Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-11-21
HELPS PITTSBURG & GULF.
STEAMSHIP AGREEMENT OF At
LANTIC SEABOARD LINES.
Does Not Take the p. & G.. Service
Into Confederation and by Not
Doing So Gives 1t n Big
Advantage.

New York, Nov. 2o.-The agreement which
has been entered into between the rail-
roads and Atlantic steamship lines for the
regulation of immigrant fares is the most
far-reaching of all combinations of the
kind that We're ever organized in this coun-
try. In the first place 1t takes in not only
all of the transatlantic steamship COM
panies, but the coastwise lines extending
as far south as the Gulf of Mexico and
north to Halifax, thereby rendering 1t I'M
possible for rates to be demoralized so far
as the ocean companies are concerned.
Furthermore. all of the trans-continental.
as well as the Western and trunk lines,
are parties to the agreement. which pro-
yides for the payment to the steamship
companies of 10 per cent commission on all
steerage passengers turned over by the
latter 10 the. railroads.
One of the ticket scalperS' chief sources
of revenue is now cut off, and the rail
roads the country over agree to turn over
a fat" commission of 10 per cent to the
steamship companies by virtue OF the lat
with outside agents. 1t means an end to
generalization and a tightening of the
screws all along the line.
The initiative was taken by the Western
Passenger Association, which has been the
leading factor in the struggle with the
lines. that has been going on for many
years. For a long time the leading ticket
agents were able to influence two or three
VI il4t ~ 'h"h "N
impossible to make any ironclad agree
ment. The trunk lines in future will route
all im,niSrandt ,b passengers sem; IS, , Hes' rn,awa i or
according to the instructions given by the
representative of the Western lines.
The Canadian Pacific and Southern Pa
cite, which have been the chief disturb
ing factors to previous combinations. have
signed the agreement. and they enter heart
lily into the new agreement. one OF the
most significant results of the deal Is the
decision to advance Immigrant fares from
New York and other seaboard cities, such
as Boston. Philadelphia. Baltimore and
Newport News, to the West. beginning De-
cember Is, The advance from New York to
Chicago is from slS to sl5. Boston is to
city 10 Chicago being sl4.
1t is well known that there is more profit
in the transportation of immigrants than
any other class of passengers. owing to
the fact that the poorest cars are generally
used for this service. and it is unimportant
whether the trains travel rapidly or slowly.
The fact is recalled that n number of years
ago. during Il war of rates between the
trunk lines. the Pennsylvania railroad car
ried immigrants for 81 apiece from New
York to Chicago.
The ground upon which the steamship
companies allege they are entitled TO a
commission of 10 per cent is that most of
the Stecrage passengers are brought over
here through the influence of their agents
in the West ard Europe. and consequently
the railroad companies are indebted TO the
steamship agents for this traffic. 1t is in
the power. of the steamship companies 10
turn thlS BUSINESS over 10 any one rail-
road and thus discriminate against all the
others. rs they have done sometimes in
the past.
In this agreement the steamship lire Of
the P!ttsburg X Gulf. TO be established De
cembcr %. has not been taken into con-
sideration. The p~assengsr department of
that road claims it will not demoralize
rates. hut its failure to enter the agree
ment of the other roads may. at this time.
turn all the European representatives, of
steamship. agents away from the lines
which will now refuse their services to the
Pittsbure & Gulf s~eryice.
The European and Western agencies
route the passengers. regardless of the
advantages of different lines, and the ac-
ton taken by the Atlantic seaboard steam
ships and railroad lines may prove an I'M
portart factor in the Pittsburg & Cuffs
steamship business.