St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-21

The Western Passenger association
meets at 10:30 this morning in Chicago
! for the discussion of a grist of important
topics, chief amCny which is the worlds
| fair rate. As the proposition for this
rate is put in the call for the meeting,
| The consideration will be of the worlds
| fair excursion rates "at a reduction
from the originally agreed basis. tickets
TO be sold every day for regular trains,
and good for return limit of say thirty
days-One way rates between important
terminals to be based proportionately
upon whatever reduction may be agreed
upon for round trip rates."
Some difference Of opinion was eX-
pressed in ST. Paul railroad circles yes
terday afternoon as to what ould be
the outcome upon this point, and also
as to what ought to be the outcome.
President Egan, Of the Great Western,
was absent from the city, so w. A.
Lore, his assistant, ventured to say
that it was quite possible the associa-
ton would conclude to make one-tare
round-trip rate beginning Aug. l. He
thought the tendency of the association
was in that direction; but at the same
time he doubted that even that low
rate would increase the travel to any
great extent. THE people simply
haven't the money to travel" said Mr..
Lore, land it is very doubtful that the
reduction to a one-fare round-trip will
increase the travel enough to make the
traffic paying to the railways"
The general passenger agent of an
other very prominent st. Paul-ChicagO
line entertained the view that the as
ISOLATION would not reduce the rate to
one fare for the round trip, but simply
remove all restrictions from the S13.75
rate. The Sl375 rate is only for certain
days, and the holders of the tickets are
excluded from the sleepers and parlor
cars. IF this $3.50 rate" said the
general passenger agent in question, lis
made the regular rate--the passengers
allowed to go and come when they
please during the fare, and to ride in
the sleepers and parlOr cars, 1 think 1t
will be satisfactory to all, and that
about all who intended to go to the fair
or are able to go will travel. | do not
think that lower rate would increase
the volume OF travel to any material eX-
tent. Under the present strIngency the
mass of the people cannot afford to go
to the fair at any ticket rate, and the
most of those who can afford to go
would 90 if there were no reduction"
A high railway official of another Chi,
cagO road expressed the views of the
one last quoted. Said he: "Chauncey
Depew voiced the sentiments of every
railway management when he said,
When the masses of the people are
ready to go to the fair we shall make
rates SO low that no one will grumble.'
This expresses the situation in a nut
shell. The railroad arrangements make
a study of situations, and understand
them as casual observers cannot. 1t
must not be supposed that the railroads
would not gladly make the one-fare
rate If by so doing they could induce
the masses to 20 to Chicago. 1t would
be to their great financial advantage to
do so. But we know to a certainty that
the masses cannot afford to go to Chica-
go, and that rate even lower than that
would not move them. This is why we
have not made such rate and why we
now hesitate to do so. 1t is natural for
a good many TO look upon our actions
as inspired by the greed of monopoly;
but such people are Sh0rt-Sighted; they
do not understand what they are talk
ing about" Another topic which will
cause good deal of talk al the Chicago
meeting, is the rate situation as
affected by rates announced by the
Union Pacific to meet the competition of
the Great Northern" The routine will
be devoted to discussion of reduced rates
for families OF clergymen; reduced rates
IOr army officers; the certificate plan
for delegates to conventions; reduced
rates for the q. A. Il. encampment at
indianapolis. and rates for homeseek-
erS' excursions.
After this meeting is adjourned, a
special meeting of the Eastern commit
tee will be held to discuss the situation
as affected by the jacksonville IL South
eastern competition.