New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-10
no MORE PASSENGER COMMISSIONS.
A BOARD OF RULINGS WITH ADEQUATE POWERS
TSTABLI~ HE'D.


The railroads between the Atlantic seaboAId ana
Chicago and st. Louis Yesterday took action looking
TO ;he abolition of the payment Of commissions on
passenger business which promises to be productive
Of most important results. The Joint COMMITTEE OF
the trunk lines and the Central Traffic Association met
to discuss the subject and at the close OF the session
the statement was emphatiCally made by dozens OF
the members present that the meeting was the most
important regards passenger traffic that had
been held in years. By the adoption Of strong meas
ucs there is now promise that the evils which have
attended the practice Of paying commissions will be
almost, if not entirely, abolished. Frequent efforts
have been made by the roads in the past to diminish or
the scandals that the practice has bred but no
previous agreement embraced the radical provisions
/ which necessary to success.
The meeting was one of the largest held in years.
About fifty roads represented exclusive of those
that authorized the officers of the associations to act
for them. Commissioner Goddard, of the Trunk Line
Association, presided. The result OF the deliberations
the practically unanimous adoption of a new agree
mcnt by which the payment Of commissions in the
territory covered by the two associations is forbidden
after February l. board Of rulings is created to have
absolute powers in the execution of the agreement.
1t consists OF Trunk Line Commis joiner j. F. Goddard
Trunk Line Passenger COMMISSIONS L. p Farmer,
Chairman George II. Blanchard, Of the Central
, Traffic Association, and +. c. Donald, the vice
chairman. The New England roads Will be
invited to send representative to constitute the NTH
member CT the BOARD The Board is made the last
arbitcr of disputes differences which may arse III
the distribution Of dcTcnal rates intended to secure
the weaker lines fair share Of the total business
!: is vested with extensive powers for the enforcement
of the agreement against the payment Of COMMISSIONS
and is authorized if necessary to suspend any offending
line from the privileges of through relations WITH its
connections. This means that when the Board uses
its eXtreVe powers it stop the through checking
Of baggage the sale of through tickets and every other
facility for the interchange of business The applca
ton of such penalty would leave the offending road
practically Isolated and the effect upon it, earnings
easily be imagined The roads feel perfectly salts
fed TO the legality OF the powers which hcy have
transferred to the Board of Rulings and it is under
stood that their agreement has been prepared after
consultation with the Interstate Commerce Commits
crs The practice of commission paving IS Illegal. and
the roads which refuse to recognize il considered to
be fully justified in refusing to assist by the exchange
OF through traffic any road that continues IN an I'M
lawful course.
The agreement provides that, within fifteen days
after complaint of violation OF the provisions has been
allowed to pass unrefutcd the Board mu' take action
against the accused road. AS ,pect the decision OF
the Board A. 10 dincrcntia rates proportion Of bust
ness any other point appeal i allowed but tho
Board is authorized after three months - review it,
decision and to change il il new conditions warrant IT,
II j. expected that the New England roads will opcr
ate in this attempt 10 eXcninatc the evils OF the pas
scnger situation.