Wichita eagle., 1889-05-08

to doing so. The Illinois Central, there
FORE paws commissions on the business 60
ing oyer this line which varies consider
ably. The system as an entirety can be
considered commission system. II
wasn't SO from a choice of the manage
ment, but from case of commercial interest
in order to get share of competitive bust
ness. Mr. Jeffrey gave figures showing
the amount of competitive business which
would be affected by non-payment of
commissions. He submitted considerable
data concerning The commission of the
roads and was examined by the commits
sicners at length.
Mr.. o. w. Riggles appeared for the
Michigan Central Railroad company and
testified the company pays no commits
sions to agents of connecting lines nor
does it allow its own agents to accept
them. An exception was made of emf
grant business and some Pacific coast
business.
Mr. E. A. Ford, general passenger agent
of the lines west of Pittsburg of the Pitts
burg, Fort Wayne & Chicago, said his
road had paid no commissions to any one
since the passage of the interstate COM
merce law.
Testimony was also given on behalf Of
the Detroit, Lansing q Northern and
Flint & Pere Marquette companies.
The Wabash Railway company was then
ager, appeared as the representative OF the
company. Before proceeding with his
statement Mr. McNulta said some state
ments had been made in answer to the
commissions order by Mr.. Brown, repre-
senting the Chicago & Alton road, which
he desired read. Mr.. Brown had filed his
answer with the secretary of the commits
sion and it hadn't yet been made public.
Mr.. Brown thereupon read his entire
statement of the commission business of
the road which he represents. It also con-
tanned a number of charges against the
Wabash road.
When he had completed the reading of
it he turned it over to Mr.. McNulta, who
took up in their order the charges enumer
ated. The first of these concerned i'm
proper use of mileage tickets issued by the
Wabash road, which charge Mr.. McNulta
pronounced unfoGnded in fact. His
orders in this respect, he said,
had been strict and Imperative. 1t was
true there was manipulation of mileage
tickets on railroads but it was not confined
to any one road. Another charge was that
the Wabash had carried theatrical parties
between certain points at less rates than
those published. These rates, it is charged,
were arrived at by various devices Mr..
in replying to this charge said
that SO far as he knew and believed the
statement was not founded on fact; that
such practices were contrary to his in
which were that these classes
of people should pay the full tariff rates in
every instance.
In answer to a question by Commits
sioner Morrison, as to whether base ball
clubs and opera companies travel at spe-
cial rates, the witness said II any such ar
rangement existed he was not aware of it.
Mr.. H. c. Chappell. general manager of
the Chicago & Alton road, testified in re-
buttal of the testimony or Mr.. McNulta.
He said that recently he had men buy
mileage tickets of brokers and travel over
the Wabash road. 1t wasn't in issue of
the tickets that complaint was made, but
that conductors on the road do not prop
erly identify the public using them.
He knew also of persons
who had purchased tickets over roads east
Of Chicago at less than published rates
and this had occurred within the last
thirty days Even as late as last week
4 brokers' office in Chicago had been ex-
,mined and mileage tickets were found
,or sale at less than published rates.
Charles NJ Hayes, the general manager
IF the Wabash Western railroad, submit |
ed the answer of that road.
Mr.. George H. Daniels, formerly vice |
chairman of the Central Railroad Traffic |
and now passenger agent of |
he New York Central, was called to the |
'O"hO anu SdNS ~ aS Ills OPluiOu oIoo pay
nent of commissions on sale of tickets |
)ften resulted in cutting of rates.
j. K. Wood, general passenger agent of |
he Pennsylvania road, Mr.. T. p. Wilson,
general passenger agent of the Chicago |
md Northwestern, RI. Ruggles and |
number of others were then asked to take |
he stand in turn and were questioned |
the effect of the payment of |
The prevailing opinion !
seemed to be that the practice resulted in |
,he cutting of rates and was injurious to |
'aiiway management. Several other COM
,anies submitted their answers through |
heir agents but no new features OF inter
st were developed
The hearing then adjourned