The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-01
MANY HEADS TO FALL
RAILROAD OFFICIALS ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY TAKING ALARM.
Men Backing Railroads Are Tired Of
Rate Wars, and n General Rev
oIutfon Is Expected.

on every hand there is evidence that
there is to be a general revolution in the
traffic departments OF railways. The men
who have furnished the money to build
and equip the roads have become very
tired OF the rate wars. which not only
cut down the revenues but demoralize bus
mess generally. as one class OF shippers
is given the advantage over some other.
For several years. in numerous cases, the
people who own the roads received no
dividends. and in many cases no interest
even on the bonds they own, while TO
crafty personal spite, in many instances.
general freight agents and general Sas-
senger~ agents have been running things
to suit themselves: rates have beef! re-
duced to a point where. on some roads,
they hardly pay operatins expenses. and
On still others are not sufficient 10 meet
fxed charges and the owners OF such
properties have determined to ascertain
where the fault lies. Many nigh officials
fear that in probing to the bottom things
will be brought to light which will result
In many such officers and their respective
agents losing their places.
In speaking OF this. yesterday, general
manager Of fast freight line
said he was preparing for trouble.
He feared there was truth in the report
that twenty thousand men would be with
out jobs If the presidents agreement ma
teralized. Since the meeting in New York
a secret meeting has been held AT another
point OF certain railway presidents and
general managers. This was an interview
ing meeting between the one called for
few days hence at New York. A gentleman
who knows OF such meeting being held
"a
anything that had been done IN the way
OF breaking up rate wars. He said ne nad
hopes that the movement would be aDan-
doned, but he feared it would rot. That
many men in official position were ON the
anxious seat he admitted and lie thought
there was ample reason tor such anxiety
passenger official. who stood hear by,
said: The roads might be able 10 control
freight business more easily than paSSen-
ger business and l very confident that
any agreement regarding passenger traffic
would not stand, people, IL not solicited
or favored in rates, would take certain
roads and competing roads would he starv-
trouble In the camp One OF the things
that worries the freight and passenger men
Is that the proceedings OF these meetings
are kept profound secrets. Anything, :
said another official. which has appeared
has evidently been guesswork on The part
OF the papers and speculation on the part
Of the Western press and l think that
not until the circulars are out denning
the provisions OF the agreement viii its
Importance be realized.
Thomas Noonan, general manager or the
Central States Dispatch, in discussing the
matter yesterday, said: 1T Is difficult TO
Ten do the not think {, 0 MEANS 1n AWAY with
the fast freight lines, as they have grown
with the roads and are no new thing. but
! think u viii result ia doing away With
the soliciting agent, who has been blamed
for all the rate wars l am the general
manager OF q fast freight line and neither
I nor any of my solicitors for business
~ nut rrnlo orflar 10 do
so by higher authority them that OF
the general manager Of a fast freight
more gloomy view and says he is satisfied
that II means throwing out many thou
sand men, He looks upon the locomotive
engineer and his fireman as being the only
railroad men who are sure OF employment
after the ironclad agreement Is put in
force
Central Pacific Avoids Receiver.
At the Office of the Central Pacific Rail-
read Company in New York last evening
1t was positively denied that the company
had avoided receivership by making ar
rangements with bondholders When
shown a dispatch stating that San Fran
cisco paper had made this assertion Mr.
l. E. Gates said: There is absolutely no
truth in this statement. When the series
OF bonds amounting to nearly 100000 be-
came due on July /. the bondholders were
two and one-half years at 5 per cent. per
annum. and the holders readily accepted
There has been no dividend declared by
the company. but the Southern Pacific, as
has been extensively advertised since July
J. has been paying one-half Of / per cent.
OF the par value OF the stock TO the stock
holders of the Central Pacific company.
These are the facts, and it can easily be
seen that no deal was made. The state
ment to the contrary Is without founda-
The dispatch that stirred up Mr. Gates
was as follows:
The Central Pacific Railroad Company
making srransements with the foreign
bondhclders TO extend the time Of payment
on the bonds now due three years. This
transactions is made to explain the action of
the board Of directors in declaring a divi-
dcnd Of one-half Of per cent. this month.
Sir Rivers Wilson the repressenta tive of the
neered the deal when he visited this coun-
Try few months ago by harmonizing the
es and the bondholders.
Cut Rates Through Chicago.
At a meeting OF the Chicas Omaha
lines. at Chicago. yesterday. it was de-
cided that no attempt would be made to
apply G. A. r. rates from Omahi and
Council Bluffs via Chicago. At one time
II was feared that this would be done. to
the detriment. OF the regular rates between
Omaha and Chicago The 500" line has
announced one-fare rate fer the meeting
OF the Total Abstinence Society in the East
The rate announced on all the other lines
Is one and 0ne-third on the certificate Ilan
The Chicago-St. Paul lines have urgently
requested OF their Eastern connections
that they allow them ID meet tltis rate
but the request was denied. The SEQ
Will sell tickets at one fare AMI the
others at one and one-third. The action
OF the 500 line has naturally created
wild indignation among the thica ko-st
Paul lines, but 1t defends itself by the as
sertion, which Is not far from being abso
1utely correct. that there are no main
tanned rates between 81. Paul and Mime
apolis and Chicago. This is putting n
rather strong. but the rates between these
points are now. and have been fer seine
time. In a badly demo-aiized condition. II
is known that one road which Is now heap
ing denunciation on the 500 line Offered
some time ago TO make the same rate tha
the 500 has done for the very same bus
mess IL did not get the business, however
knights Templars Rates.
The lines OF the Central Traffic Assoca
tion have reaffirmed their rates and ar
engagements 10 the Knights Templars con
clave. at Boston. with the exception tina
the return tickets may be used as earl,
as Aug 81 instead OF Aug 80. as original,
provided. The Boston terminal lines de
H.-1 h. "a i'm aND III. n