The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-08
Eastern Lines Are Unable to
Agree on Definite Rate.
DROP MILEAGE BOOKS
Western Passenger Association
Now COndemning Action.
Other Items of Interest in
Railway Circles.

Chicago, May s.-The eastern rail-
roads are wrangling over the reduced
| rates they recently decided to in
augurate between Chicago and the
middle west to New York and the sea-
shore resorts. A second conference
has been called of the Central Passen-
ger association with view of seeing
if an agreement can not be reached
regarding the situation.
The trouble arises from the desire
OF the standard roads to preserve the
New York rates now in effect. 1t is
claimed by them that it is foolish to
cut into the business travel to and
from New York solely to induce added
travel to the summer resorts in the
east. The Erie, however, has no line
to the Seashore resorts and insists
upon a cheap rate to New York, pro-
v1ded cheap rates are to be in effect
to the summer resorts.
The standard lines, realizing the
futility of inducing the Erie to main
tain $40 rate to New York when
there is a round trip rate of less than
$27 in effect from Chicago to Atlantic
City, have requested the Erie to agree
to round trip rate of fare and a
half, or $27, to New York, instead of
$25 rate. The Erie refuses to do
this, but agrees to raise the New York
rate provided all the rates are raised
a corresponding amount. If the other
lines want the Erie to add 81 to the
present agreed New York rate they
must in turn add the same amount to
all the round trip resort rates.
1t is understood that the Baltimore
& Ohio road, which has been fighting
for reduced summer tourist rates in
the east for many years, will not
decided upon at the last meeting of
the association last week. In order
to force REIMBURSEMENT in the matter
the Erie may decide to reduce the Chi
cago-New York rate below SIS.
Less than a year ago the Erie forced
a readjuStment Of the steamship bust
ness by putting in a SO rate, from
Chicago to New York in come ction
with the annual movement of foreign
ers to visit their European homes. The
eastern roads which were prominent
in forcing reduced summer tourist
rates declare that the inquiry regard
ing the eastern resorts is already
large. presaging a big business.
In the speech of Judge Smith Nc
Pherson at st. Louis Tuesday night,
railroad passenger men are finding an
unexpected justification for the move
ment which has started among west
ern railroads for the abolition of mile
age books, which have been in use for
many years. Judge Mcpherson said.
To-day we have confusion. We
must have an absolute equality of
rates for passengers. Free tranSporta-
ton is forever gone. That other wick
ed contrivance, mileage books, which
are used under the pretenSe that trans
portation by the wholesale should be
sold more cheaply than by RETAIL is
utterly indefensible. The statement
that mileage books at reduced rates
can be had by all is false, because
many can not buy them and If they
could, can not use them within the
time limit
To Discuss Mileage Books.
At a meeting of the Western Pas
senger association which is in session
here the subject of the abolition of
mileage books in all territory west of
Chicago will be considered. The rail-
roads are figuring on taking the books
out because there are now few states
In which there exists Scent passen-
ger rate, and it is felt that the rate
fixed by the legislatures and by the
railroad commissions should be the
minimum rate at which transporta-
ton should be sold.
E. H Hartman was elected a direc-
tor of the Lake Shore &, Michigan
Southern Railroad company for three
years at the annual meetings of the
stockholders at Cleveland. Mr.. Har-
riman was elected to the New York
Central board recently. w. K. Van
derbilt, William Rockefeller and Ham
ilton NICK. Twombly also were elected
for three wears