The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-10

They Are Able to Secure Tickets
Over the Strong as Well as the
Weak Lines Say They Are In
Touch With Sources of supply
and Can Get Tickets.
There is no doubt that the Western
Passenger association is useful, but st.
Paul railroad men are beginning to real
lie that its efficiency may have been over
raled. The present conditions and the
situation which have prevailed for the past
two months between The strong Chicago
lines and the three weaker roads has
opened the eyes of the passenger officials
To the fact that while the association can
issue mandates, its powers of enforcing
them are limited. On July l the associa-
ton issued an agreement TO which all the
Chicago lines with the exception of the
Wisconsin Central, Great Western and
Minneapolis & st. Louis We're parties,
which ordered the restoration of normal
commissions, and made provisions for the
enforcement of rules against the sale of
cut Rates. Previous TO this move, while
Chairman Caldwell was still at the head
the association made d strong effort to
arrive at the ends hoped for and had fail
ed. Predictions were literally made upon
the accession of Chairman Mcleod to the
throne that rates would be adjusted,
small commissions restored and the COM
petition between the powerful Chicago
lines and other weaker competitors equal
lied.
Since July l, when the new agreement
Went into effect, there has 4bcen scarcely
day when cut rates were not obtainable
GA Third street The brokers' selling
transportation repeatedly affirmed that
they were able to secure tickets over the
strong as well as the weak lines though
eventually, when the situation became
strained, an agreement was entered into
between themselves partially checking
the extreme low rates. Then the passen-
ger association came IL the front with
The announcement thai unless the Great
Western, Wisconsin Central and Mime
apOlis x St. Louis joined the number of
The sanctifed, a general rate war would
b. precipitated and matters made decid-
eddy unpleasant.
When matters came to this point an Of
IctaI of the Great Western in = position
t. know the inside movements of the rival
roads, made the statement that his road
WAS not more lax than several of it's
strong competitors, and alleged that the
movement was made with view of cur
failing their business and forcing them
to be content with the little end of the
Chicago passenger traffic. The brokers af-
1i"med that rates could be made over any
OF the Chicago lines. The final result of
The situation was d session in Chicago,
a which nothing was accomplished, and
another adjournment. The final result
amounted TO little beyond that the Wis
ccnsin Central refused 10 enter into an
agreement to which the TWO other weak
lines We're not parties.
The effect of the failure to adjust mat
tors among the officials of the St. Paul
lines has been that their faith in the
Western Passenger associations effect
iVcuess has been considerably shaken.
Matters stand at present in exactly the
same position three months ago and
the dire outcome predicted on the refusal
Of the weak lines to be good in the first
instance has persistenely refused to ma
tcrialize. Still the merry war goes on.
A Third street broker stated yesterday
that he was able to supply transpOrta-
ton over two of the strong lines at 49,.
He alleged that he was in touch with
the sources of supply and could procure
straight passenger tickets without troub-
lie