The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-01-23

Mir. E. H. Hartman. New York City. and
acknowledged aBder date of Dec % bv AIR
-AfeA- NliaF- secretary, with the infor1na-
ton that II had been sent to me. has orv-
ing 10 my absence from home Just
reached M hands
1t relates to the subject of the rates
desired for the transportation of dele
gates to the proposed meeting of the q;
A. r, in Salt Lake City. next August
since reaching my office this morning
J nave gone over the reports of the pas
senger department of the Union Pacific
railroad on the subject Among this CORE
spendeHce find a report from the general
passenger agent of the Union Pacific of
Nevius at Omaha on the 10Th of Decem-
Der Al this conference Judge Nevius is
reported as having said that he had dis
c9ssed the rate of one cent per mile with
Mr. Black of the Santa. Fe Mr. Sebastian
OF the Rock Island, Mr.. Miller of the C..
M a 81. P, Mir. Hooper of the D. & r. G.
ana others, ana that they had said they
were agreeable TO any rate the Union
faclfle saw fit to make, and it is up to
she Union Pacific to make the rate.
Kermit me 20 say that 1 am informed
, Dy MT Lomax that neither of the gentle
men referred TO have said personally nor
nave they officially advised him or anv
other officer of the Union Pacific railroad
OF their desire to OF even willingness TO
make rate of one cent per mile for this
meeting ! am satisfied that it will be
manifest TO Judge Nevius and YOU and
other officers Of the G. A R. that these
gentlemen could not confer uDon Mr. I.O-
max the authority to make any rate over
their lines
The conferences between the interested
| lines upon this subject resulted according
70 the information that / have received. in
each line determining for itself to offer a
rate OF S43 fer the round trim between
I salt Lake City and Chicago. Mr.. Lomax
says that he Informed Judge Nevius at
J the interview aforesaid. that ne had un-
successfully tried to make that rate $3e
You. of course, understand that the Union
/ Pacific does not reach Chicago. or anv
POINT east OF the Missouri river. and that
/ the rates fren territory east of the river
must be initiated, published and notified
/ to the commission by the first carrier.
Railroad companies are very much con-
cernec under the present administration of
I the law, and public opinion, respecting the
proper treatment of excursions of this
character The effect of the precedent es-
tablIShed By each case must be carefully
considered and where there are so many
/ interests involved il is difficult to hit
/ upon any rate plan which is satisfactory
/ To all, or which will not in some measure
provoke repTisai. My own view of the
I case is that the meetings of the c. A r.
I present peculiar feature that put them in
a class which is distinct and separate from
other excursions. They are patriotic do
much 10 promote the love Of country and
the spirit of self-sacrifiee in the individ-
ual citizen when the country needs his
military service. For the most part the
L
meetings are wholly without any business
feature or consideration Therefore the
carriers may fairly consider the promotion
OF these meetings and in so doing ignore
/ the consideration of reasonable prefit for
their service that should and must control
the charge for that service to other bodies
of citizens assembling for business OF even
social objects
Consequently. the lines in the Union
Pacific system are. aud have been from
the beginning, willing to offer special
rates for the promotion of the proposed
meeting at Salt Lake City. Just as they
{ would be were the meeting held al any
other city. whether that city were served
/ by their lines or by the lines of competi-
| tons should. and no doubt will enter into
the dealing with this business by every
/ connection and every competitor of the
Union Pacific road It is inexpedient, in
T deed. impossible. fo- the Union Pacific Of
/ ficers to assume that they have the
I right and in my Judgment. it is improp-
/ er. for any person or BODY of people to
/ think or To assert It to be the duty of the
/ Union Pacific TO determine the question
I of a rate which involves the services and
the revenues Of practically all the carriers
/ in the country.
/ According TO past experience. the lars-
! est number of delegates TO this Grand
Army meeting will originate at and start
/ from points more OF less remote from the
/ lines of the Union Pacific railroad. Con
/ siderabfy more than half win originate a [
and start from points east of the Missouri
! river. the eastern terminus OF the Union
Pacific railroad; therefore. it seems prop
er. as it has in large measure been the
/ custom. that the rates to be charged
1 should be taken up with the initial car
riers and by them determined BIZ confer
ence and suggestion with the lines west
l OF the Missouri river.
I With the limitations that the rate shall
not be less than one cent per mile for its
service. the Union Pacific is willing to
join its connections in any rate that they
are willing to adopt for this proposed
I meeting Of the Grand Army.
IF ] might venture a suggestion. it
| would be this. That you take up this
I question with the Western Passenger as
! ISOLATION. the headquarters of which are
/ at Chicago. It's chairman is Mr.. Eben Z.
| Mcleod II YOU thing ii win help you.
/ have no objections to your sending Mt.
/ Mcleod copy Of this letter.
/ Personally. I think that the rate from
J Chicago ought not, under any circum-
! stances. to be more than $50 for the round
/ trip between Chicago and Salt Lake CITY.
and I may say that I think a fair rate
would be one fare for the round trip. or
$50. I think YOU would need only to sue
gest that rate to Mr.. Mcleod for cons-N-
! Grafton by the lines he represents. to Sc
! cure favorable action. If the lines in the
! connections other than the Union Pacific
should regard a lower rate as expedient
F under all the circumstances. I think what
! have said above will be sufficient evil
dence to them that the Union Pacific will
Join them on q pro rata per mile basis -
/ any rate that they will adopt subject to
! the one cent per mile limitation. Yours
! truly. (Signed) J. c. STUBBS.
J Chicago, H.. Jan IA