The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-10-28
IMMIGRANT RATES
TO BE DISCUSSED
Important Meeting Of Railroad Pas
senger Agents at New
York Today.

New York, OSt. 2o-Of more IMAM
ordinary importance and interest is
the conference on immigrant traffic
begun here today by the Western Pas
senger Association and the Trunk
Line Passenger COMMITTEE That the
final settlement will be reached at the
conference is hardly expected, owing
to the complications involved.
The controversy is the most serious
that has arisen in some years to dis
turb railroad rates and the situation
has now reached that point where it
appears certain that the western pas
senger agents must consent to the
negotiation of new deal or see the
harmonious relations of several
years standing completely broken up.
AS near as can be learned from
sources to be relied upon, the situa-
ton now and the causes and incidents
leading up to the conference, are as
follows:
When the immigrant bureau was es-
tablished, the eastern and western
lines did not get along very happily
with one another. The latter insisted
on routing passengers from New York
to destination, and the latter contend
ed that this was tantamount to usurp-
ing their province and function. Fol-
lowing acrimonious exchanges from
time to time, an agreement was made
which gave the Trunk Line Commit
tee roads the right to route immi-
grants from New York to Chicago.
From there on the control was vested
in the Western Association 1t was
further agreed that each should give
the other information gained as to the
routing of this class of business by
outside agents.
Some weeks ago the Ontario &
Western objected to the commissioner
of the Trunk Line Committee giving
information as to its immigrant traf-
fic on the ground that some of its
western connections were opposed to
the practice. This brought on an in
vestigation which demonstrated that
the Ontario & Western was not re-
from the Western Passenger Associa-
ton. For this reason the agreement
to exchange information was sus
pended by the Trunk Line Committee.
Months ago the Rock Island with
drew from the immigration bureau
10 TIC
demand for a greater allotment was
denied and is has ever since remain
ed firm in its refusal to return unless
it's asserted rights received recOgni-
ton 1t has, however, shared in the
business going elsewhere than the
Pacific Coast on the basis of the old
percentage.
Conditions have demonstrated that
the Trunk Line Committee failed to
grasp golden opportunity and made
grave mistake when it allowed the
agreement governing immigrant traf
fic between the Western Association
and the steamship lines to be effected
without being made party thereto
because the effect was to give the
western roads the larger control of
the situation which properly belongs
to the western lines
There is reason to believe that the
Trunk Line Committee wishes to
reach a better understanding. Failing
this there may possibly result an en-
tire abrogation of all agreements be-
tween the western and eastern roads
and a restoration of conditions that
formally ruled before the reform was
gained in the handling Of immigrants.
Rather than have anything disastrous
occur to their interests, it is thought
that the western roads will meet
those of the east half way and accept
the only alternative offered for their
protection and the control of SO per
cent of the Immigrant traffic.