Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-26
VISITING SCHOOL TEACHERS
Large Party of Cleveland Pedagogues to In
spect Congress From the Galleries.
Their Coming the Occasion of n Rate
War Between Rival Rail-
way Companies.

About 80 or 300 public school teachers of
Cleveland are expected to reach Washing
ton early this evening for visit of ten
days. the special object of the trip being
among other things to enable the members
OF the party to witness the manner in
which Congress conducts its business.
The giving of this excursion has been the
cause of a rate war, which has gone on
with considerable vigor for some days past
between the Baltimore and Ohio ami Erie
railroad cOmranie On the one side AMI the
Pennsylvania en- the other. Last December
Superintendent Jones of the Cleveland
schools suggested that a trip to Washing
ton at this time would afford the teachers
a splendid opportunity to see the magnii-
cent public buildings here, and also as
stated above. to observe the proceedings of
Congress. member of the Cleveland
school council, who is also official of the
Pennsylvania company, volunteered to
cure q special rate if a party of one hum
dred or more would agree to make the trip.
Wien pledges were received from about
I'D OF the teachers an application was made
to the joint Traffic Association for a rate
of fare for the round trip. This was
readily granted, the tickets to be good go
ing on the train leaving Cleveland last
night at II 10 and returning on any train
until April A.
Other Roads Propose Rate.
Inc plOHoSt'i tNCHTStOH p1ONSu 50 popular
that the Baltimore and Ohio AMI Erie an
mol need about ten days ago that they, too,
would make rate of 81 to Washington
and return. 1t was but Cay or two until
the competition became so fierce that the
Baltimore and Ohio and Erie male the rate
$1O. The latter roads even went further
and announced that they would sell tickets
To Washington good going the afternoon
or evening trains yesterday and good
the round trip. Subsequently the time limit
was kept at the same period, but the fare
was reduced one dollar by the Erie and
Baltimore and Ohio companies.
The Pennsylvania people have already
set up the claim that the rate made by the
others was against the rules of the Joint
Traffic Association, and these complaints,
IT is said, at an early date will be laid be-
fore the management of the Joint Traffic
Association. From present appearances
there is likely to be trouble between the
three roads Damed for some time to come
On account of the action of the Erie and
the Baltimore and Ohio people.
In reply to the charges of the PennsyI-
vaEia that the two former violated the
rules of the Joint Traffic Association, the
representatives CT the Erie and Baltimore
and Ohio defend their position on the
ground that the rate authorized for the
Pennsylvania excursion was exclusively for
a party of school teachers, and insisted
that the Pennsylvania people sent out cir
culars inviting teachers and their friends to
avail themselves of the rate. They also
claim that Pennsylvania agents sold tick
cts to all persons who applied for tn IN al
the reduced rate. The Pennsylvania Off
Gals deny the charges made by the repre-
sentatives of the other roads, ami say they
had no intention of violating the condition
ur der which the rate was authorized. They
assert that application for the rate was
based on the fact that they had pledges
from I'D teachers when ii was asked, and
deny positively charge made by the 9TH
er parties that they had solicited any bust
ness through brokers.
Make I'm Admission.
1t Is admitted that some persons not
cuced rate, but it is insisted that a very
limited number of tickets were sold out
side of those to teachers, and those only
to the members of families of some of the
teachers or to intimate friends They also
claim that it was unfair for the Pennsyl-
NaEia official, who was a member Of the
school council to take advantage of his
position to ask teachers TO travel by that
read, but on the other hand, it is asserted
that he did not use his influence with the
teachers in any other than perfectly ie-
Ultimate way.
Both lines received a share of the patron
age Whether that be true or not the in
Gieaiions are that, while the quarrel be-
tween the Pennsylvania on the one side
and the Baltimore and Ohio and the Erie
between Cleveland and Washington it is
very likely, unless the Joint Traffic Associ-
alton shall speedily adjust matters and
restore good feeling between the lines men,
tioned, rates between competitive points
Doth east and west may become involved