The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-24


the Transcontinental Passengers Associa-
ton formally pass out Of existence on
April 81. They died shortly after the
supreme court decision. but the final OBJ
sequies will not occur until the last day
OF this month. At general meeting in
Chicago on April 7 the following resoiu-
ton was passed. which explains the po-
sition of these defunct bodies:
Resolved Tha, the question OF clear
ing association expenses be referred TO
the executive committee of the two or
CARNATIONS with authority to act their
decision to- be final 1t being understood
that such expenses should not extend be-
yond April 30. 1897
The only trouble apparent then in max
ing settlement was that of apportioning
the Southern Pacifics share for Feb
ruary. While the Western lines are com
plotting the framework of NE Western
Passenger Bureau of Information and
Statistics making il resemble the West
ern Passenger Association as much as
possible. transcontinental lines are look
ing on with great interest. but saying
and doing nothing in the way of restor-
ing their organization. They were on
the whole quite satisfied with the Trans
continental Passenger Association. which
kept rates up better than any other
organization they had in twelve years. IL
the Western lines succeed in perfecting
their proposed organization they may
safely depend on the transcontinental
lines to follow their example, and the
chances are that In this case one great
organization will embrace all lines west
of Chicago. Western and transcontinen-
tai. and regulate their affairs That trans
continental lines favor such a scheme is
prima facie evidence that they have more
confidence than they formerly had In their
connections and their methods.
1T is said by some railroad people that
there is likelihood of a single organiza-
ton being brought about that shall in
ciude both Western and transcontinental
associations. The proposition of business
east of the Mississippi river would be very
much simplified
AS far the Western Freight Associa-
ton is concerned. IL is practically what IL
was before the supreme court decision
only in an embryonic state. When COM
pletely bodied forth" IL will be a better
organization than the old one for the
ratemaking power viii have been trans
ferred to the railroads, In other words
the general freight agents. and the agree
ment will be more flexible. 1t goes with
out saying that the officials who were
badly scared by the decision have changed
their opinion regarding its actual effect
on rates and their maintenance. and now
believe, though they could not intelligent
ly state why, that they can hereafter be
uniform In rates by common consent and
maintain them by established methods.
The question that occupies their minds is
TO what extent they will hereafter
employ former methods. They feel
greater responsibility than former
~. realizing that as the result of
the shake-up they are the rate-makers
once more, and they rather enjoy this
sense of responsibility. Many in the bot
tom of their hearts always disliked the
board OF administration because Il
usurped the rate-making power Being
well trained. sensible men. accustomed 10
the harness, they feel confidence in them
selves and one another and should find
their last state better than the first.
Under the artificial arrangement of the
Western Freight Association many Of
ficials took advantage of technicalities to
make special rates temporary To accom-
n odate certain movement, but that
practice is now stopped, for every other
line can meet at the drop of the hat
any situation II finds affecting its terri
tory. Red tape will be abolished and the
territory through which each road runs
will receive promptly the considerations
TO which IL is entitled without fear or
favor. The old agreement went to the
extreme limit Of arbitrary compulsion
without the necessary penalties OF the
adequate from the standpoint OF railroad
or public and would have failed II left
alone either because II was too tensciy
drawn or too elastic. Now the Eastern
lines will continue TO test the tensely-
drawn agreement. while the Western
lines will revert to elastic methods The
success az these two plans will largely
determine the policy OF future railroad
agreements. and the congressional privi-
49, l.
tanning them in The future.
Some OF tho Western roads are openly
advocating q reduction tn passenger
rates 20 what they term an emergency
basis" The reason they give for their
wish To cut the rates Is that the passen-
ger business is dead and some measures
arc needed to Increase the volume OF
traffiC The opponents Of lower fares say
that IL the rates are reduced there may
be some trouble In view OF the recent SUI
prcme court decision tn getting the rates
back 10 their old basis again without TAX
ing some action that would b Illegal.
They think also that Il would be most
unadvisable at the present time 10 reduce
any rates. for the reason that IL will give
the various legislatures Of the Western
states an idea that the roads can make
money with the rates At a lower point
than they now are and that hostile leg
lower Mates have no argument 10 ofTer
save that ~ IL once begins 70 move II will
keep moving. even after the rates have
been restored % their old level There IS
80 chance ~ concerted reduction in
rates. but a. long As there IS a strong
element which favors the reduction 81 the
rates general feeling OF insecurity Will
prevail among the roads.
The general COMMITTEES % the passenger
agents of che Western rosds which has
agreement for th@ association has finished
is work The agreement Is practically
tire same as tne OH agreement. with the
exception that 81 contains no provision re-
rar3lng the maintenance 81 rates There
Is 70 Doubt that II will ee adopted BY the
executive officers practically as < stands.
Some minor changes may ~ made. but
ire agreement VIII be put into operation
}ast ABOUT as Is comes from the COM
rn.ttes-
The new agreement II Western passen-
rer Zines gs stronger than the ore which
went - pieces when TIE United States So
preFne court rendered its decisieu tn the
Traus-M Missouri Freight Association case,
and i ihe cid one was Illegal u - difhcuit
10 see how the new one Will not b. Ia con-
S8ct with the sherman &nft-trlis; law.
Memb-rs q the committee which for1nu-
lated the new combine agreement con-
siGer Il the best and strongest passenger
contrast whsch Western lines have ever
had In preparing u the general paessn-
ger agents ga the committee nave had tire
advice and cooperation OF "A number 81
TIE legal advisers o. TIE leading roads il