The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-20
With ROD OF Iron
MEN WHO FURNISH MONEY TO RUN
RAILROADS WILL ENFORCE
NEW RULES
COMMISSIONS ARE CUT OFF
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HIS
TORY OF AMERICAN RAILROADS
THIS WILL BE DONE
RATES TO BE MAINTAINED

Order Applies to Both Passenger and
Freight Business-Prestdents Will
Personally See That 1t Is Enforced
Orders of Any Military DespOt-
Ism Could Not BE More Vigorously
Enforced Than Will Be New Rules
CHICAGO, Jan. -19-No doubt exists as
to the effectiveness of the agreement for
the abolition Of railway commissions.
The committee Of presidents having the
matter In charge issued advices to all
concerned to the effect that the consent
of all lines mentioned at the meeting at
which the agreement was adopted had
been secured and that the agreement
would be effective Feb. 1.
The success Of this movement marks
new departure in the history of railroad
operation in the United States, and the
effects are likely to be felt throughout the
entire field. This agreement is not an
association agreement, but one of the
financial powers which furnish the sinews
of war for railroad operation.
It's one which officials Of the various
systems have been deprived of the au-
thority to break. Instructions, clear and
explicit, absolute and final, have been is
sued that the orders given must be
obeyed under penalty of forfeiture of po-
sition by the official disregarding them
in the slightest degree.
These orders embrace not only the
abolition Of commission payments, but q
strict maintenance Of all tariff rates.
Traffic that cannot be secured at these
rates Is to be allowed to go. No option
or discretion is left in the hands of traf-
fic officials in these matters. All they
have to do is to obey.
PRESIDENTS WILL CONFER.
Provision has been made for seeing
the presidents of the various systems and
the financial powers already alluded to
| have been arranged for at stated periods.
The next will be held in New York,
March 7, and at that conference the presi-
dents Of each road will be required to
make a full showing Of how the agree
ment has been respected In the interval
from Feb. i, when 1t goes into effect.
| The making of very low rates for con-
ventions and gatherings of one kind and
another will be discouraged as much as
possible. They will only be permitted
where making them stimulates and cre-
ates new business, large enough to offset
considerably the loss which would be in
| Cured by the reduction In rates upon
ordinary volume Of traffic
This agreement for the conservation Of
revenues does not apply to passenger Of
| ficials alone. It will be equally potent in
! the operation of the freight departments
| of the various roads.
| The orders of any military despotism
i that has ever existed have been no more
vigorously enforced than will be those of
| the powerful but unseen authority that
| has taken into it's hands the manage
ment of the railroad affairs of the coun-
try. i-.-.--
| WILD RUMOR DENIED.
| PHILADELPHIA, jan IA proni-
| nent official Of the Pennsylvania Rail-
/ way company said there was no truth
| in the Chicago story that the railways
had agreed TO abandon their ticket Of
/, fees in the large cities, substitute joint
\ ticket offices and do away with the divis-
| ion passenger and freight agencies. 1t
had not been considered practical. The
report was practically started from the
fact that, at the meeting of general man.
ayers in New York last week. the reso-
luton adopted some time ago to discon-
tinue the payment Of commissions Tor
tickets sold over other roads was again
| brought forward and the companies rep
resenting the Trunk Line association the
! Central Traffic association and the South
| western Passenger association agreed To
! enforce this rule and thus put a stop to
the practice of paying commissions
While this agreement only relates TO 70
| the lines east of the Mississippi river, ~ II
| is understood that the Western roaos Will
follow the example Of the Eastern ones.