The San Francisco call., 1898-03-04
THE SITUATION STILL UNCHANGED The Southern Pacific Canno Control the Great Gut
 in Rates. Letters of Introduction to Portland Agents Given to Pas-
 sengers.

So far as passenger traffic is concerned the situation in the great rate war re- mains unchanged. The Southern Pacific officials are willing to talk of their hope for restoration of rates, but they ad- init that they have been unable to find as yet a solution of the difficulty. Vice President J. c. Stubbs considers the pres ent situation a most unpleasant one. He declares that his company is not being affected and that at present it Is busy keeping the fight out of California
 At the same time the Canadian Pacific is still selling the $30 and $40 tickets to the East. The Great Northern the Northern Pacific and the O. R. and N. are also quoting cut rates from Portland to Puget Sound, and this practically places the fight at a stage where the Southern Pa cific has no control over it.
 There is yet another difficulty which presents itself to Mr. Stubbs and one which he had not thought of but which has now proved to be a difficulty in every sense of the word. When he had secured an order to the agents of the Great Northern, Northern Pacific and O. R. and N. to stop cutting rates he forgot the agents could give letters of Introduction to the agents in Portland, and that 50 cents for the transfer of baggage would be all that the passenger would be out
 
 the Great Northern and o. R. and N have received their orders from the prop CT authorities, but Agent Staeler of the Northern Pacific has received his from w. H. Hurlburt of the Short Line, who has nothing to do with giving orders to the agents of the Northern Pacific.
 The Southern Pacific, Union Pacific and Santa Fe are anxious to keep the rate war in bounds, for the reason that they are now making money, and if the war continues it will cut into their profits besides having the tendency to create an uneasiness, which will certainly precipi- tate another war when the rush to the Paris Exposition begins two years hence
 A special from Chicago last night sums up the situation as viewed by the Vest ern roads as follows:
 ."rhe Western roads declare that in con- senting to meet with the officials of the Canadian Pacific in regard to the rate situation, suggested by General Pas senger Agents Roberts and Daniels, they have in no manner changed their position in regard to the differentials demanded by the Canadian Pacific or the reduced rates made by that line. They will meet the rates made by the Canadian Pacilic, and any further reductions that 1t may make will be met by them without delay"
 in conference to-day, preparing new sheets showing the reductions in rates made in consequence or the transconti- mental rate war. The general passenger agents nave COlIplCtOo liiSlT arrange ments in the matter, and have made preparation for applying the reductions through all the available gateways''
 In regard to the foregoing, the follow ing special from Montreal shows the ulti- matum of the Canauian Pacific:
 MONTREAL, March 8.-In reply to the action and wishes of the Western roads Canadian Pacific Railway officials an, nounce that they. will not change the present policy unless all the old rates are restored and they are again allowed the differential which they were allowed up to the time when the rate war began"