The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-20
RAILROAD NEWS.
Important Question to Be Dis
cussed at Buffalo
May Put an End to Low Con.
venti0n Rates.
OPPOSED IN THE EAST.
Claimed That Western Men Are
Behind the Scheme.
Does 1t Pay to Increase Traffic
by Cutting Rates 2

St Louis, Sept. 20.-Secretary A. ].
Smith of the American Association OF
General Passenger and Ticket Agents
has just issued a circular to members
giving a list OF the various important
questions to be considered at the meet
ing to be held IN Buffalo, N 2, on Oc-
tober 16.
One matter which has been proposed
for discussion by General Passenger
Agent c E. e USHER OF the Canadian
Pacific is bound to excite unusual inter
est. It is that no convention rates be
made less than fare and one-third be-
tween June 1 and August 81 in each
year. This is aimed at the wholesale
innovations made during the past year
on the standard one and one-third rate
Hundreds of gatherings have been
granted a one-fare rate and hundreds
more a rate of one fare plus 81. Added
to these is the Generalization arising
from home-seekerss home visitors, tour
ist and special excursion rates, by means
of which any one can make long and
protracted journeys during the summer
months at practically half rate.
Commissioner Farmer of the Eastern
Trunk association was quoted recently
as saying that the eastern lines were
right in refusing to accede to the propo-
sition Of the western lines to raise con-
vention rates to one and one-haf fare
He said if western lines would shut
down on one fare and one fare plus 81
rates their revenues would be sustained
and there would be no necessity for in
creasing the one and one-third rate
While his conclusion may be all right,
his statement that the western lines
proposed the increase is not correct.
That proposition emanated from the
Central Passenger association, which is
composed mostly Of eastern lines 1t
was subsequently taken up by the west
ern association.
General passenger agents of all the
western lines have expressed themselves
as highly gratif1ed with the heavy tour
ist and excursion business done the past
summer to Rocky Mountain and North
ern lake resorts. The rates were lower
than ever before, being practically one
fare for the round trip, with a 30 day
limit, which could be easily extended
These special excursion rates grew out
of one fare rates for conventions, it be-
ing justly argued that if there was a
profit 100 or 200 persons to a convention
1000 miles away at half rates, there
wo:sl5 he a correspondingly larger profit
in carrying thousands of health and
pleasure seekers at the same rate.
This will bring the argument at the
meeting down TO the old problem. Does
it pay to increase passenger traffic tenn
porarily by reducing tariff rates?'
The following is the list Of subjects
ferred to:
F'irst-Anti-Tfcket scaIping Legislo-
ton: This is in the hands of stand
ing committee composed of the chair
man of the several territorial passenger
associations, who asked for further time
at the last meeting.
Second-The last meeting adopted the
following. Resolved, That the time by
which only the perfect safety paper
shall be used for the issuance of inter
line tickets be extended to January 1,
as some important lines will not have
the paper in use by that time
Third-Enlargemen Of the usefulness
of the association The committee to
~ 75c f-
Ford, Donald, Flanders, Weeks, c. S.
Lee, Farmer, Turk, Richardson, Town
send, Pratt, Kniskern and Macleod
F'ourth-Issuance of compendium of
passenger rates and divisions. The COM
mittee is Messrs- Lynch, Davis. Connor,
Wood. Danley, Townsend, Kniskern,
Whitney and Ryan
The secretary's circular OF August Is,
1900, requesting members to submit sub
jects for consideration has been re-
sponded to as below:
By Mr.. l. p. Farmer on behalf OF the
Trunk Line association, which wishes to
have the. question Of the prosecution of
ticket forgers considered
BY Mr. q f. E. usher. the question
of placing orders for prepaid tickets by |
wire,'' and that no convention rates be |
made less than fare and one-third be- |
tween June l and August 81 in each |
year"
BY Mr.. W. B. Kniskern, the question
of issuing regular rate sheets once in six |
months; suggests 1st of May and No
Vember respectively
By Mr.. 5. X Hooper, the question of |
adding an insurance feature to the as
ISOLATION
BY Mr.. NJ. C. Carre1, the question of |
eliminating the brass check for bag |
gage, both local and foreign.
Mr. James R. Wood, general passen- |
ger agent of the Pennsylvania railroad, |
will deliver the annual address.
The Pan-American exposition will be |
held in the city of Buffalo. commencing |
May 1, 1901, and continuing until No |
vember 1, 1901 It Will be most complete |
in every detail, probably the most ex- |
tensive in all particulars Of any similar !
exposition held in this country since the |
Worlds fair at Chicago. Surprising |
progress has been made in preparing |
for this event The work is in the hands |
of experienced and progressive men, who |
express the hope that every general |
passenger agent in the United States. |
Canada, Mexico. Central and South I
America will attend this meeting and |
while in Buffalo accept their hospitaIi- |
ties and visit the exposition grounds /
and buildings, which at that time will /
be in an advance stage of completion i
and to their request is added the urgent /
invitation Of all the Buffalo terminal /
lines. both rail and lake