at foreigners and VIII advise
friendly that will accept the same pro-
portions beyond Chicago and beyond St. Louis on first
class travel you may be authorized, by any line
in competition with US. in ticketing newly i'm
ported foreigners propose making this general and any
friendly of will be authorized to use such
proportions any point east Of US. Yours truly
J. CHARLTON