Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-04
WHY ROCK ISLAND IS OUT
Several Reasons for Roads Withdrawal
from Passenger Association.
NEW FRISCO ROUTE MAY HAVE BEARING
One R~aIIroader says Rock Island
wants 10 BE Free 10 Make Low
Rates TO Introduce Its
New Line.

Ohcial announcement Of the withdrawal
from the Western Passenger assoc alton OF
the Chicago, Rock Island a Pacific rail-
way was received yesterday at railroad
headquarters IN Omaha. This. supple
mented by the statement that the Missouri
Pacific has also withdrawn, and that the
Illinois Central has determined to do so.
was the chief topic Of discussion and
conjecture along railroad row all day. Thu
mooted question is whether this action
on the part Of three such important roads
will cause tho association to be discon-
tinued. That its efficiency will be prac-
tically annulled Is conceded by almost all
railroad men, but its disruption is cen
sldered another matter.
Reproductions Of the letter of General
Passenger Agent Sebastian Of the Rock
Island to President Macleod of the West
ern Passenger association we're sent the
railroads. He stated that the road would
remain a member Of the clergy and mileage
bureaus, dropping out from all else con-
nected with the association. The with
drswal dates from April Is.
The executive committee of the Western
Passenger association met in Chicago yes
terday to consider the changed status and
to counterfeit the effect Of the Withdrawals
II possible. 1t is the intention to make a
strong effort to prevent the dissolution Of
the organization.
Involves e. Pnso Line.
Though the most common opinion Is that
the Rock Island has taken this action
purely from the reasons announced.
another explanation was vouchsafed by a
prominent passenger man here.
Said he: The Rock Island may say that
1t has cut loose only because the courts are
after the associations, and that Ii does not
intend any -whlrlwind rate movements, but
I do not believe it. This road has Just
opened up its new line to Ell Paso, thus
securing a novel route to the Pacific coast.
1t must get this route before the eye of the
travelling public. That is no easy matter
when there is so much competition as on
that journey from Chicago to San Fran
cisco. The only way they can really do it
is to dc something phenomenal in rates.
The road does not care how much money it
spends or loses in this way, for the route
must be made prominent, and It will pay in
the end to do this at a big cost now.
"But as a member Of the association the
Rock Island cannot inaugurate any lndivid-
ual movements OF this kind, for it must
always give notice to the association.
Alone It is unfettered and can do as II will.
This Is plausible, for 1t is a common thing
for railroads to inaugurate new routes in
that way. l remember when the Chicago,
Milwaukee & st. Paul line first reached
Council Bluffs It gave agents a commission
of So to IS on each ticket sold, so it lost
money on every passenger, but just the
same the agents strained every nerve to
sell tickets over the new line and get that
big commission. and thus 1t became we'll
known in a short time"
D,Nka-fAr5 80
the Rock Island does not coincide with this
view. He thinks no cutting Of rates any
where is contemplated, I'VE will doubt
less withdraw fIom the local association,
as WE'LL" said he. but I do not intend TO
cut any rates around here"
organization Work Exaggerated.
Another railroader takes the view that
the purposes OF the association are exag-
gerated by the men who talk Of rate
troubles. This organization is really not
one for the settlement Of rates, anyway"
said he. 1T Is practically for the sole
purpose Of disseminating information.
Each road must know what the other is do
ing, and how else can we learn? This as
ISOLATION is simply an information bureau.
Every road sends announcements OF its in
~tentions to the association. which distrib-
I % III hC"5 aAOAhN W az hhN N"NANs
one roads. Rates are not interfered with.
1t is an easy matter for any road to put in
any rate It wishes. There are no penalties.
However, l admit that II three or four
roads as big as the Rock Island withdraw
there will be no association left. You see
the expenses Of maintaining It are rather
high, and we need them all In"
One more version was heard. THE asso-
citation lie a dead letter, anyhow" said this
man. at has been such for some time.
The roads go ahead and make the rates
without 1t whenever they choose. There is
no virility in an organization that has no
rules to be infringed."
Freight shipments Fall on.
IAN this talk about the immaculate man
ner In which freight rates have been held
to the scheduled mark around Omaha for
months past sounds WE'LL said a promi-
nent freight agent of Omaha. but there
are circumstances which make theses state
ments look peculiar when viewed In their
light.
For instance, today freight business is
very dull, and II has been for some time
past. The falling of began about thirty
days ago and was fully % per cent. People
are not shipping anything that they can
help. Take grain. Today all the elevators
here are full OF stored grain. stocked
heavier than they have been for a long
time. Merchandise shipments, too, are dull.
They are holding it back.
Now why? Simply because the rates
Just now are up to the mark and the ship
pers are waiting till they can get the old
low prices again. They were getting them
a while ago and do not care TO ship any
more than necessary till they can secure
the former rebates. You cannot tell me
that the interstate commission
work is not having a big effect on the
freight business around here, for know
better. All the roads are feeling it,"