The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-29
TIMELY SUGGESTIONS
PRESENT METHOD WILL NOT PRE-
VENT RATE DECENTRALIZATION.
The G., II. & ID. Contracts for 1000
New Box Cars-The Home Seekers
Excursions TO BE Continued.

The thirty-two roads which make up the
Joint Traffic Association have agreed
among themselves that after Jan. ! they
will restore rates to tariff, but nothing is
said as to how long this desirable state of
affairs shall exist. A long-headed veteran
railroad official, when asked what remedy
ne could suggest TO keep rates on a paying
basis, made some suggestions which might
solve the problem, and at far less expense
than the numerous bureaus, commissioners,
etc. He said: II am firmly convinced that
lasting stability of rates can never be
brought about under the present system,
and not until there is some centralized
agency, with full power to pass upon this
matter, can permanency of charges be
hoped for. 1 have given considerable time
to the study of this question, and have
come to the conclusion that the whole mat
ter of rates should be placed in the hands
of the nterstate-commerce Commission.
Then there should be established a number
of subcommissioners having jurisdiction
over certain sections of the country corre-
spending with the present territorial divi-
sions and displacing the impotent organ
izations that draw so heavily upon the rev.
enues of their members and show so little
for it.
"Of course the rule of these several COM
missioners would not extend beyond inter-
state traffic, unless it were found advisable
to submit to them questions OF discrmina-
ton on local business where two or three
lines were in competition. Each subcom-
mission would regulate the rate up to the
gateway in it's special territory, and so
on to the gulf and seaboard ports or to the
various points of local distribution. All
matters of dispute between the carrying
companies and the subcommissioners would
be referred to the head commissioner for
settlement, and its decision should be a
finality."
One OF the oldest of the travelling freight
agents in this territory says every
travelling freight agent that has a
gram fba act,o OF ra sense is praying that
franc Association in the matter of rate
restoration on JAM will prove effective
ana lasting. To continue business as now
conducted IS discouraging and protitlesS.
The companies that secure the shipments
get nothing for their services, while those
that are trying to maintain rates get no
business. Get the business, at whatever
sacrifice of revenue, seems to be the mot
to. In twenty-eight years he had been in
the freight service he had never known the
rate situation generally more demoraliZed.
The Michigan Mileage Ticket.
The first regular meeting of the new
Northern Mileage and Ticket Bureau was
held at Detroit yesterday. In accordance
with an understanding reached at the meet
ing in Chicago last week, the report of the
committee on the form of the interchange
able mileage book indicated that it will be
somewhat different from the interchange
able mileage book now being used, SO as
to have it bear as few earmarks of that
book as possible. The new form of ticket
will be made as satisfactory in regard to
the transportation and baggage checking as
possible. The new book will be placed on
sale as soon as the printers can get it out
and the distribution made not later than the
10th of January. 1t will cover all parts of
the lower peninsula of Michigan, extending
into portions of Ohio, Indiana, PennSylvan-
ia, New York and Canada over the Michigan
Central lines. The roads so far in the new
bureau are the Lake Shore & Michigan
Southern, the Michigan Central, the Toledo
q Ann Arbor, the Flint e. Pere Marquette
the Chicago & West Michigan, the Detroit
Grand Rapids & Western, the Detroit &
Mackinac the Grand Rapids & Indiana and
the Manistee & Northwestern, in Michigan
the New York, Chicago & St. Louis and the
Pittsburg & Lake Erie. outside of the State
and the Detroit & Cleveland Navigation
Company's line of steamers.
At the annual convention of the Michigan
knights of the Grip, at Kalam lzoo. yes
terday, President. James F. Hainmell, OF
lansing, cClnIIenueu the VlSOlouS SilollS vi
the association, which had resulted in Secur'
ing from the Michigan railroads |. 000-mile-
interchangeable book with all the objection
able features eliminated, except the $40 re-
bate feature Il think said Mr.. Hammcl
with the same efforts continued it will not
be long till the railroads will admit that ii
is not necessary for a travelling man to de-
post $40 with them as q guarantee that
he will not transfer his ticket to some other
person. The report of the committee on leg.
islation assured members that the railroads
would give way and allow statesmen to carry
$50 pounds of baggage, instead of $50.