The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-03
NEWS OF RAILROADS
LINES NOT SATISFIED WITH
STEAMSHIP MATTERS
AGREEMENT Is DIsPLEASING
1t Gives Two of the Roads a Good
Deal of Advantage Over the 9th
ers-COlOnist Rate Situation Pre-
SCENTS Several Unusual Features
First Time They Have Been Of
fered in October

fered In October.
Steamship agents and the officials Of
the Chicago lines, other than the Mil
waukee and Omaha, are not satisfied
with the combination which exists at
present between these two lines and the
American, Cunard and Scandinavian
American steamship lines. A circular is
sued two weeks ago authorized the pay
ment Of So commission on steamship bust
ness routed via the Omaha and Milwau-
kee to Chicago, and via the three ocean
lines from New York. Officials not In
the deal claim that it is an inside agree
ment, shutting out all other lines, which
secures an undue share Of east-bound
steamship business and prevents other
lines routing via the three named Allan
tic lines Of steamships.
Previous to the agreement between the
two Atlantic lines and the two North
western roads, the field was open for
approximately equal competition. When
50 commissions were offered, the largest
in fifteen years on 4east-bound business,
conditions changed, giving the balance of
advantage into the hands Of the Omaha
and Milwaukee. Previous to this time,
Northwestern roads were able to secure
business in Northwestern territory and
turn 1T over to any one of a selection Of
Atlantic steamship companies.
Under the present agreement only the
agents of the Milwaukee and Omaha are
able to route via Cunard, American and
Scandinavian-America lines. Speaking
of the effect of the combination between
the three ocean lines and the Milwaukee
and Omaha, a passenger official of one Of
the lines not included said yesterday:
We entered all the Chicago agree
ments to maintain rates on an even basis
with the other roads. We have done our
share in keeping east-bound steamship
rates up to normal tariff, and now we are
brought face to face with a new PROPOSE
ton. which in reality is an agreement
within an agreement, excluding all but
two Chicago lines
1T Is perfectly legitimate for any line
to solicit steamship business within its
own territory, and it IS right that each
line should obtain whatever benefit comes
from the movement of steamship bust
ness originating within it's territory The
combination between the two Chicago
lines and the ocean steamship companies
has this result: When we receive passen-
gers in ST Paul, en- route to Europe. they
have their choice of lines from New York.
Should they prefer to go via either of the
three lines IN combination with the
Omaha and Milwaukee we are forced to
turn the business over to these roads, re-
ceiving nothing for it. No tickets can
be secured over these ocean lines, except
Tor such business as is carried by the
two Chicago roads in with them
This agreement Is hardly fair to the
other lines which have done their best
to preserve rates. 1t is the same story of
the two fighting dogs. While they settle
their argument, a third takes the bone.
which in this case is well represented by
the Eastern steamship business. There
will be no break in rates as a. result as
far as I am able to learn, but there ia
considerable dissatisfaction, which pro-
duces an effect unfavorable to strict
maintenance Of rates"