The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-19
A RATE WAR.
The Alton Again Frightens the Other
Chicago mes.

CHICAGO, Dec 1S-A meeting of the pas
senger representatives of the lines operat-
ing between Chicago and Kansas City was
held today. The meeting was callet has
tily by Chairman Finley to consider a
notice that had been served Oh him by Gen
eral Passenger Agent Charlton of the
! Chicago and Alton, declaring that unless
the short-llne rates from Kansas City to
| Cincinnati by way of Chicago were with
drawn within twentyfour hours, the Alton
would make n reduction of 81 in the rate
from Kansas City to Chicago. No little
excitement was created by the notice. and
some of the Atoms competitors made no
attempt to conceal their anger. The roads
chiefly affected by the promised blow are
the Atchison and the Rock Island, neither
which has St. Louis outlet to southern
Ohio and Indiana points, and can only
handle such business by way of Chicago.
The complaint made by Charlton is that
rates are becoming seriously demoralized
by the manipulation of these circuitous
route tickets by brokers. He says that
the Alton must protect itself and that the
only legal way TO meet the competition of
the scaipers is openly to reduce the rate
from SO TO $ from Kansas City to
| Chicago.
The discussion Of the matter at the
meeting WAS stormy. II ended in an aD-
solute refusal OF the Atchison road to
withdraw the Objectionable rates. A rep
resentative Of that road said: I'VE will
not give up this business simply because
the Alton demands 1t. The Alton people
talk loudly about manipulation Of tickets
through scalpers, but we can produce evil
dence to show that they have been furnish
ing blocks of tickets to scalpers at D-nyer
and San Francisco -
After the meeting Mr. Charlton again
notified Chairman Finley that be would
wait no longer than Saturday night before
putting his threat into execution. The
Aichison refuses to Weld and the war
Will begin with the beginning Of The new
week, The officials OF one OF the inter
ested roads said thAt be would rot be sur
prised 10 see the rate drop 70 S3 from han-
sas CITY 10 Chicago.
\ bitter aud woriy warfare is in pro
gress among he private cattle car com
something serious The center OF attack
would seem TO lie the Street Stable Car
company. ArrHyed against the Street
company are several Of the largest cattle
shippers, who own cars Of their OWL, and
some railroads which have gone lEto the
improved castlle car business on tbeIr owa
account The origin o. the uuplezaSautuEss
was q decision of Judge Gresham =. ~
moving the restrictions from the Use u
feeding and watering devices, hlcb. prior
70 the decision, lad been Inouo5yoi4zed by
he few COMPANIES Then controlling the
palace car business. The pSteat rights
once removed. ans body was al liberty 10
apply feeding trough 70 common Cattle
cars az an expense Ot few oosiars Ead
have bis own palace cars The result
has been rapid multiplication of cattle
car lines, and tneTe are UoR some eighteen
private companies com gsetiug for ths TRADE
: ~ AiIsFion. the Cattle klaE" = Ieza
iog the zfJzcS Oh ths pagf % tSe shippers
with the charge that Tie Street c0usp4ay
i violating tbe interstate commerce r~gt-
ia1lous IN tayor of cxrt4iG shippers by pay
lu- back 10 Ta~m part OK their mileage ia
order 10 ge4 Omaha and Kansas Igxy bass-
ness tie also prefers other charges As4iusx
the street COMPANY.