Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-01-09

PASSENGER TROUBLE

The Southwestern Passenger Commit
tee. an organization which came Into
existence In consequence Of the pas
senger rate trouble which prevailed In
this section last fall. will convene in
regular session at 81, Lonis iday, Tho
regular meeting should have been held
on Jan. Z. but as the meeting would
have connioted with that OF the West
crn Passenger association, which con-
yencd In Chicago ON TINT date, the -.
Louis meeting was deferred Two days
In CIDER that members might attend
both meetings,
The So uthweeiorn Passenger commit
tee In composed exclusively of the rep
rcscntntlyea az southwestern inisreHta
md upon II dcSolvrs the necessity OF
ndindicntlng all passenger trnifc dit-
fcrenccs that may arise In this tori
tory. Il is an organization the mnin-
trnancc Of which depends entirely upon
the Lonor and integrity NJ ~ fuc0i,'r-
min. as there " no nnnnaial forfeit
posted to protect any violnti ms OF the
toms of the general agreement which
went Into effect upon the cessation OF
the late rate war.
II VIII be remembered that NJ the
meeting Of the committee In November.
when the matter OF allowance OF COM
mifsinn or Arrangement or the r7mnlF-
sion schedule for tho present year was
updor confederation. the representative
# the Cotton BELT railway injected q
bomb into the placid surroundings by
deinnndlng certain diflercntlnls or COM
MISSIONS on business b twcen 81. Louis
and TeNaF points. This demand had
the effect OF something OF pnrnlyzer
upon the proceedings OF the meeting
rnd was declined. Then the Cotton
Bsli rave notice Of It's intention to
withdraw from the association within
n stipulated time II It's demands were
not nncedod TO.
About this time the Katy claimed
20 have discovered n lot OF Cotton Belt
! tickets on sale In 81. Loula TO Texas
/ points at leHs than the tariff rate and
| Immediately gave notice of an lnirn-
4 ton to protect its Interests by putting
on tho same rate. Efforts wore made
| by Chairman Kent or the Southwest
crn Passenger committee 10 bring
i about an understanding and ppocinl
] efforts wore made to induce the Gotten
| Relt people TO withdraw their demands,
| Hut these forts only resulted In the
| Cotton BELT nustponing the time NJ Its
! with1rn val from time 10 time until the
date was finally set at Jan. 81. This
brings the situation In review up to
| the present and II would seen that
| the iasuos must now be met squarely
and definite action tnken,
II has been apparent from the In
| ception Of the trouble that the oondi-
tions were OF the most serious chnr-
nrter Other interests have nsycried
openly and unequiVocplly that under
| no circumstances would they agree TO
the demands formulated by the Cotton
Belt, and that road has stated equHiiy
clear and c3nclRely that they must
have what they have asked for or they
Will proceed 10 take II bodily.
with auch marks determine lion and
such mn unyleldlng spirit cvlnood by
both sides In the controversy there
, can be but one result, md TINT must
he the dissolution OF the present or
Ranzatinn and reimbursement on en-
/ ilrely different lines, or the OPENING
up ~ the hottest Kind Of rate war
A peculiar phase ~ the situation II
that several lines OF tho Could system
are nj variance In tho matter, and II
IN said thnt Mr.. Goulds policy n n
permit every tub 20 s'and on It's owr
bottom. But while this may he n fact
II IL also quite probable that the power
That guides the destnier OF these In
tercats would quickly step IN and cal
hnlt In any procedure that threat
ened mn impairment Of revenues Loca
railway interests regard the situation
ms one OF much gravity. and no NJ
tempt II made 10 forcthadow the ro
suit ~ the meeting today, stu tho~i
EXISTS much apprchension here TIN
the outcome Is Eolng TO he very seri
Gus. Among tho Cotton Bclt Interests
hrre the on'nlnn II freely expressed
that there viii he no hackdown on thu
part or their line. They also lniimat,
that there will be some ditrlcsurei
made at the meeting that viii prove a.
lenst ~ surprlaing nature
AFaistnnt Passover Agent Sinat nj
tho Rocl, Island ~ the only Fort WORT
RAILWAY man IN attendance urDn th'
meeting Some ot the others. In rrant
stand narlnnce. felt ~ was no use
and ARE content 20 take Developments
az they may come