St. Paul daily globe., 1890-12-27
kTCHISON'S DILEMMA
The Road Kicks on Redeem
ing the Rock Islands
Ticket Haul.
A Last Intellectual Stand Made
on Unredeemed Bulle-
tined Tickets.
Cake Shore Operators Must
Quit the Brotherhood or
the Company.
The Railway Ages Review
Shows Heavy Building
for the Year.


CHICAGO, eDec. 26.-An interesting
question has been raised in connection
with the recent ruling of Chairman Fin
ley, of the Western Passenger assocla-
ton. to the effect that the Atchison, To-
peka Il Santa Fc railroad is bound un-
der the agreement to redeem all its tick
cts found in the hands of brokers'. A
short time ago the Rock Island people
bought up all the AtehisOn mileage tick
cts they could find on the market. 1t
was a big haul, aggregating over 10000
miles of transportation. and the pur-
chaSerS insisted that they should be re-
deemed at the regular mileage rates by
the company issuing them. The Atchi-
son protested on the ground that many
OF the tickets prior TO the date of their
purchase. had been buIletined by the
company as having passed out of
the p0sSesSien of the parties to
whom they were originally issued.
Chairman Finley, however. decided that
the bulletined tickets must be redeemed
the same as others The Atchson was
not satisfied, and appealed to the asso-
citation, which sustained the chairman'S
decision. The AtchiSOn then demanded
that the question be settled by arbitra-
tion, but strong objection was raised to
q second appeal. The agreement pro-
VideS that, when road is not satisfied
with the ruling of the chairman. it may
appeal to the association or to arbitra-
ton. 1t DOES not provide that both
courses may be tried, and Mr.. Finley,
when called upon to interpret the clause,
decided that the action Of the aSsocia-
tlon settled the matter, and that by ap-
peaiing to il the Atchson had forfeited
the right TO call in arbitrators. Now the
Atchis0n people have appealed from
this decision. They take exception to
Finley's latest ruling and will have it
settled 10y Il board of arbitratorS. This
is their understood privilege. Those
who have been asked TO serve as arbi-
traitors are ". B. Shattuc. general pas
Senger agent of the Ohio d Mississippi.
and o. G.. Murray, traffic manager of
the Big Four. They Will meet Jan. 5 to
consider the matter, and, if necessary,
will themselves select fhe third arbitra-
tor.
Must Quit the Order.
The ultimatum of the Lake Shore
company that all telegraph operators on
lines of that road must withdraw from
the Order of Railway TelegrapherS or
leave the employ OF the company is be-
1leVed TO be the beginning Of general
movement in that direction. No action
has thus far been taken by the
men as a result of the order,
and officials of the Lake Shore said to-
day that no trouble was anticipated. 1t
is understood that many of the Chicago
roads have had this matter under ad-
Nri- fnt ~
follow the example Of the Lake Shore.
Formerly the Order of Railway Teleg-
Taphers was III favor with the rail-
roads because its constitution pro-
hibited strikes. but of late it has shown
a tendency 10 affiliate with the Brother
hood Of relegraphers, and the railroads
became uneasy. The first effect of this
affiliatIon was the refusal CT the men to
teach telegraphy to apprentices who
were sent to the different Offices by the
companies to learn the business. This
settled the matter. and the crusade
against the order was inaugurated.
Outside of railroad circles it is believed
that the result of the movement will be
q practical consolidation or the two Or
CARNATIONS in order that both may be
better able to fight, should such course
be decided upon.
Michigan Passenger Bates.
Officials of the lines interested In
Michigan traffic are much disappointed
with the decision of the supreme court
of that state affirming the right of the
legislature to make two cents q mile the
maximum rate of fare IN the state.
Since the law went into effect it has
been steadily ignored 10y the roads
chiefly affected byit.on the ground that
the legislature had exceeded its power
in fixing passenger rates for the rail-
ways. The Michigan Central was only
interested so far as its line between De-
troIt and Toledo Was concerned. and on
that line it has complied with the re-
quirementS af the law. The Lake Shore
also quotes Il rate OF two cents a mile
between the points named, but only to
meet the competition of the Michigan
Central. The Chicago & Grand Trunk,
which has refused to obey the
law. is one of the roads most vitally
affected by the decision. Traffic Mana
ger George B. Reeve. of that company.
said to-day that he had no doubt the
Michigan lines would unite in an appeal
to the United States supreme court.and,
furthermore. he had 10 doubt that the
decision of the Michigan supreme court
would be reversed.
Passenger Meeting Called.
Chairman F. c. Donald. of the pas
Senger department of the Central Traffic
association, has sent out a call for the
regular me0iing Of that department to
be held Jan. 6. The chairman will sub
nit reports on the elimination of un-
limited fares from rate sheets, and on
the proposed agreement to discontinue
cheap excursions to Niagara Falls.
Among other matters to be considered
Is request that the Nickel Plate with
draw from sale composite tick
cts between Buffalo and Chi
cagO on the ground that these
tickets have been extensively used of
late to disturb the market. BY recon-
mendatiDn OF the joint committee of the
Central Traffic and Trunk Line associa-
tion the question of commission
payments will be made a special sub
ject for consideration, with view to
abo1lShlng altogether the payment of
commissions of the sale of tickets.
Hallway Construction.
The forthcoming number of the Rail
way Age Of this city will contain a sta
tistlcal review Of railway construction
during 1890. Its estimate of the number
of miles of track laid places the figures
at $3.50, compared with about 5000
added III 1889, gain of $50 miles. Over
1000 miles of the years increase are in
the Southern group Of states. and about
LEGO miles of it are in the Southwestern
group, in both of which sections railway
building has been phenomerally active.
he Northwestern group shows Loaf
miles of new track, a greater relative
increase than in either of the other sec
tions named. This is largely owing to
the active building operations of the
Northern Pacific and Great Northern
roads.