The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-07
TWO CENTS PER MILE
INTERCHANGEABLE RAILWAY TICK.
ETs DEFENDED ny rC0RMICIx.
argument In Favor of Cheap Fares
for Professional Travelers-The
big Fsur's Position.


E. o. Mccormick, passenger traffic man
ager of the Big Four, was among the first
to inaugurate general interchange of the
mileage ticket, which has led to some adj
verse criticism OF the wisdom of the policy.
These criticisms have caused Mr.. McCor-
mick to state his position in the matter.
He says: II have noticed several articles
lately intimating that the interchangeable
mileage ticket is liable TO lead to the re-
duction of all passenger fares to two cents
per mile BY the issuance of this inter-
changeable ticket we satisfy the only people
who could force a two-cent-per-miIe rate. /
refer to the manufacturer the wholesale
dealer, the commercial traveller and the
merchant in every line of business in fact
all of the most intelligent and active travel
ing public-the very men whose influence
1t would require to secure the passage of a
two-cent bill through any Legislature, and
whose work against such measure would
absolutely kill it, no matter what other in
terests favored such proposition. 1t is not
an expensive arrangement for the railroads
1t promotes a friendly feeling between COM
its natural channels. The statement that
within a short time rs per cent. of the pas
senger business will be handled at two cents
per mile is preposterous, as i will be glad
TO demonstrate by comparison OF the num-
Der of people our line carries at three cents
Per Per m ,en ana on an mileage books i is true
way into the hands of brokers, but that
does not make the situation any worse than
chased. In the past, individual mileage
books over the various lines just as freely
as the interchangeable books. In fact. il
will be found on inquiry that the brokers
are opposed to the interchangeable books
claiming that. the travelling public. by hold
In n oaa heir
offices as much as heretofore. There is no
danger whatever to our line or any other
losing money by @honoring the mileage
coupons of a line in the hands OF a re-
ceiveT. Are we not at the present accept
ing the coupon tickets of these same. lines,
and why should we. run any more risk III
the acceptance of mileage coupons? If one
OF these lines in the hands Of a receiver,
or any other line, lin fact, desired to do So
they could sell large lots of coupon tickets
TO distant points, and a much larger rev.
enue would accrue to them for the time
being than on mileage books at so each
Every mileage coupon we detach from a
foreign lines issue of ticket pays US two
cents by the 10Th sof the month following
that in which the coupon is collected bv our
conductor. combat the statement that any
general passenger agent, in order tb swell
his earnings for one week, can go out and
dispose of a block of one hundred or more
mileage tickets to broker You cannon
5000 into mileage tickets at one invest
ment and certainly no road will sell mile
age tickets at less than $40 when there is
taken up on other lines less the small
mileage controlled by the issuing line and
for which they, have to pay. to the lines
honoring the mileage two cents per coupon
Now, no one with any knowledge of the,
passenger business at all believes for mo-
ment that the Pennsylvania or any other
company will reduce rates on their lines to
two cents per mile on account of the use
OF the INTERCHANGEABLE books. Our COM
pany has always issued mileage books at
$50. good between local points as we'll az,
competitive points, and has no fear what
ever of the use of other lines mileage tick
cts on it's trains and so long as the COM
pany satisfies the professional traveller with
transportation at two cents per mile 1t is
OF opinion that no Legislature will attempt
to force it to carry the occasional local
traveller at the same rate instead of three
cents per mile.
Meetings I'm Chicago.
The Eastern committee lines of the West
crn trunk line passenger committee met in
Chicagc yesterday for the purpose of con-
sidering rules under which the Eastern COM
mittee Is to operate when the general agree
ment has been. put in full operation Gem
eral Passenger Agent Townsend. of the
worked as diligently over the rules as any
other man in the meeting. His presence
was a decided comfort TO the other lines.
which are fearful that the Missouri Pacific
may change its mind about signing the COM
nlttee agreememnt. -
The general meeting Of the trunk line
committee has been adjourned until Wednes-
day of next week, to allow the Alton and
Wabash 10 get together on the matter of
Kansas City-East st. Louis rates. The
general managers of the two lines have not
Yet definitely arranged a time for their con-
ference.
The regular monthly meeting of the pas
ISOLATION was held in Chicago yesterday.
Nothing came up except matters of routine
in the consideration of rules and the re-
vision of rates.
LAWYERS Fee Of SS5.0OO.
At Chicago. yesterday. Judge Tuley de-
cided that Edwin Walker was entitled to
an attorney fee of $4,000 for services rem
dered to the Chicago, Danville & yincennes
company. Mr.. Walker was attorney for the
road for about ten years. during which time
he carried foreclosure suit to the Supreme
Court and won it. The agreement was thai
Mr.. Walker was to receive one-quarter OF
what was gained by the fight in the SUI
preme Court, but the Danyille road va,
practically in the hands of the Chicago 4
Eastern Illinois road, and when the case
was finally decided the Eastern Illinois roat
agreed 70 give the Danvile road $500 90
worth Of its bonds to satisfy the claim
Mr.. Walker got one-fourth of these bonds
$4,000 II which We're for services The pres
emit case came up on bill that was filet
by the Danville road. The court held tina
in view OF the services rendered. standing
as he did as leading railroad lawyer Mr.
Walker had not received an excessive fee
Indignant Chicago Shippers.
The shipping agents of the packers al
the Union stock yards in Chicago are ex.
ceedingly wroth at the railroads whics
propose TO inaugurate change in regarc
to the receipt of shipments at the stocl
yards. Heretofore agents of the roads hav.
gone around the PACKING houses. sealed If,
loaded cars. carded them, giving the ship
pers receipts on the spot. Now the roads
propose 70 constitute the stock yards com
pany their joint agent TO receipt for Ii,
shipments. This will necesstate the pack
ers sending around 10 the Office OF tn,
stock yards company for the receipts
proceeding which will. the packers claim
cause them much delay. As these receipts
have to be exchanged for regular bills o
lading before drafts can be drawn agains
the shipments the Inconvenience 10 shipper
in