The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-08-04
N. Y. MERCHANTS RATE.
1t Goes into Effect on The Association
Lines Today.
INAUGuRATED BY THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC
IL Stirs Up Trouble in All directions
st. Iouis Meeting Cancelled.
Notes and Personals,

Today the Katy, Santa Fe and Houston
East and West Texas will put on the mer-
chants rate to New York, which is one
and one-third fares on the certificate plan
Tickets will be on sale until the Sth and
the limited to return leaving New York
on the 2lst. However. both the Sunset
Central and International and Great
Northern have been making this rate
despite the fact that connecting lines de-
clared they would not participate, If
what connecting lines stated is true
somebody must make up two thirds of The
iare from New York to Texas points.
either the initial road, which would get
out small division of the total or the
New York Merchants association. whose
secretary, s. G. Meade, is said TO be the
only party authorized to sign the return
end OF the certificate. Perhaps it may
turn out that some of the connecting lines
are absorbing what might be termed the
dlherential or at least their pro rata
of it,
so lar as any line securing all the in
bound New York for Texas points in re-
turn for this concession in the passenger
end or the line Is concerned opinions are
expressed that it may lead to the begin
ming of the strife between the ocean lines
and oil rail lines which The Post has
heretofore referred to. The ocean or
strictly gulf lines have never thought that
st. Louis should be made the basng point
for rates They are the sufferers by this
situation. but have submitted rather than
precipitate a disastrous rate war Now
they feel that when they put on spe-
| cial rate to New York for the benefit of
their patrons the ST. Louis lines. which
! have had the benefit of this same condi-
ton, have an just cause of complaint
| 1t Is thought to be an important move
on the railroad checker board, and one
which may be disturbing element in the
great Huntington vs.. Rockefeller Gould
free-for-all,
The New York Commercial OF the 1st
instant says:
The story that has been circulated to
the effect that the misunderstanding be-
tween the Merchants association and the
| Trunk Line association might result in
the withdrawal of the excursion rates
made by the trunk lines at the request
Of the Merchants association is without
the slightest foundation. The rates have
/ been granted and can not be Withdrawn.
Commissioner Farmer OF the Trunk Line
]
for this year Will stand of course, but
can not say what will be done in the ta-
ture when the Merchants association asks
Tor rates" His manner indicated that
IN the future requests from the Merchants
| association would have little weight with
the Trunk Line association.
II shall not answer the letter addresEd
TO me by President King Of the Merchants
association, ana | do not care to say any
thing in regard to it, said MIR Farmer.
VI shall place 1t before the association
at its next meeting, however. and the as
ISOLATION will act as it sees fit The next
needing will be on the 14th of next
month
Notwithstanding the insinuaton Of Com
missioner Farmer, It is very doubtful IL
the Trunk Line association will decide to
refuse the request Of the merchants Of
New York for ne same buyers rate 1t
has granted them in the past.
The Merchants association has asked
nothing of any railroads except what New
York is entitled to- Ii has not asked any
discriminating rates in favor Of New York
hut only that New York shall not be dis
.criminated against.
Reduced rates to merchants are made by
the roads all over the country, each city
being given the advantage OF a reduced
rate during the buying season, from the
territory that is tributary 10 1t. Chicago
has a reduced rate from its territory, so
has st. Louis, Kansas City and other
cities. Last spring these rates brought
a large number of buyers 10 New fork,
and the railroads were all pleased win
the business they did.
For the fall season the Merchants as
ISOLATION determined to maze the eXour-
slons a greater SUCCESS than ever, and de-
cided 10 secure a rate from Texas. the
Southwestern Passenger association mani
Tested disposition TO discriminate
against New York but the Merchants
association was not discouraged, AMI Sc
cured the rate over the Southern Pacinc'
This caused the trouble IN whlcn tne
Trunk Line association has manliesteu
dispositiou to take a hand. AS 1t stands,
the Merchants association Is VICTORIOUS
In that it has secured all the rates tor
fail buyers it. started out to secure; put
the officers of the association 40 not oesiie
TO enter into any fight with the ralirosus,
II has been the policy of the assoclatlou
TO attempt TO protect the interests Oh wa
merchants of New York by corporation
with the railroads rather than by an
taeonizing them, and the officers or the
association say that there is no dlsposl'loH
to depart from this policy,
They feel that by the time the assoeia'
tion sees fit to ask for rates again the
railroad officials will have forgotten their
displeasure over the Texas rate.
Tbere is sun the possibility. however
that the matter will not be alloYed 90
rest where it is, and the action OF the
rr,'n,, Iine association on President
Kings letter will be awaited with IN
terest !.
At the next meeting of the board OF d.
FACTORS of the Merchants association, the
whole matter will come up for discussion
ana no matter what the rallroads 90 tn'