The Washington times., 1908-12-01

The lower berth is going TO come
down-and so is the upper berth.
In price. that is There has been hint
and intimation and suggestion 20 this
effect for a long time: but the Inter
state Commerce Commission is at last
getting ready TO start something.
The Pullman pull IS going TO be test
ed. The commission proposes 20 intu-
ate a proceeding on its own account,
TO determine whether il is right to
charge as much for an upper berth as
for a lower; whether the charges for
sections are reasonable In proportion
to other charges; and whether all the
charges are not too high. The report
that members of the commission have
decided on this course because they
have political ambitions, and hope TO
become the most popular people in the
world. IS secuted. IT is stated on the
best authority that the commission Is
aCtUated by none but considerations OF
stern duty.
Anyhow. it is going TO look into Pull
man charges. A year or 50 ago. a
Minneapolis man filed complaint,
mentioning specific routes on which he
alleged that the Pullman charges were
excessive, and also complaining that
the charge for an upper berth was a
consummate outrage. The people who
ride in sleepers were inspired with a
great hope for a short spell, but il
didn't last long. The Minneapolis man
lost interest, and didn't press he mat
ter. There has never been a hearing.
But people have been taking their
cue. and realizing that there is posi-
biIity Of redress against the porter and
his hackers. They have been clamor-
ing for action. and today a meInLar Of
the commission announced that just as
soon as some other pressing matters
could be cleared out of the way, a
proceeding would be instituted by the
commission. to look into the whole
matter of Pullman management, finan-
ces. rates. charges. relations With rail-
road corporations, charges for upper
and lower berths. imposition Of the
oppressive tipping system-in short,
everything concerning sleeping cars
Will be looked up. Among other things
il is proposed TO learn whether the
Pullman company is subsidiary OF
the railroad business. or whether the
railroads are becoming subsidiaries OF
the Pullman company.
ILlo inquiry Will kt 8A l-AF teAANaA
Importance IN many of its aspects, be
cause IL viii open the question Of the
CommissiOus power over contracts be-
tween such concerns and the railroad
companies. il is we'll known that the
Pullman company is one of the Juiclest
ffuaRial concerns in the country. II
pays big dividends and accUmulates a
big surplus with great regularity, and
whenever the surplus becomes large
enough TO be embarrassing IL carves a
huge melon
Meanwhile il has become a great
stakeholder in numerous railrOa COM
pauIes, and through its stCc--4oidiDgs S,
according 10 report, IL Is able TO eXeI
undue influence in making its CONTRA, Is
/ with the railroads. Further, IL has
! been repeatedly charged that a good
MANY railroad executives Of prominence
and power are large holders of Pull
man stock, and therefore lean strongly
toward the idea that the railroads ought
to make liberal contracts with the sleep
ing car octopus, in order that their div
ideuds might be swollen accordingly,
Doubtless all this IS eXaggeTgatiOn and
Inisstatement; but 1t is proposed to
know.
Some years ago the general solicitor
OF certain considerable railroad
which had a contract with the Pullman
company went TO the president of his
road and said.
Seems to me we are paying too