New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-14
AN AGREEMENT REACHED.
TO GO TO THE RAILROAD PRESIDENTS
FOR APPROVAL.
COMMISSIONS TO BE ABOLISHED AND PASSENGER
TRAFFIC. DISTRIBUTED by VARYING THE
RATES EXPECTED TO LEAD TO
Joint AGENCIES

JOINT AGENCIES
The Joint Committee Of the Trunk Line anu
Central Traffic Associations passenger depart
menD yesterday concluded = session Of four days
by a final agreement upon a now and compre-
hensive scheme for the regulation Of competitive
passenger traffic Railroad men say that it has
been many months since much practical WORK
was accomplished and with so little friction
The agreement has yet to receive the approval
of the presidents and general managers but these
men will meet ON January o. The attendance
at the passenger conference was unusually large
the following roads being represented: Grand
Trunk of Canada. Ncw-York Central West
shore Erie Delaware Lackawanna and Western;
New-York Ontario and Western; Pennsylvania
Philadelphia and Reading. Lehigh Valley, Cchtrai
Of Ncw-Jerscy. Baltimore and ohio. Baltimore
and Ohio Southwestern. Chesapeake ana ONO
Chicago and Erie. Chicago and Grand IruhE'
Cleveland. Cincinnati. Chicago and -. LOUIS
Delaware ana Hudson. Grand Rapids ana IN
diana: Lake Snore. Michigan Central Newly ork'
Chicago and -. Louis. Pennsylvania Company
Rome Watcrtown ana Ogdensburg; Nandala'
Wabash. Western New-York and Pennsylvania
Norfolk and Western and P!ttsburg ana Lake
Erie. only seven roads included in The associA-
tion-and these comparatively small ones-iailed
10 send representatives,.
The new agreement is substantially for pool
ing Of all competitive passenger trtlhc on tne
basis Of an equitable division by percentages al
lottcd to tn" various lines. There were S'i'e
roads which asked for Il pooling OF th' ehNi'
gross traffic. but large majority N"l'd /" .uH-
fine the agreement to competitive business. Ihc
only other difference of importance concerned
the method of IN -ctinG Outsid" c"nprutl"i tnat
Of the Canadian Pacific ON the north ana 'l''
Of the Southern railroads outside Of ne aSspcla-
tons. This will be point for future de''I'hui-
tion. but there was no disagreement "a l" the
question Of abolishnS the payment OF '"HiH!lS
sions within the territory Of the aSS"cldtru
roads. The new plan contemplates an equi'ahie
distribution II the passenger business by substi-
tuting a system Of varying rates for the present
fixed "differcntial" rates. The present standard
rates are to bc maintained. and there Will he no
advance in fares To- the public. But II road Is
unable to carry its allotted proportion ol paSs'h-
gers at present rates reductions Will he per-
mtted to last only SO long as Is necessary to
restore the percentage OF the ROAD iaiuns pc
hind The object sought to DE accomplished -
TO have such line actually carry the uaihc 10
which II IS entitled The percentages will be
agreed upon by the roads themselves. and In
case of dispute arbtrators are to be called H.
but the commits sioners Of the associations are 10
be relieved Of the duties Of arbitration.
Should the new agreement and machinery
work sa tisfactOrily II is expected that there VIII
be large reduction In the number Of ticket
Offices and agencies IN order 10 save expenses
through consolidation Of these means OF so
Letting business II carried out. the new plan
will render passenger rates stable. destroy the
"scalping' business. and save large amounts "
money 10 the railroads.
Chicago, Jan l3.-It was reported here today that
the Erie road Will not 80 into any pool FOR the
division % freight or passenger traffic. strong
reasons We're given why The road could not do
so. II II were willing There cannot he any doubt
that. under the plain reading ~ the Interstate
Commerce law. pooling is il'sal The law may h"
unconstitutional. as some eminent railroad lawyers
contend but 1t has never been adjudsed 50 - any
court Of competen; jurisdiction Until u Dee SO dee
clared. II is ~" law ~ tn land The Fri" road is
now In the hands Of the United States court ami
IS being operated under ifs direction. That court
cannot cOunt'nanc" anything which,. even 300 APP
pearancc. f. an iufractlon ~ the law. AMI hence
the Erie cannot be- party To any pooling arrange
ment II this Wow be correct all th' labor ~ IA"
general passenger agents during the week has
been in vain. They have been working uu the
lines II a pool to secure the removal and futur"
prevention II Generalization IN Eastern territory.
That has appeared 10 them 20 DO M" only means
getting rid of dferentiale. AMI ~ stopping the
payment Of commissions. which mr." the originating
source of al the present trouble Il viii also render
worthless the efforts - th" freight men In th" same
direction II the opinion h@ correct tn" removal Of
troubles ~ Eastern territory b. AS far OF AS