The Saint Paul globe., 1897-11-02
CAhLAWAY SAYS NO
500 WILL NOT WITHDRAW THE
PAYMENT OF COMMISSIONS
NOW.
WASN'T THE LINE TO START IT
CHAIRMAN CALDWELL RETURNS
TO CHICAGO AFTER VISITING
THE 500 OFFICIAL.
TO INCREASE IT'S CAPITAL STOCK.
Duluth "a Iron Range Seeking the
Necessary Permission From the
Railroad commissioners.

Chairman B. D. Caldwell, of the
Western Passenger association, left for
Chicago last night via the Omaha,
after a two days stay here, without
securing the consent of the 500 Off
cials to the agreement which it is un
dcrstood has been entered into by all
other lines in the territory west of
Chicago, to restore commissions to a
nominal figure. Mr.. Caldwell made
the statement after an unsuccessful
interview with General Passenger
Agent Galloway, of the 500 line, that
the officials of that line did not feel
like entering the agreement until such
time as the matter of their differentials
ct the Pacific coast could be adjusted
to their satisfaction. The chairman,
while clever about the whole matter,
evinced some disappointment at not
being able to bring to an end at this
time the payment of ridiculously high
commissions to agents who secure busi-
ness 1t is matter Of history,
since the offer of General Passenger
Agent Heafford, of the Milwaukee, to
pay a bonus to the seller Of the first
ticket to the Pacific coast via the Mil
waukee's new train, that instead of
paying $1.5O, the roads have been
obliged to raise this until the figures
got up to $5 and in some cases So from
here TO the coast The commissions
from Chicago are from So to SO higher
than these figures. AS a matter of
course all the roads were obliged to
meet the increased incentive to busi-
ness, and the agents were until lately
happy Recently they knew that the
pace could not be maintained, and that
q drop was sure to come. All the lines
agreed to restore the nominal commits
sions save the 500 line, and it was to
secure it's consent that Mr.. Cald-
well came UP from Chicago. He has
not yet succeeded.
The 500 people say quite frankly
that they had no hand in raising the
commissions from normal figures, and
that they do not, at this time, care to
60 back. THE 500 line was not the
aggressor in the matter, and now that
the So rate has been made it proposes
to stay by it for a time" said rep
.resentative of the line yesterday, and
there is the situation.
It is claimed that by the payment OF
these excessive commissions the roads
are monthly losing 100000. At all
events the matter will be called up at
the meeting in Chicago tomorrow.
A Chicago dispatch on this subject
says Should the 500 persist IN us IN.
tentior of continuing the payment OF
excessive commissions the Great North
arn and Northern Pa acitic will probably
do the same, and the excessive COM
missions will be continued on business
to all North Pacific coast points. 1t
will be well if the matter ends there.
The Burlington will probably feel COM
pelled to continue the excessive pay
ments on business over its Billings
route. and if so it may feel compelled
to nav them on Colorado business as
well. That would upset the whole plan
of their withdrawal, and last weeks
work would all go for nothing. 1t IS
earnestly hoped that Chairman Cald-
wells representations to the 500 eX-
ecutive will be successful in inducing
them to become party to the agree
ment for the withdrawal of excessive
commissions A meeting Of the eX-
ecutiVe committee of the Western Pas
senger association was held this after
noon, at which steps were taken to pre-
vent the continuance of excessive COM
missions on California business. ire
spective of what the 500 may do in re-
gard to the payment on North Pacific
coast business. 1t was the sense of
the committee that the action of the
500 should be ignored, so far as Califor-
MIA business is concerned, and strong
recommendation will be made to all the
lines to that effect. 1t is by no means
certain, however, that the executive
committee will succeed in having its
recommendation adopted. The busi-
ness is so interviewer that when any
course is adopted relating to North
Pacific coast business, it is almost i'm
possible to prevent California business
being affected.
A new plan of getting rid of exces-
sive commission payments by the
Western roads has been suggested 1t