St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-04-03
The LOGIC OF EVENTS
Passenger Agents Meet in
Chicago to Consider Com
missions.
The Burlington and Wiscon-
sin Central Are Not Rep
resented.
General Passenger Agent Eus-
tbs Discusses the Situa-
ton.
Sealpers Handling Tickets
From Omaha to Mineral
Point, Wis.

CHICAGO, April "A special meeting
of the general passenger agents of the
Western lines terminating at Chicago
was held here to-day to consider the
commission question in the light of the
recent action of the Eastern lines OH the
subject. The roads represented were
the Chicago, st. Faul IL Kansas City.
the Rock Island, the Milwaukee & ST.
Paul, the Chicago Il Northwestern, the
Atchison, and the Illinois Central. vice
Chairman Donald, of the Central Traffic
association, was invited to attend, but
took no part in the discussion. The
Burlington and the Wisconsin Central
were not representative, as they were
supposed to be undergoing discipline
from the Eastern lines in paying COM
missions during February. and there
fore were not notified of the confer
ence. The Chicago & Alton, with its
usual caution, held aloOf from the
meeting. The subject under con.
sderation was "What action will
the Eastern lines take with reference to
the protection of those Western roads
which have thus far Obeyed the requests
of Chairman Goddard and Blanchard,
not to pay Feb uary commissions in
Trunk Line and Central Traffic associa-
ton territory" Mr.. DOnal sent tele-
gram to Chairman Goddard stating that
the above mentioned lines were i'll ses-
sion and asking for general information
as to the present situation. No reply
was received from Goddard during the
day, and the meeting adjourned with
out action until tomorrow. Should the
answer be not SatiSfactory-that is
should it refrain from guaranteeing
reasonable protection for the roads that
have obeyed the order to discontinue
paying commissions to Eastern agents
there is little doubt that all the West
missions and continue them in the
future. The Burlington people were
apparently surprised at being ignored
in the meeting. General Passenger
Agent Eustis said:
Il was not invited to attend. 1t is Tumored
that the other Western roads have formed
combination to force lis into compliance
with the Trunk Line and Central Traffic as
socIations demands. but do not think any
such movement will succeed 1t will do
them no Cd TO hold secrets meeting expect
ing TO compel us TO abolish commissions.
MS. ike all Otler questions Oh competition.
should be openly and fairly discussed. am
positive that our competitors cannot force
us into any unfortunate position at this
time on the commission question. because to
do SO they would require the assistance of
the Eastern roads. and am sure the associa-
ton officers comprising the board of rulings
do not intend to deal with us in any under
handed manner. They cannot afford TO.
Our discussion of their demand and the
present situation is still open, and we can
rely upon their chairman and the Eastern
roads jointly and severally. to treat us fairly.
They will not join our scheming competitors
in taking any snap judgment upon US at all. >
1t would appear from Mr.. Eustis' re-
marks that he believes the other West
ern roads to be in favor of abolishing
commissions. On the other hand the
representatives of those roads profess to
believe that the alleged action of the
Burlington and Wisconsin Central in
paying commissions for February is
for The purpose of forcing a positive
issue with the Eastern lines and thereby
destroying all chances of commission
payments being resumed. 1t is evident
that all the Western roads are anxious
to keep in the good graces of the East
ern agents until it is definitely settled
whether commissions are to be abolished
or not.