The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-10
WAR to the death is now In full
blast and no one able 10 predict

WAR to the death is now In full
"A blast and no one able To predict
where II will stop. The local Offices
Of the Northern Pacific ard Canadian
Pacific have full power to act and the
ticket will go 10 whatever point the Great
Northern agents may take II. Nor VIII
there be any let up until a final agree
Inent has been reached which viii assure
the Northern Pacific and Canadian Pa
cifc that rate-cntting in Seattle Is TO be
permanently stopped.
Owing to the restrictions OF the inter-
state commerce law all lines are main
tanning full tariff rates over their coun-
tiers. but applicants for tickets there can
readily find an agent not far distant who
is willing to secure ticket at the cut
rates. In other words. IL being mn impos-
eibiiity for any road TO sell below the
published tariffs. they are operating
through outside agents. any number oil
whom were yesterday taking care OK all
travellers TO the East.
80 far the war has only involved the
initial or three transcontInental lines.
Agents OF the Eastern lines reaching as
far West a. st. Paul are. up TO the pres
ent time, keeping out Of the fight and
maintaining rates from Seattle according
TO tariff. As consequences they are do
Ing but little business In the passenger
departments. An agreement has been
reached by these roads. however. TO hold
alo0f from the trouble emily for few
days In order TO see what the result will
be. or how long the fight will continue.
Should II proceed far more than few
days they will enter the arena and a
general war will prevail.
The Great Northern. as yet. has re-
ceivad no instructions from st. Paul "a
TO what course II VIII be permitted TO
pursue. and until such In received any set
figure as 10 where Eastern tickets will
fail to Is speculative. All Great North
ern agents, however. are doing business
at the old stands and selling tickets at the
rates maintained last night
The history of the present trouble was
published In the post-fnteiligencer on
Tuesday morning last. wherein II was
Great Northern was. through agents. sell
ing Chicago ticket at reduction OF s.
This. however. was only on second class
or tourist business. The agents of the
other initial lines. for two weeks past.
havY been coI!scting evidence against the
road In tho way OF sfiitsavitr and tickets
purchased by detectives. These were sent
TO headquarters with the result that the
Joint order. giving full power TO local
offices. was issued and the war began.
large number of extra outside agents have
been put 10 work by all roads and the
travelling public is enjoying the benefit
OF which more will probably come
Prior 10 September last the Chicago
tickets, which all three transcontinentai
lines had agreed To maintain. were selling
at ISL so first class and s5i.sH second class.
Then came the rate war between Chicago
and ST. Paul lines which threw the local
ticket between these points down from
xil.aa to ST All lines then issued new
tariff making the second class ticket TO
Chicago sHi. using 80 to st. Paul and the
cut ticket "a 4 base. The FIRST class tick
ct was no, moicsted unit, about week
ago when, owing tn the continuation III
the ST. Pant-t,hicsgo war. II was reduced
81 and a new tariff issued at SS7.sA. Since
that time tho Northern Pacific and Cana
dian Pacific maintain that they have re-
iigiousiy kept In the tariff until. unable 10
further stand the loss of business ocea-
stoned by the Great Northern cut, they
All now depends on the leadership os
the Great Narthern. IL that line should
further reduce. rates may be expected tn
come tumbllng down ct a rapid rate 70
all points east az Seattle. All In
teresfel claim that the war. in any event,
viii remain In force several days.