The Indianapolis journal., 1896-11-25
LOWER PASSENGER RATE
THE ILLINOIS LINES MAY BE FORCED
TO REDUCE THEIR FARES.
Receiver Murray Sends Out a Vfgor-
Gus Denial-Passenger Men Read
just Rates to Southern Points.

IL Is stated that the railroad commission
ers Of Illinois will make a ruling that 2
cents per mile shall be the passenger rate
on all roads in that State. The matter was
argued some months ago and then dropped,
and IL Is now thought by passenger men
to be a political move. The road commits
sioneTS OF that State should have one Re-
publican the board. but has none. IL is
stated, and the present commission has con-
ceived the idea that IL can make political
capital for its party by making the 2-cent-
a-mile rate. alleging that the railroad COM
mission, which will consist of two Republic
ans and one Democrat, will not dare to re-
peal It, Be this il may, such a step,
say the passenger men, will be bitterly
fought, even through the courts. The gen.
eral passenger agents have asked the COM
mission TO investigate. and they are con-
fident that, IL reasonable men, they will
see that the roads could not give the pres
ent number of trains or the present charac-
ter OF equipment at so low a rate. The
movement on the part of the Illinois COM
mission, however. has developed so much
strength as to give the passenger officials
of roads doing business in that State much
anxiety, and strong opposition to such
a measure Is likely to be developed.
Another general passenger agent says the
general passenger agents themselves are
much to blame for the present state of af-
fairs on account of the manner in which
they have acted regarding the fve-thou-
sand-mile book, which, had it been issued
would have gone far towards checking the
growing sentiment for "a 2-cent-a mile rate
Should Illinois take such a step and succeed
in carrying ii in a legal manner. Indiana
and Ohio are likely TO make similar move
ment.
FaIsehOOds Concerning the ID. 4 o.
Coreceiver Oscar G. Murray. of the Bal
timore & Ohio Railway, issues a statement
in which he denies i'm vigorous language the
oft-repeated assertion that the Il. & o. is
securing east-bound freight out of Chicago
by cutting rates. Mr.. Murray says IL is
true that the road is getting large share
of the east-bound tonnage. larger. in fact.
than ever before in It's history. He added: :
II can very readily understand why it is
that our business out of Chicago has
shown such a great Improvement. In the
first place, the b. & o. is in better financial
shape than 1t was some time ago. The
traffic department has it's agents through
the West on constant outlook for business.
These men have been employed because of
their ability. and 1t is but natural that we
should show an increase in tonnage.
want to deny most emphatically that this
business comes to on account of cut
rates. We are making no effort to secure
business other than legitimately, and / can
not see why. when we get ii. we are ac-
cused Of violating our obligations to the
Joint Traffic Association. Our views as to
the value and benefit of the Joint Traffic
Association are such as would and do make
1t desirable to cordially support and ap-
prove its work. Its conservative action
since Organization has done more to main
tain rates and preserve revenue than all the
machinery that has in the past been used
and we are not by any means going to in
augurate any policy that is in conflict with
IL or imperfi our own revenues by depriving
the company of the benefit OF the associa-
tion's good counsel and advice. which would
be the case should we withdraw from the
organization. I wish you would emphasize
the statement that we are not only going
to continue our membership In the Joint
Traffic Association. but arc, beyond that
anxious for holding up Its integrity and ex-
tending its influence and scope"