Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1900-01-26

That the formation and maintenance
of passenger pool would constitute
violation of the law. 1t has always
been the contention of the railroads
that the section of the Interstate
Commerce Act forbidding pools relates
only to freight traffic and does not af-
feet passenger business III any way,
and 1t now seems to be their determi-
nation to act and fight it out on this
presumption.
The Chronicle says: AS result of
the recent consultations and agree
ments among the owners of the great
trunk railways east of Chicago the en-
tire transportation system between
the Mississippi river and the Atlantic
seaboard is to be reorganized, involv-
ing the following changes: The aban-
donment of the city ticket offices of all
OF the roads in the syndicate in New
Y York. Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston,
Buffalo, Baltimore, Washington, Pitts
burg, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit,
Indianapolis, Peoria and st. Louis, and
the substitution of joint offices IN each
city. The discharge of all city, gener-
al, travelling and district freight and
passenger agents and solicitors OF the
Eastern roads in all parts of the Uni
ted States, Canada and Europe. This
will affect nearly $4,000 men.
The abolition of all forms of COM
missions heretofore paid for the sale
of tickets over these roads. This will
affect the incomes of $1,000 agents and
eliminate the scalpers.
The establishment in Chicago and
New York of joint auditing agencies
that will apportion to each road an
agreed per centage of the total COM
petitive business.
The discharge of all superfluous
assistants to the heads of departments
of the individual roads. Later the
heads of these departments may be
abolished and the work done by clerks
who will report to the joint agencies.
The establishment in New York of
a board of control, made up of persons
representing the Vanderbilts, Penn
sylvania, Morgan and Hartman prop
critics, the rulings of this board on all
questions to be final.
The abandonment of a number of
through fast passenger trains put in
service during the past few years as
the result of sharp competition.
The establishment of common sched-
ules for passenger trains between Chi
cagn and New York and between all
of the principal terminals of the com.
bination roads in the territory east of
this city and st. Louis.
The abandonment of all fast freight
trains and the fixing of common time
for those trains between competitive
terminals
Following are the roads now in the
combination New York Central.
Pennsylvania, Boston and Albany
Boston and Maine, Fitchburg, New
Y York, New Haven and Hartford, Erie
Lehigh Valley, I.ackawanna, West
Shore, New York, Ontario and West
ern, Rome, Watertowr and Ogdens
berg, Lake Shore, Michigan Central
Nickel Plate, Baltimore and Ohio
Wabash, Big Four, Chesapeake ane
Ohio, Lake Erie and Western, Monor
and all auxiliary lines of these systems
When all the details for the future
management of the roads in the east
ern combination have been perfected
the leaders in the consolidation move
| ment will turn their attention to tn.
territory west of Chicago and attempt
to bottle up the Chicago, St. Louis
Rocky Mountain in like manner. The
combining proceedings may extend
ultimately to the Pacific coast.
The Hartman Vanderbilt syndicate
Towns and controls the Illinois Central
Union Pacific, Northwestern, Oregon
Short Line and Kansas City, Pitts
burg and Gulf. All the big cOmpeti
tors of these systems are in with the
combining movement, and stand
ready to go into what will maintain
stable rates and reduce expenses. Sew.
eral small, independent roads in the
West and Northwest territory are tc
be purchased.
The failing of Congress to legalize
pooling is given as the cause of the
consolidation, as the owners are de.
termined to pool If the purchase OF
! every railroad in The country is neces
sary to obtain taa6 end.