St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-04-30
ALTON MAY PULL OUT.
The Boyeotted Road Hay
Withdraw From the West
ern Association.
Chairman Finley Decides That.
Southwestern Rates
Must Go Up.
Rock Island Will Take the
Omaha Bridge Matter
Into Court.
Gould Talks About the Big
Mortgage on the Union
Pacific.

CHICAGO, April 29.-There is now
little doubt that the Chicago q Alton
road will withdraw from the Western
Passenger association unless there is
speedy change of policy on the part OF
some lines in that organization. CHAIR
man Finley delivered himself of de-
cision to-day that will hasten the eli
max. The decision sets forth that a
rate of 50 10 from st. Louis to Chicago
was authorized Dec. 81 for the purpose
of establishing equal rates between mem
berS interested in that traffic, and the
Jacksonville Southeastern having ere
ated an inequality by the irregular
sale of tickets at reduced rates
through ticket brokers, the chair
man expresses the belief that II Q
equality contemplated by the agreement
can now be obtained upon the basis of
the standard tariff rates, and announces
that The authority granted as measure
of relief will expire May l6. His ruling
Is that on and after May II the standard
tariff rate of $50 from St. Louis to Chi
cago will become operative. He also
decides that on the same date the rate
of $3.50 nOY in effect from Kansas City
to St. Louis must be advanced to the
standard basis of $3.50. Three courses
are open to the Chicago & Alton, which
has heretofore refused TO advance
these rates while the boycott of the
Eastern roads is in force. One
is a refusal to be governed by
the ruling of Chairman Finley, in which
event it would probably be required to
pay fine of 500 or 5000 for violation of
the agreement. The second course is an
appeal TO the association or to board of
arbitration, but this course the Alton
cannot consistently adopt, as it does not
recognize the right of the chairman TO
make a ruling, since the agreement spe-
officially provides that the chairman
shall make such reduced rates as are
necessary to place all lines on an
eqalty, and that no rates can be adj
Vanced or new ones made without
the unanimous consent ST the mem
bers. The position it takes on this
point is that it is not necessary TO
advance rates to put the lines on an
equality. The third alternative open to
the Alton road, and the one which it is
most likely to adopt, IS withdrawal from
the association. The officers of the road
say that this step will be taken with re-
greet, but that the action of the Wabash
and the Atchison roads in insisting upon
a ruling by Chairman Finley indicates
that these two lines are not disposed to
pursue generous or even friendly
policy toward prosecuted competitor,
and that they have no recourse but to
put themselves on an independent foot
Ing and protect the revenues of
the company as best they can.
1t is now a question of whether
the Alton shall fight its battle single
handed, or whether the other Western
roads. which are as much committed to
the policy of paying commissions as the
Alton is, will help it out of its dilemma.
ii is argued by many railroad men that
the latter course would be the consist
ent one, and the only one that will save
the Western Passenger association from
disruption. Evidently the crisis is near
at hand.