The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-06-20
Fight OVER RATES
WILL DRIVE LINES
FROM ASSOCIATION
Authoritative Chicago Source
Says Western Passenger
Compact Is on the Verge of
DissoIutiOn-C redential Mile
age System Stumbling Block.

1t Is the general opinion among
Western railroad men, according to an
authoritative Chicago sourse, that the
Western Passenger association, with
all its bureaus, is on the verge of col
lapse Its downfall is likely to be ac-
companied by a widespread rate war.
Indications have pointed in this di-
rection for some time, but the result OF
Thursdays meeting of the executive
committee of the association and Of
the Chicago-St. Paul lines has brought
the expected end considerably nearer
and has made dissolution almost in
evitable.
No hope is entertained that the rec
ommendation of the executive commit
tee to substitute a 1000 mileage book
good on all trains for the credential
form of interchangeable mileage now in
use will be adopted.
Credentials Cause Trouble.
How will the IS rate to Chicago af-
feet the interchangeable mileage ere
Dental system of the Western Passen-
ger association lines? is question that
is agitating st. Paul passenger traffic
men.
The rate under the credential sys-
tenn is cents a mile, the traveller pur
chasing a credential book, and buying
Credential tickets at usual rates, and
then receiving a rebate, after 1000
miles have been travelled. The ques-
lions is whether or not credential tick
cts shall be sold at So, on which no re-
bate shall be allowed, or whether the
tickets shall be sold at the old tariff
rate of S11.50, and then allow the man
with the credential book to wait for his
rebate, as at present.
There is no saving now for person
travelling between any points on the
Chicago Irwin City lines to purchase a
Credential ticket if the tariff fare is So or
less. But supposing man had a Gre
Dental book which expired within a
few days and needed 400 miles or so
to complete his 1000 miles. He must
secure a credential ticket to save his
: rebate on the 1900 miles he had al
ready travelled at local rates.
The point is one that is now await
ing settlement on most lines. Some of
the st. Paul officials are inclined to
the belief that a holder of credential
book should buy a credential ticket
for $11.50 and take his rebate as here
tOfore.
Will Allow No Rebate.
The Milwaukee, it is understood, will
sell Chicago credentiaI tickets at the
reduced rate of So, but. of course. no
rebate will be allowed upon it. The
credential ticket shows the price at
which it is bought, so that there can
be no confusion or double discount
The only object of purchasing the Gre
dental ticket, however, would be to
save the rebate on tickets previously
purchased.
The IS rate is intended as a perma-
nent one. and many of the railroad
men are inclined to believe it will be
retained. They predict that the rate
will never be restored to the old figure
of $11.50.
If the IS rate is retained perma-
i vii only hn -
time until there is a strong agitation
for a rate of 2 cents a mile between
local points, and if this rate is ever
established the use for the credentiaI
book will no longer exist, unless it is
decided to grant a still lower rate to
those who travelled considerable dis
tances.
+ There will undoubtedly be some SEN
timent in favor of not allowing mile
age credentials on IS tickets to Chi
cagO, as the credential system is in
tended for commercial travelling men,
The IS rate goes into effect today
and has been met by all the lines run
ming from the Twin Cities to Chicago.
There have been many inquiries re-
gardlng the rate and as to how long
it will remain in effect. Most Of the
roads will not sell round-trip tickets
at the reduced rate.
Rate War Will Spread.
What is taken as an indication that
the st. Paul-Chicago line rate war
will spread to territory beyond the
Missouri river was the announcement
yesterday at Chicago that a proposal
had been submitted to the lines in the
Western Passenger association, pro-
Vlding that tickets be sold at the rate
of 2 cents per mile. instead of 2 1-2.
between Illinois and Missouri points
and Kansas City.
This move is regarded as ominous.
for 1t is almost certain that when the
2-cent fare is voted down the road
proposing it will put in the rate under
the NATURALIZATION clause of the
Western agreement.
Another cheap rate which, In the I'M
settled condition of tariffs is of i'm
portance, has been announced from
Chicago and Illinois territory to Min
neapolis on account of the Swedish
Singers meeting in July. The rate is
one fare for the round trip for indi-
Vidual passengers.
The same rate for parties Of 100 or
more was announced by one of the
Chlcago-St. Paul lines some time ago,
and the application to single passen-
gers followed on the part of competing
lines.