The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-16


Resarding Announcement of "a
Ratc-Eree SIeepers Are Termed
Practical Cat Of SO ia the Rate
to anG From Philadelphia.
The NIlN aukee yesterday mailed sew
eral hundred copies of the circular issued
by the department commander of the
state Grand Army, regarding arrange
ments for the annual encampment at
Philadelphia and containing the state
ment regarding free tourist sleeper ac-
commodations from the Twin Cities,
which has created so much uneasiness
among passenger officials of the Chicago
st. Pau! lines. The statement regarding
the Great Northern's offer Of the use of
the tourist cars is as follows
Through the courtesy of President ].
J. Hill, of the Great Northern railway,
the department commander is enabled to
furnish all comrades and their families
accompanying the special train free sleep
ing car accommodations through from
Minneapolis and St. Paul to Philadelphia
and return in the splendid tourist sleep
ing cars of the Great Northern railway
which are rendered the Grand Army of
Minnesota for the occasion. These cars
will be run through from the Twin Cities
to Philadelphia in the headquarters spe-
than Sc in sleeping car expenses for each
double berth on the round trip.
In the face of the definite statement
that free tourist cars will be furnished,
the Chicago lines, with the exception OF
the Milwaukee, which is the official route,
have practically laid down and will await
further developments. The Soo's action
in the matter is awaited with unusual
interest. The action of President Hill re-
suits in a practical cut Of Sc in the excur-
sion rate of $3.50 made by the Western
Passenger association roads, and will give
the Milwaukee an advantage which other
roads, with the exception of the 500, Will
be unable to meet. Assistant General
Passenger Agent ConIey stated yesterday
that his road, with the Baltimore & Ohio,
had been named as the official route.
THE fact that free tourist sleepers will
be given the old soldiers" said he,
should not operate against the other
Chicago lines any more than it would if
the department commander had several
private cars and had placed them at the
disposal Of his friends. President Hills
offer was made simply as courtesy to
the old soldiers and was not calculated
to create a disturbance A meeting was
held in Minneapolis on Monday night, at
tended by post commanders and past post
commanders of that city, at which a pro-
test was made against the rate offered,
and statements We're spread that the Mil
wau5ee would furnish the veterans with
thirty-four free tickets. The latter state
ment is without foundation. The G. A. r.
officers, / understand, argued that the
price Of the tfirty-four tickets alleged to
have been promised free, something over
81, 0G0 might have been saved to the veter-
ans of the Northwest if the official lines
had made reduction in the rates offered
corresponding to this sum. 1t is probable
that there IS some reason which does not
appear for the circulation of such a re-
port. No such offer of free transpOrta-
ton has been made to my knowledge
How VIII you arrange to haul Great
Northern cars over your line Tor the use
of the soldiers free of cost?"
THAT is a matter which comes under
the direction of the traffic department.
We know nothing of the arrangements.
The matter was entirely personal, 1 I'M
derstand, and was arranged by Com
mander Searle of st. Cloud, and PreSi-
dent Hill. The passenger department has
nothing to do with that part Of the prep
arations"
Inquiry in the freight department of the
Milwaukee brought the Information that
the roads interested in the free tourist
car feature would adjust the matter of
hauling The cars satisfactorily, from which
1t Is inferred that the cost will be met by
some friend Of the veterans.
The SEQ officials held conference Mon
day in Minneapolis, but took no action re-
garding the announcement of a rate. At
the city Office it was learned yesterday
that traffic arrangements can be made
by the road, whereby special trains can
be run into Philadelphia, and that the Of
ffcials are figuring on time at present.
General Passenger Agent Galloway is alb
sent on a trip to Denver, and no action
will be taken until he returns. 1t is re-
garded probable that the 500 will take
the statement in the circular of Depart
ment Commander Searie as notice of a
cut amounting to Sc and will meet 1t with
a rate in the neighborhood of $23.S One
Of the 500 passenger officials said yester-
day:
''The arrangements between the G. A
r. and President Hill practically cut
rates Sc, which makes them less than
cent a mile. We do not anticipate any
action to meet the NIilwaukee's rates
from the other Chicago lines and are not
ready yet to make an announcement re-
garding our rates. The Milwaukee is
anxious to shut us out, particularly as a
retaliation for our action in the Chris
tian EndeaVor business"