The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-04-07
IT Is HARD ON ACTORS
Railroads are Now Making Them Pay Full
Fare West of Chicago

Chicago, Ill, April 6.-Who would
have thought that actors and theatrical
managers would be affected by the su-
preme court desicion in the Brown
case? Certainly not the pains, for il is
doubtful II ] per cent Of these people
have heard Of this decision, and are so
thoroughly scared that they are cutting
of every concession to the public that
might in any way be construed to be a
violation of the interstate commerce
laws
Action taken yesterday by the big
railroads leading west from Chicago
may have the effect of blocking the
movements of at least 70 per cent of
the theatrical companies now travelling
in the west. This action was nothing
more nor less than the complete aboii-
ton OF the per cent per mile rate that
has been made to thea trical companies
since the time when the mind of man
runneth not to the contrary"
For years the railroads of the conn
try have been making what is known
as a 2-cent party rate 1t has been
quoted to all parties of ten or more per
sons travelling on one ticket The tick
cts were originally placed on sale for
the benefit of theatrical people, but the
interstate commerce commission de-
creed that they must be sold 20 any
party OF ten or more. Some time ago II
was discovered that one or two of the
roads running west from Chicago were
selling the tickets to scalpers by the
wholesale. Complete decentralization
IN passenger fares, especially between
Chicago and 81. Poul. followed. This
generalization became so bad that the
roads west of this city withdrew the
tickets and abolished the rate in the en-
tire territory west of Chicago.
But 10 this agreement was tied a se-
cret verbal understanding that theatri-
cal companies be taken care of and tick
eted at the old rate. Little publicity
was given 10 this side agreement be-
cause II was discrimination and Il vio-
lation of the interstate laws.
The Brown decision and the presence
IN chicago of interstate commerce COM
missions detectives sent cold shiyers
DOWN the backs Of the railroad officials
and they fell over each other in their
made haste 10 declare themselves mo.
guilty. Freight rates We're given frs.
attention and the roads that were not
like Caesars wife Immediately loaded
the mails with confidential letters -
subordinate officers and agents warning
them that the mouths Of prisons We're
watering for them and that unless thee
quoted The same rate to all SINNERS
their liberty was in danger.
Freight matters taken care Of. The
managers turned 10 passenger affairs
and discovered that the laws arainsr
discrimination We're being fagrartlv
violated by the secret quoting Of >
cent rate 10 theatrical companies The
same being denied 10 other organization
or parties Of ten or more. YesrsrIax,
the general passenger agents Of all rho
important lines running west from this
city received orders from their superior
officers 10 Immediately call of the the
atTical party rate regardless of consa-
2uences.
This action viii be hard and IN
many cases a fatal blow to theatr;cai
companies and viii have the effect of
disbanding or calling in of many Of Tho
weaker companies to which railroad fare
IS the most important item in the daily
bill OF expenses. For company ~
twenty people travelling fifty miles d
day the total fare At the low rate woul5
be $40. while the regular rate Of 5 cents
per mile for the same distance will ha
$50. or difference Of SO a day 70 q com
pany Of twenty people making a fifrx-
mile jump a day.
AS the rs1e was only pulled out YES
terday few OF the theatrical managers
yet know Of il. one prominent mana
ger when seen regarding the matter last
night said:
This move Of ths railroads complete (
iy sSaggers me. II immediate relief is
not Afforded Us the cancellation Of these
rates will cause the DISARMAMENT Of 50
per cent of the companies now in west
ern territory. I have today called in
from the road three Of my large COM /
paaIeSs s2d ! Will only keep the smaller 1