Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-02
A NICE LITTLE ROW
Liable 10 Break Up the Western
Passenger Association.
CHAIRMAN CALDWELL is CHARGED
With Prostituting His Office to That Of a
Mere Partisan.
OBJECTS TO FORD AS AN ARBITRATOR

= CHICAGO Aug. 1.-Chairman Cald-
well, of che Western Passenger Association
has caused considerable surprise among
railroad men by refusing to accept e. A.
Ford, General Passenger Agent OF the
Pennsylvania lines, as arbitrator in the
Atchison's appeal from his rulings. The
Atchison took an appeal in two cases. One
was from the ChaiI1nen's decision denying
that it was justified in making So rate to
Denver and return on account of the
knights Templar Comclave. The other
was one from the ruling and action of the
Chairman in his authorization of one-way
rate of So to Denver and intermediate
points, and the alleged conspiracy by which
the Atchison was deprived of its rights
under the agreement.
!. In both of these appeals to arbitration the
Atchison nominated E. A. Ford FOR one of
the arbitrators, and asked the Chairman to
name his choice for another. The rules
provide in such cases that each side shall
choose one arbitrator, and the two thus
chosen shall select the third. The arbi-
traitors are to be disinterested parties, and
either side may object to the others choice
if he has good reason to believe that the
party is not free from prejudice.
Caldwell Takes a Isetallatory Stem.
After the Atchison had nominated Mr..
Ford, Chairman Caldwell asked a repre-
sentative of that company if objection
would be made should he name as his choice
a member of the Western Passenger Asso-
citation. The reply was that in all proba-
bility such a nomination would not be ac-
cepted, as a member of the association
would not be disinterested party.
The Chairman then wrote his reply to the
communication of Passenger Traffic Man.
ager White, refusing to accept E A. Ford
as an arbitrator, on the ground that he was
an interested party. He explained this by
saving that the Vandalia line, which is
under Mr.. Ford's jurisdiction, and the
Illinois Central, which is member of the
Western Passenger Association, each formed
a part of through passenger route be-
tween Chicago and St. Louis
1t appears that this letter was delivered
at the Atchison offices after business hours
Saturday afternoon, SO that it did not fall
into the hands of the proper officials until
to-day. 1t was then too late to nominate
another arbitrator, as the agreement pro-
vldes that this must be done within five
days after the decision from which an ap-
peal is taken has been rendered, and the
specified time had expired.
But the Atchisop promptly adopted the
only course left to save itself from defeat.
1t appealed from the Chairman's objection
to, and his refusal to accept Mr.. Ford as an
arbitrator
The Whole Association in Danger.
official notification of this appeal was sent
to Chairman Caldwell and the members of the
association by Passenger Traffic Manager
White, who offered as his choice of arbitra-
tor in this case T. C. Donald, Vice Chair
man of the Central Traffic Association. In
his communication Mr. White contends
that the Chairman's objection to Mr.. Ford
as an arbitrator is not only utterly ground
less, but made for the purpose of harassing
and annoying the Atchison Company.
He further says: '1t being the dnty of
the Chairman, as a just judge of contro-
versies between the members of the associa-
tion to hold the scales of justice even, he
has prostituted his Office to that of a mere
partisan to effectuate the sinister purposes
of a majority of the members of the associa-
tion to the injury of minority"
Atchison officials are confident that this
last appeal will result in their favor whoever
may be selected as arbitrators Some of
Chairman Caldwell's friends are afraid that
ne unnecessarily aggravated the situation In
objecting to Ford as an arbitrator, and are
of the opinion that no Board of Arbitration
will sustain his objection. The controversy
has now reached stage that is regarded as
serious, and only change of tactics on the
part of some of those who have been fan
ming the flames will save the Western
Passenger Association from destruction
The Outlet by the Erie.
1t has been learned that the Vandalia's
outlet to the seaboard by which it is enabled
to bill through shipments of grain and
si1th-class freight from St. Louis on the
basis of 20 cents per 100 from Chicago to
New York, is furnished by the Erie road.
The Erie has trackage arrangement with
the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton be-
tween indianapolis and a connection with
the Nypano, and it has instructed its agents
to accept all freight offered by the Vandalia
at Indianapolis on the reduced basis.
This discovery puts a new phase on the
situation, and a meeting of the joint COM
mittee of the Central Traffic and Trunk
Line Association will be held next Thurs
day to decide on a line of action. An
attempt will be made to bring about an
advance in lake and rail rates, in the hope
that this may induce the Vandala to
restore its former tariff. Should this plan
fail, the Chicago roads will be forced to
reduce their rates and meet the competition
by wav of st. Louis.