Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-09-01
General Passenger Agent Batty De
cides to Withdraw From West.
ern Passenger Association.
Announces His Reasons in an Inter.
vieW-Takes Exceptions to
Stat ments Made.
Action is Made Simply to Defend the
Road From Competing LINES
The City News.

filiated for the past several years This
day, when it's announcement appeared.
/ In the different newspapers of that city.
Mr.. George s. Batty, general passenger
and ticket agent Of the road, gave the
Required notice of Withdrawal fifteen
days ago, and when that expired the
association made the matter public
The Chicago Times-Herald, In speak
ifig OF the withdrawal of the Central
from he passenger association, says:
General Passenger Agent George S.
llBatty has given notice Of the with
/ draMal of the Iowa Central from the
Western Passenger Association, assign
t}ins ASA reason the alleged failure of
western lines 10 keep their agreements
and to observe the rules OF the associa-
iticn.
Mr. 3atty states that the Iowa Gem
istral Will in the future feel freeto act in
I sdependently whengthere is, reasonIto be-
!, lie,ye that there has been al cut in rates
iseieaersl opinion seems to be that the de-
4 fectton$of the road, which was moi alto
!. sether unexpected. Will result in serious
i uelnora llzation of passenger rates in
z western territory. Some assert that 1t
1 is the entering Wedge to the dissolution
LOT the Western Passenger Association,
land call attention TO the fact that, with
/ the Iowa Central. the st. Paul the Wis
consln Central and the Minneapolis &
| ST. LOU roadssou. of il. the DEGREES of
the association viii have little effect
M y l3atty'S arrangement is a severe
one and caused no end OF discussion
! VEG fesy.t n
| eral passenger; agent of the Iowa Gem
i tral blamed for the action he had taken,
and il vas as a rule conceded that the
association AZ now madesup was of lit
4 tie use in helping to maintain rates and
4 agreements. l, is understood that Mr..
i i5atty has a long list of charges against
4 other roads and claims 10 have the
/ proofs to sustain them =
AS will be observed the Chicago pa
per rather sides With the Central in its;
Iposition, which fact is very gratifying
\ TO Mr.. Batty. who had nothing what
.ever to do with its publication or au-
I#thoriziig the same. He takes excep-
4 tons, however, to some of the state
ments made in the article, and to Ia
Times-Republican representative stated
| that he denied the arrangement being
/ severe.
II did state, however" he said
some facts that are very paten,
1 to- every railroad man who is inter-
ested in traffic. viz: That the Iowa
4 Central has been hampered at many
sEpoints by severe competition by both
strong and weak lines, and parts Of
Hines, not members of the associat ton,
Representatives Of which pretend to
promise TODD all kinds of things at any
land all times contrary to the spirit and
Hotter of the association rules and
agreements.
II claim to have no long list of
Echarges against roads, but r8Sllcra SUBJ
stantial information enough to justify
my position In Withdrawing from an
association that seems weak and to
Ehaye outllHsd its usefulness SO far as
/ the Iowa Central is concerned at this
time. We simply want To stand on our
iown bottom, Mr.. Batty continued,
and donot want to be hampered by
/ any association. and we are getting out
LOT it for the purpose OF defending our
Iselves.'
Mr. Battv did not state just what
roads he referred to and said he did
mot care to name any in particular. The
central is however. differently situ-
lated than most roads of its size and
4 makeup, in tina it is in direct compe-
tuition with other roads out of its best
points. out OF Mason City 1T has III
Icompete with other lines, at MARSHALL
town the condition Is the same, like
awlse at Oskaioosa and Peoria. At Os-
kaloosa there is Il little feeder of the
Huntington system, known as the Bur
4iington & Western a narrow gauge a.
fair that, altho belonging to the G. b.
I& O., is operated independently. Fur
ather east the Central comes in contact
4 With this Burlington & Southwestern
land the lSackuk q Western. two more
&C.. u. g. q. feeders. Each OF, these
Aroads, not belonging to the association,
l3ean make thru rates, via the main line
lef the e.. that the Central can not
touch because Of the reason that it be-
llongs to the Western passenger Assoc
sEciaion and that its general passenge,
agent believes in keeping his promises
Ito the Association To maintain rates.
lCorseauentiy business is often lost be-
lsause Of a few cents difference In fare
Ion the part Of the sina Her road. not a
member OF the association. When either
iof these Burlington feeders makes a cut
1rate and secures business by it the road
litself does not profit BY it, but rather
4 the @ system. a member of the asso-
dciation. and, apparently standing out
Aagainst any rate cutting. gets the
Iprotit. The Centralflosss, or rather has
Host, but does not intend to be the loser
4 I'm the future.
4 The withdrawal of the Central from
1.-The association does not mean by any
manner whatever that the road is To
indulge in promlscuous rate cutting or
THAT 1t Is to be responsible for demol,-
3aliZation in rates. On the contrary, 1t
viii not, and VIII maintain rates as
icoinpared toother roads, but wher any
lcompeting road does make Il rate lower
than the one in effect the Central will
meet 1t, which 1t could not do While d
5I{consistent member. as 1t has been. of
/ the Western Passenger Association.
NO SCHOOL MONDAY.
Public school Pupils VIII Not Have
! TO Assemble Until Tuesday.
On account of Labor day. which falls
on Monday, Sept. 3, the public schools