Omaha daily bee., 1892-08-21
WORkED BY THE SC.ILPERS.
Present Decentralization in Rates Due to
Their Enterprise.

Present Decentralization In Rates Due to
Their Enterprise.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, Aug. 20.-Snould the special
agents of the interstate commerce commits
sion undertake to investigate the western
passenger rate situation with q view to con
vic,ing certain roads IN selling tickets at a
lower rate to brokers they would have
trouble in doing so. When excursion
tickets wore selling at Sl2 to Den
yer and return the scalpers were not
slow TO see it was their oppor
tunity, The return passage of these tickets
was good until October IL. Tho brokers
bought up whole blocks Of these round-tri ,
tickets, paying the full price of Sl2 each and
sent them unused to their agents at Denver.
The business of the Denver broker was to
detach the return portions and TO sell them
to eastbound passengers at less than tho
regular rate. The present one-way rate from
Denver to Chicago is about So SO that the
scalpers could we'll afford to pay the full
price for the round-trip ticket and sell
the return portion at reduction of
the regular eastbound rate. Fur
thermore, he could afford to lay in pretty
large stock without risk, since the tickets
are good for return passage until October II.
One road which was accused by competi-
tors of dealing with brokers has just dis
covered that seventy-tve of its knights
Templar tickets were purchased by one
scalper in the manner referred to. Christian
Enueavor tickets were manipulated in the
same way and now the s. round-trip tickets
issued on account of the knights of Pythias
encampment at Kansas City are being eX-
tensivelv bought by brokers. All the lead
ing roads are victims OF this sort OF competi-
tion on the part of the scalpers, and IL is
probable that an investigation will result in
the discovery that not single railroad com
pany or any of its agents had been guilty of
selling tickets to brokers at less than the
authorized rates.
A Slap at the Alton.
General Passenger Agent Townsend of
the Missouri Pa ;ifc has replied fully to the
charge made by the Chicago ~ Alton that his
company was selling knights of Pvthlas
excursion tickets at 81 for the round-trip be-
tween St Louis ana Kansas City. In tele-
gram to Chairman Caldwell of the Western
association Mr.. Townsend says:
"The action of the Chicago IL Alton road
In attempting to force 81 roundtr rate
from st. Louis to Kansas City and to place
the responsibility on this line is now fully
explained by tho fact Of the Alton had
contracted with the German Vet
eran association of St. LOUIS, for
special trains leaving Saturday, August
20, at per capita rate OF a for the round
trip in addition to which they carry the
band of twenty-eIght people free, practically
making n round-trip rate OF about 50. AS evi-
dence of this statement we have in our pos
session Chicago e. Alton tickets dated Aug
ust 90, reading st. Louis to Kansas City and
return and good until September 49, for
which we paid "a. We will meet the compe-
titiou offered by the private rate and also use
this rate for basing purposes in the sale Of
round-trip tickets to points west of the Mis-
souri, river good until September l5'
Chairman Caldwell has authorized all the
interested roads to take similar action.
Flour Rates Advanced.
Notice was given today by the Chicago
1uly Ii,nn thnf ON nff pt
Der l., lake and rail rates to New York will
be advanced from 10 to l1l9 cents per 100
pounds on flour and grain products and other
sixth class freight This Is the direct result
of the combination between the Northern
Steamship company and the Reading system
which is to take place September ]. line
Boston rate will be advanced to 1871 cents at
the same time
A better maintenance of rates and agree
ments is now predicted as result of the
combination and considerable satisfaction is
expressed by those lines that had been
forced to accept l5 cents on flour to New
York.