The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-26
SOLICITING AGENTS TO GO.
A NEW RAILROAD PLAN WHICH
WILL DO AWAY WITH MANY.

The sOuthern's Big Movement TO Put
an End 10 Rate Cutting and the
Giving of Secret Rebates-The As
sOciatiOn VIII Probably Continue.
But There Has Been Considerable
Talk of Having u New Commits
siOner.
The movement that has been inaugu-
rated and Is now being carried out by
the Southern Railway Company for he
purpose of putting a stop to rate cutting
and Legitimate methods of securing bust
ness on the part of some railroad lines
is causing a good deal of talk among
railroad men.
When the Southern gets control Of the
Central railroad it will be in possession
of every available outlet toward the west
except the Louisville and Nashville sys-
TEN, which now connects with Mr.. Plants
lines at Montgomery. Many railroad men
look for an alliance between TINS sys-
TEN and the Southern, which will prac-
tically give it the command of the terri
tory. They say, too. that it will be a
matter of only a short time before II
will have the Queen and Crescent route
from Cincinnati to New Orleans.
These movements on the part of the
Southern, it is stated, will put it in po-
sition to dictate to the Plant system, the
Florida Central and Pennsular and any
others they see fit to for the purpose OF
bringing about this combination or agree
ment, whichever it may be called, for the
purpose of putting an end to the cutting
of rates and giving Of secret rebates,
which has had so damaging an effect
on many of the lines in the south The Sea-
board system, too. may find it an advan;-
age to go along in with the others ard
accept whatever agreement may be
reached.
This plan if carried out. as it appears to
be the intention of those interested to do,
viii mean a great deal more than many
might at first think II means that all
people who use the railroads win be put
on the same footing. No mans neighbor
will get cheaper rate on flour, sugar or
coffee than he does, and will not have the
advantage of being able to slightly under
sell him
II will matter little to the dealer which
way his produce is shipped as there win
be no pecuniary advantage to him, and
this will tend to make all business run in
its natural channels and by the lines which
would properly carry it, if all'improper
competition were removed.
Not only this but 1t means that a large
army of soliciting agents will have to 90.
With plan agreed upon. or a combina>
ton formed, whatever, its character may
be, under which a railroad can get its
full legitimate share of the business ana
all that would naturally come its way. it
viii have no use for numerous solicitins
agents in all sections of the country. anc
If such an agreement is ever carried out
there will no doubt be an army of them
in search of other employment
The soliciting agent nowadays has to
rack his brain for plans and schemes TO get
a good share of the business for his line
and make a strong showing, unless he has
authority, which is given in many cases,
to offer rebate on the quiet now and
then, or what is the same thing. to charge
lower rate than that at which the freight
is billed. There are many tricks in the
trade, which these agents do not give
away but they often turn them to get the
business.
There seems to be no doubt that the
Southern Railway and Steamship Assoeia-
ton Will be continued, but just what will
be the nature of the new agreement has
not yet been made public. There is a
well defined impression that there is go
ing to be a new commissioner in place of
Commissioner r. Is. Stahlman, whose die
tates and rulings some of the lines do not
like
Some lines, ii is understood, have sicni-
fed their willingness TO come into the as
ISOLATION If a new commissioner is an
pointed, while some others say they do not
want to remain unless this action is taken.
Those interested in the matter will not
talk about the commissioner just at pres
emit Whatever is to be done will probably
be done at Asheville when the association
meets on July Is, to complete the new
agreement.