The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-06-06
SEVERAL ROADS MAY
WITHDRAW FROM
ORGANIZATION
Alleged Rate Cutting in
Minneapolis May Lead to
the Dissolution of the
Western Passenger As
ISOLATION = Rules Have
Been Violated and Disre-
garded.

According to the Chicago Tribune the
Western Passenger association is on the
verge of dissolution. Many Of the lines
that are members have threatened TO fol-
low the lead OF the Rock Island and with
draw from the organization because some
OF the members fail to live up to the
rules Of the organization. The Tribune
says:
Owing TO violation OF agreements and
unauthorized reduction in passenger rates
by some Of the Western roads the ex-
fstence Of the Western Passenger asso-
citation is threatened. The Rock Island
system has been out Of the association
for some time. and at a stormy session
Of the executive committee held here
yesterday another prominent road gave
notice that hereafter it would act re-
CARELESS Of the rules OF the association,
Some Of the other roads are on the verge
OF Withdrawing.
The situation assumed a wariike aspect
a few days ago when it was discovered
that certain roads had put in effect lower
rates 10 meetings and conventions than
were authorized by the association. One
line, after agreeing on a rate Of one fare
plus s. for the round trip on account Of
the convention OF the Modern Woodmen
at Indianapolis put its agents at work at
Minneapolis and secretly contracted for
at round trip rate Of S7.S5. Minneapolis
10 Chicago, a cut OF 1855 from agreed
rates
After this it submitted a proposition
TO the association to reduce the rate to
the figure at which it had already secured
the bulk OF the business. When the prop
osition was voted down by the other roads
this line gave individual notice under
the rules that it would put the reduced
rates in effect. Several other roads de-
clared yesterday they would cut the rates
down to still lower figures to secure a
share Of the business.
A still more serious break occurred over
the action Of two Of the roads which had
made horizontal reduction in the rates
eereed on for the convention of Foresters
at Dubuque. The agreed rate from Chi
cagO was 50. 45, but those roads il was
3Ound, mad contracted for much of the
business al 81. 30. and openly advertised
ms rate before notifying the chairman Of
me ASSOCIATION OF their action. Other
ChlcagO-Dubuque lines got even by max
ing a rate Of 81 for the round trip
mere Is also serious trouble oyer the
sCTm and sale Of mileage tickets which is
likely TO cause split in the mileage tick
ct bureau and break Up the present ar
rangement for the sale of Interchangeable
mileage tickets by the Western roads A
snort time ago the National Travelling
Mems association sent in a proposition
20 nave mileage tickets hOnored by con-
The mileage credit system in use nv
the Western roads provides for the pyr-
chase Of the transportation by the holder
OF the credit book before entering the
tram. II is claimed that this ticket is
belng used too freely and cannot be re-
stIlcted 10 travelling men only. The prop
oSitIon Is TO take off this form Of mileage
book and substitute a coupon book that
conductors can honor on the train
10 prevent others than travelling men
from securing mileage rates some of the
roads want this mileage to be Travelled
petore rebate Is granted to be increased
from 1000 20 5000 miles. Against this
other roads say they do not propose to
t2ke of the mileage credit book which
has proved the best protection against
fraud ever offered. and they are also like
ty 10 reduce the mileage to 1 900 miles
which VIII make the mileage rates avail
Sele TO a much larger number of people
Inc Eastern roads are selling l. 600 mile
tickets.
Roads May Withdraw
CHICAGO, June 5.-Threats have been
made Dy several lines 10 withdraw from
the western Passenger association unless
Inc practice Of contra citing for business
ana then fling a tariff to cover it. is not
discontinued.
Just now the row IS over the coming
movements Of Modern Woodmen and
Swedish Singers to Indianapolis and Min
neapOlls respectively. In the case of the
former the rate agreed on was one fare
Plus s. The Milwaukee, claiming to have
aIIldaVlts that the Great Western had
contracted for the movement at s13 from
this would be its rate
The association is also said to be in
trouble over a threatened dissolution of
thelmm1gTatiOn bureau.