The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-04
ALONG THE RAIL.
Another Project to Put Stop
to Rate Wars.

The General Passenger Agents of all roads
doing business out of San Francisco have
been instructed to meet here on January
18th, for the purpose of considering the ad-
visibility of establishing a union ticket
Office on the Clearinghouse system. If
this scheme is carried out, it will have the
effect of abolishing all the local Offices, and
Of putting the Eastern passenger business
OF the city in one concern. The union office
plan was tried here in 1880, when the Iowa
pool was established. though on much
smaller scale than the project now pro-
posed. 1t was dismal failure and was
iscontinued after short trial, but accord
ing TO well-informed railroad men the bad
condition OF rates, arising principally from
the practice of paying commissions, has rem
dered this step necessary. An office such as
the one proposed would probably preclude
the posS Utility of rate wars, for the practice
OF rate-cutting would be unknown. No in
ducement is held out to employees to recon-
mend any particular line, and passengers
will be free to choose their route Ia priv
lege not always accorded them under the
present SYSTEM. for which they will pay
tariff rates. Probably the greatest advan-
tage to be derived by the roads interested
will be the saving of expense of separate
Offices. 1t costs the Eastern roads repre-
$4,000 per month to run their agencies. BY
the new system the output would be very
materially reduced, and when the non-paV-
ment of commissions, and the consequent
safety as regards rate wars is taken into
consideration, the enormous advantage Of
the system is apparent.
General Passenger Agent Goodman of the
Southern Pacific addressed letter some
weeks since to the general passenger agents
Of all roads handling passenger business out
OF San francisco IL was a severe criticism
on the methOdS resorted to by some of the
San Francisco agents to swell their salaries
That the Pacific Coast representatives might
be acquainted with the estimation in which
they are held by the Southern Paci6c's Gen
eral Passenger Agent, the communication
was In several instances forwarded to the
local agents by their superior officers i'll the
East. Among other things the letter calls
attention to the fact that the Southern Pa
citic's order forbidding the sale of tickets by
agents over roads which they do not repre-
sent Is constantly violated and that ia many
cases agents are neglecting the interests of
lines In whose employ they are supposed 10
be, by selling tickets over other roads and
thereby securing the commission.
The first edition of the Pacific Coast OF.
fetal Railway and Steamship Guide has
been issued. The publication is owned by a
company recently organized and composed
OF local railroad agents, aud gives the most
complete information demanded by tray
elers and shippers of freight concerning
railway. steamship and stage line time
tables, also of all connections, rates of fare,
etc, and like subjects
General Freight Agent Smurr and General
Irafhc Manager Gray of the Southern Pa
cifc Company will leave Chicago for home
on Sunday next.
G. w. Luce. General Agent of the Texas
Pacific. will arrive here On Monday from
Chicago.
Charles Dell agent ut Sacramento of 4b.
Chicago, Milwaukee and st. Paul, is in the
city