The St. Louis Republic., 1902-09-03
Radical Measures May Be Adopted
TO Stop Indiscriminate Cut
ting Of Fares.
THREE PASSENGER MEETINGS.
Pennsylvania and the Vanderbilts
Again Go Into the Courts in
Fight on Wabash Coal
Roads Stock Up.

The passenger rate situation is st.ll un-
settled An effort upon the part OF ali Chi
caEo anG Kansas City lines TO place rates
on the standard basis AT 4 meeting yester-
day was O: little avail. The Katy insists on
leaving in force its Kansas City one-way
rate OF 81
General Passenger Agent Barker OF the
Katy is Of the opinion that he should pro-
tect the business Of his road against the
extremely low rates now in effect over the
lines OF competing roads which enter Den
Yer. and he is in no hurry 10 call OF the
low one-way rate PUT into effect last Fri
day.
The Chicago and Kansas City lines have
Cancelled their low rates. but any kind Of
q freakish cut is expected at any time. IN
less some radical measures are soon taken
TO stop the cutting. The present condition
is general and while the lov rates are
bringing much business. general agents
contend that Il Is not as profitable as il
should be.
Especially is there a desire to return 10
the old rates by the lines which always
do n heavy business between the important
sateways.
The demoraIlzing effect Of fights within the
various passenger associations Is beginning
20 be keenly felt. and IL is expected that
efforts Will soon be made TO reorganize or
place upon a sounder basis these associa-
tions for the maintenance OF rates. The
railroads say that they have suffered by
the contentious OF passenger agents who
have carried their fights for business to the
extreme point OF taking such action as IS
contrary to the rules Of the associations.
Not q few OF them would be glad to have
the presidents or managers OF their ROADS
step in and order such action as would set
tie the matter. But in several cases the
general passenger agents have moved after
consultations with the heads OF their sys-
tens. and the fights in some instances are
directed from the highest authority But
the heavy travel indicates that the public
Is pleased al the condition
Rates for meetings and special occasions
are usually regular As a rule agreements
for such rates are easily reached and are
promulgated by the chairmen Of the pas
serger associations II IS thought that the
passenger men will soon call meetings for
the purpose OF making some agreement by
which II will not be so easy TO break the
rules and slash rates indiscrininateiy.
But. whatever is done, each road Will nat
uraIly protect itself against the rates OF its
competitors. A single change IN a rate is
far-reaching on account Of the connections
which now can - made between almost
any two roads and the work OF outlining
broad policy sf action is not easy.
AS announced in The Republic last Sat
urday the rates 20 the ceremonies OF
Worlds Fair allotment week this month
will be one and Oae-third fare for the round
trip TO St Louis within a radius OF hfty
miles with dates OF sale September - 10
October 4. the limit October 6: between fifty
and 30 miles the rate will be one fare, with
dates OF sale September - TO October = the
rstJl-n limit October S. The various passen-
ger associations will act upon the request
for these rates.
The Southern passenger committee met
yesterday at the Southern Railway passen-
ger headquarters and adopted bylaws