The evening times., 1898-05-31
'RlTE NlR on The OCEAN
A Cut in Fares Nay Be Made by
Steamship Companies.
AGREEMENT TO EXPIRE sOoN
Representatives of Traasatlantic
Lines Hold . MeetinE An London
and Refuse to Rerew the Pool.
The Cost of . s1mmer Trip to Eu-
rope May BE Reduced

New York, May 31.-There will probably
be a rate war among the biestsansatlantic
lines after June Z. That ibs@he date for
the renewal of the agreement ou saloon
rates for express steamships during the
Summer season. From present ihdica-
tions,- however, there is little likelihood
of the big lines coming together between
now and then and the agreement is ex-
pected to reach its conclusion by default.
Representatives OF the linessfn the pool
of saloon rates met in London early in
the present month to talk over existing
disagreements. with the hope of adjusting
them so that fixed prices might be main
tanned. The meeting came to naught.
but some Of the lines. urging the continu-
ance of the pool, succeeded in getting an
extended time for the Representatives to
consult with their home Offices June q.
the day on which the present agreement
expires. was set for the meeting. Accord.
ing to information cabled to a steamship
agent in this city from his home Office, the
conference has been abandoned.
In the pool Of steamship lines on sa-
loon rates are the Cunard. White Star.
American. Red Star, Hamburg American.
North German Lloyd, French and Hol-
land-American lines.
James A. Wright, second vice-president
of the International Navigation Company,
controlling the American and Red Star
lines. and William H. Van den .Toorn
agent here OF the Holland-Amerfcan line,
went to London to attend the May con-
ference. The other lines were represented
by officials from their home Offices. Mr..
Van den Toorn has returned to this city,
but Mr.. Wright is still abroad.
A conference among 1.-The. lines last No
vember placed a minimum saloon rate of
200 ON express steamers during the Sum-
mer season-April to November Ito any
to any Continental port. Z The Mediter-
ranean service was not, included in the
pool. That has pool Of ttSsown.
That the failure of the lines to renew
an agreement OF first claim rates will re-
suit in a cutting of these rates after June
is generally expected in shipping circles.
Second cabin and. steerage rates. will not
be affected, for other points govern these.
The reduction in saloon prices may be
made for the balance of the season with
the hopes of checking, to some extent,
the falling of In ocean travel.
The steamship lines reckon the present
season losing one, and the war Is held in
the main responsible. Business men are
reluctant TO leave their desks Hiring the
uncertain period. and their families fore
go the usual trip abroad too. Another
reason for the backward season Is the APP
preaching exposition in Paris Many who
might otherwise travel over the ocean fer
1900. ',S7e
Rumors of cutting in saloon rates be-
cause of the decrease In travel have been
circulated several times of late. but
agents here quickly denied them, declar-
Ing the agreement still held.
Now that there seems to be every indi-
cation of the termination of the agree
ment one line will watch the Others Tor
the first sign of cut. -s.-
Just what is responsible for the failure
OF renewal Of the pool could not be learn
ed here yesterday. for not one of the
agents was at his office. 1t was learned
that the Atlantic Transport and the Will
sons and Furness-Leyland lines had ex-
pected to join in the conference of the
other lines on saloon rates