The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-19
The Southern Pacific and the O..
R. and N. Company May Be
Forced to Settle.
TRANSATLANTIC PASSENGERS.
Endeavor of the Railroad Association
to Secure Control of Those
Westbound.

But two important items on the docket
of the Transcontinental Passenger Asso-
citation were disposed of yesterday, though
considerable routine business, said by
Chairman Caldwell to be of no interest 10
the public. was transacted. These two
matters were the handling OF eastbound
transat lantic passenger business by the
association ana new adjustment of west
bound rates from St. Paul and Minneap-
oils to points south of Portland, Or, as far
as Ashland. Such rates have been made
the same as have applied from Missouri
River points Omaha and Kansas City, TO
the territory specified, viz, $40.
All details with reference to the control
of transatlantic passenger business were
not completed, the subject being too COM
prehensive to be finally disposed OF, but
sufficient progress was made TO indicate
that the project as outlined will be ulti-
mately successful.
Il is proposed to control this class OF
traffic so as to prevent the irregularities
which are possible under the present sys-
tenn OF cutting or sharing the commissions
on the steamship or railroad ticket, or
both, with the passenger.
Should the projected arrangement be
agreed 10 by the Atlantic steamship COM
panies, most of which have already signi-
he'd their concurrence, the tran sconti-
mental railroads will cut the present
through fare TO the Eastern seaboard So or
$40 and then add the rates across the At
lantIc TO this for the through fare TO the
European destination.
The idea is 10 have the secretaries OF the
various local passenger associations at
San Francisco, Los Angeles. Portland, St.
Paul and Omaha take charge of this bust
ness, so as to avoid any increased expense
to the association.
a similar arrangement is now in prac-
tice al New York for the handling OF the
westbound transatlantic business and has
been found 10 be one of the most salts
factory passenger arrangements ever
entered into by the railroads.
Increasing interest is being taken daily
by the association in what was until
Saturday a purely local fight between the
Southern Pacific Company and the Oregon
Railway and Navigation Company, and
the matter is 10 be formally brought TO
the attention of the association to-day by
Chairman Caldwell.
This development was precipitated bv
The action of General Passenger Agent
w. II. Hurlburt Of the Oregon Railway
and Navigation Company, who on Satur-
day gave notice to the local passenger as
ISOLATION that his road on and after that
date would take advantage of the 81 so
second-class and S. first-class cut-rates
now effective on the steamers between
here and Portland to quote rates from here
TO all points Eastsvia Portland
By this action S42 so rate is made pos
sible to St. Paul and common points via
Portland, as against SAT 80 via the Ogden
route.
Chairman Caldwell will today bring up
the question OF the validity of the notice
served by the Oregon Railway and Navi-
cation Company, and if this notice holds
good then the question OF a reduction of
rates to the East via Ogden to meet the
cut via Portland will be considered.
1t Is the best opinion that such q reduc-
ton will not be made at once, but on the
other hand 1t is said TO be certain that the
lines via Ogden will eventually have to go
INTO the nght Tor business, as the differ
entail OF 50 40 will tend TO take passengers
east via Portland.
1t is contended by the connecting lines
OF the Southern Pacific Company via Ogden
10 the East that the Southern Pacific
should assume the burden of meeting the
reduction, bat this contention is not ad-
mltted by the Southern Pacific. and on
this point there is likely to be a lively
time. What gives strength TO the attitude
OF the lines east of Ogden is the fact that
the rate basis adopted by the Oregon Rail.
way and Navigation Company will not
shrink the revenue of any Of the lines ont
of Portland, while the same rate via Ogden
means cut on the Southern Pacific or on
its connecting lines.
From this IL is believed that the present
added complications in relation to the
fortland-San Francisco rate war will tend
10 force the contending companies into a
settlement and a con seouent advance in
rates between here and Portland.