New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-10
RAILROAD INTERESTS.
THOSE DREADFUL OUTSIDE AGENCIES.
THE TRUNK LINES PFRPLLXED OVER THE lMMl-
GRANT STU ATION-THOMAs 5. FACLK-

TIL immigrant question again intruded it, spectral
presence Yesterday as the meeting Of the Passenger
Committee Of the Trunk Line ASs0ciaticn 1t monop-
o,zed the attention Of tho passenger agents d" ten roads,
who discussed ta> they have done repeatedly IN months
gone by and advanced no further in it, solution than
they were before. The imE rant situation Is I'M
pressing itself upon The minds Of the passenger men
as presenting difficulties Of unusual complication,
and Commissioner L. =. Farmer is at loss as to what
line Of action T. advise
The Of trouble Is the business done by the
outside agents. who divert large proportion OF the
immigrant traffic from the pads I'm the association.
Narious devices have been employed 10 relieve the
situation but without avail The outside agents, VINO
number probably fifty. send their immigrants to the
West over the road that will pay the highest com
missions. and they In turn the control OF I'M
migrants from the steamship lines by paving them
greater compensation than do the associated rail-
road lines There four lines. notably the Canadian
Pacific, which are not In the association AFTER
months OF negotiations. these lines have agreed to
enter the Trunk Line Association whenever the I'M
migrant business IS put beyond the reach of tho
ire ponSibe outside agencies. To this end the pas
senger agents putting forth their eAcronS' bnt
> far with more zeal than success.
There were two remedies proposed yesterday. Inc
first wa. that the rate Of compensation" to the
steamship companies be increased sufficiently to shut
out the outside agents. Under the present arrange
ment the steamship lines get 10 per cent. not 10 ex
coed s2 on each Immigrant. II was proposed that
hi, be increased BY amounts varying from 81 30 on
tickets TO Chicago to eli tickets TO the Pacific
coast. II was understood that the steamship com
pane would agree TO give TO the outside agencies only
such immigrant business a was sent 10 them by ther
European agents strenuous opposition was developed
10 this plan. the passenger agents being about equally
divided on Il.
The Second plan was the bold and warke one. or
A. d.Jf,. f,,i ipc "a, fhn
taken Of uniting forces With the outside agents giving
them compensation" for business similar 10 that
paid 10 the steamship lines, on condition. however
that The outside make no attempt to get hold OF
immigrants not sent to them by European agents.
This plan had few warm supporters. but was voted
down on the general principle that eSpon,ible out
siderS7 should not be recognized.
This left The question a. II was before. bnt II IS
booked for further consideration In the near future.
The outside agents have the same advantages at Ellis
Island that the joint agency has, but they do not
afford immigrants the same protection or conv"n"nces
for transportation to rairond stations.
Thomas =. Faulkner. who for several years
assistant agent the Barge ONCE Joint Agency under
C. F. Doane. has been made agent at Ellis Island. with
Joseph sentner his assistant Mr.. Faulkner mas
tocn in The immigrant department OF railroad work for
TWENTY-FIVE years
The passenger committcc has perfected plan for
the establishment Of ferry system from Ellis Island
to the principal railroad stations. For tie prScn,
only one boat viii be used. stopping first Mt tie New
Jersey Central, then at the Pennsylvania the Della
ware. Lackawana and Western. the New York Central
at Thirty ( bird at and NJ Wechawken for the VEST
shore road. Special SDats will be employed. when
necessary for large numbers 81 immigrants going 10
station Ncgo atlons for The purchase OF Jerry
boat nrc already under way and Mr. Farmer expects
10 have the boat running within two weeks. This
system viii prevent the approach of outsh. parties 10
The mm grants while on their WAY. and VIII also
protect them from inccmcnt weather. Tho favoiits
way Of transporting immigrants from piers TO rail-
road stations seems 10 De In drOvcs on loot, or
In open wagons.