The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-06-13
No Determination shown.

The chairman of the passenger depart
ment of the Central Traffic Association
feels that an injustice has been done that
organization. and writes to the Journal as
follows:
Our attention has been directed to the animad-
version or The rules and misstatements respect
ing the methods employed by the Central Traffic
Association, urged by Secretary Smythe before a
meeting of the Grand Lodge of Masons of In
diana. recently held in Indianapolis. While it is
not our custom To reply TO attacks OF this char
acter the statements presented by Secretary
emythe to the honorable body of Masons, and
through your columns to the people of Indiana,
are so at variance with the truths that We will
avail ourselves of your permission to briefly,
and without inviting or challenging controversy,
correct the mlsapprenenslons or mlsstatements,
whichever they may be. We epitOniZe the fol-
lowing quotations from Mr.. smythe's charges,
Us they appeared in your columns
First can see nothing unInasonic in enter
Ing vigorous protest against the action of the
Central Traffic Association for its continued and
fragrant discrimination against the great frater-
nal organizations OF the country"
"Second-A handful of college students can
and do secure half-rate railroad fare 10 their
annual oratorical contests. These students and
their friends come from half dozen towns and
cities or the State. They are not put to the
trouble and annoyance of procuring a certain
form of Central Traffic Association certificate,
but are permitted 10 purchase round trip tickets
az half rates. while you brethren. coming from
40 towns and cities or the state, required to
procure n certificate OF certain form and dimen-
sions. sign your name to IL, then have it signed
signed and stamped by special agent OF the
Central Traffic Association, and, if approved,
signed and stamped by him. you are then per
United 10 purchase q ticket 10 return home at a
fraction less than the regular rate"
"Third-Under the arbitrary rules of the Cen
tral Traffic Association we are required TO pay
the expenses or its special agent TO come here TO
wise the certificates"
With reference 10 the first charge we may say
that there has been no discrimination whatsO-
ever against Masonic or other bodies or organi-
cations. secular, spiritual or social, applying for
or enjoying the concessions in rates provided for
under certain definite and simple rules, which
wholly govern the action or the association in
this relation. These rules, divested of detail,
provide that ali organized bodies guaranteeinga
minimum attendance of one hundred delegates
may have reduction to one and third the
usual fares, and fqE an assured attendance of
five hundred or mBte delegates a reduction to
one fare for the round trip is accorded The first
plan Involves the OF the certificate" against
which Mr. Smythe inveighs. his Is a sim pie in
etrunent, designed and used solely and wholly
Tor the mutual protection from improper and
wrongful imposition OF the railways and the
meetings enjoying the reduction in fares, and
involves no Inconvenience To the beneficiary
other than simple request for the certificate
when purchasing the ticket and the appending
Of the purchasers name
With regard to the second arraignment, we as
sert that the statement Is wholly in error. The
Its inception fail 10 show @ single instance In
which a halffare rate was given to college stu
Gents of its territory for the purpose of attend
Ing OratOrlcal contests or any event In which
they were interested. Ii is true that such rates
at times extended 10 college students by
some OF the carriers in the territory OF the Cen
trail Traffic Association on whose lines colleges
arc located. They are, however. for short dis
tances and during periods OF vacation, and have
for their purpose the laudable object of enabling
Students c. visit their homes, and are regarded
"a purely local matters and properly within the
discretion OF the lines concerned.
With respect To the third Impeachment, this
practice OF the association was fnaugurated
about year since after a long practical expert
ence had proven the necessity and equity of
operation
cate plan oy agents of the association. In
proper. wrongful and unlawful imposition upon
organizations benehtlng by these cOnces-
siOns as well upon the lines grant
ing the reductions through the assoca-
ton occurred frequently and fiagrantly,
OF which association records give ample
evidence AS a question OF fairness. IL Is not be-
heved that the association should bear in Its
urety the expenses OF the required supervision,
and. as a matter of fact, only an inconsiderable
portion 10 horne by the meetings awaiting them
selves OF the certificate plan rate. The special
agents engaged by the association for this service
are necessarily paid for their entire time. while
the meetings 20 which they are assigned from
time 10 time are asked TO assume the expenses of
the service for only the actual time for which the
agent Is engaged. The conditions requiring this
special surveillance are. unfortunately, beyond
the control OF the association. lt seems. there
fore. not an unreasonable stipulation that the
benefciaries under the certificate plan should
bear portion OF the expense rendered neces
sary by the existence OF wrongful practices
for which the association is in no sense re-
sponsible. and for whose suppression these
measures have been devised and made operative
for the common protection OF related inter
eSts. Il. {. DONALD,
CHICAGO, June 10. ce-chairman.
Personal, Local and General Notes.
The Peoria & Eastern earned in the first
week of June, 80, 49, so. Increase this year
Sl,G4S.3f.
X. III. Searls to-day takes the agency of
the Cincinnati, Hamilton d DAYTON at
Rushville. vice j. ii. Roe resigned
The c.. c., c. * St L. big Four earned
the firaf weRk In Inna. S0il, 10 on I..a... =.