The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-01-25

Decisive Aetiea Taken by Eastern
Railway Presidents In Chicago.

IL has been a standing ustryed among
railroad men that last weeks neeting 81
tbs presidents Of Eastern railways In Chi
cago and che reason for the hurried caii
for "A session q the Central Passenger As
ISOLATION due TO assemble in thai cSsy yes
ter3ay Was rat covered by the news assc-
cations One Of tho EEc-ets Of last week
meeting has leaked out Al last According
20 the tar4y analysis OF the Chicago news
papers. free transportation on al lines IN
voived Is 10 De cut OF absolutely. Even
half-rate tickets are I'D longer 10 be grant
81 personal friends OF prominent railroad
officials or 10 politicians who are supposed
10 exert an influence that amounts 10 a
qu.d pro quo. Nothing istat can possibly
be construed as Violation Of the inter
state commerce law q ~ be done. Head
Passenger men With Offices In Chicago
have received personal orders from their
presidents. and have In turn transmitted
them 10 their subordinate
According 20 one Of the Chicago Papers.
a prominent Passenger official H1aie tho
follow -ng statement:
We intend TO cut or every kind and
character OF free TRANSPORTATION We ali
have aaI oar orders from headquarters,
and you may be certain that ali % IL VIII
obey The Instructions apply to the half
tate tickets tkat have been issued fer
years % aldermen. TO policemen. u fire
men and 10 all classes OF politicians. No
more concessions OF any Kind are TO be
gwen 10 theatrical people or others. Free
ira nsportAtson ia 10 be cut of entirely.
Charity rates viii be- given as In the past.
parties and for proper purposes. l do not
Know why the presidents have issued such
orders. but / do know that all of us
have them, and that there IS nothing left
for us but 10 obey"
Yesterdays meeting WAS TO be held for
the purpose Of permitting each general
passenger agent 10 personally pledge HIM
self and his suooTdinatas 10 strict main
tenaBee Of published and authorized rates.
Nothing in the form of an agreement was
10 be attempted. but each line VAS 10 vol
unfairly give its word To maintain rates.
Those who attended the meeting had been
instructed by their presidents to do so. 4
similar meeting was he'd By the freight
men some weeks ago, and there has been
no charge OF reduced rates since.
These last strict orders. IL IS generally
conceded, grew out of the recent meet ns
al presidents NTH the interstate COM
meree commissioners. The chief extcu-
uyes at that session pledged themselves
10 strict maintenance Of published
charges, and their subsequent actions in
dsca,e tina, they were in earnest. All
agree that Il Is within the power OF the
interstate commerce commissioners 10
force strict regard for authorized tariffs
il they can only secure evidence of infrac-
lions Of the law and bring the offenders
70 time. some OF the roads have agreed
10 give such evidence. and the commits
sion therefore becomes Il powerful body.
The pan when seems 10 have been adopt
Ell by the Eastern roads binds them closer
together and VIII insure better rate sit
iisstion fhfn any agreement hey ever in
dorsed. As lcng "a the present attitude is
he'd there viii be few complaints of dis
examinations or unauthorized rates