The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-01-19
R. R. RATE STEAL
ALL EXPLAINED
Southern Pacific Agent Tells
Why It's Called an
Arbitrary"
WEBSTER TELLS ALSO

Charles M. Andrews, district
freight and passenger agent for
tho Southern Pacific, tried for
more than an hour Wednesday
20 convince The star that
foundtrlp passenger rates
from Chicago 20 San Francisco,
via. Seattle, are just and rea-
aonsble.
Andrews 10 one OF tho most
agreeable chaps In town.
He 10 a versatile dcbster and
a willing worker for the 8. p.
But his arguments failed 10
convince.
II lie effuHed transportation dope
and tariff schedules until The Star
reporter was on ths verge OF beg
ging his pardon for ever entertain.
ing nm idea that the Southern Pa.
cific was anything other than a cor
poration martyr
| Admits It's "Arbltrsry" Rate
lie chatted pleasantly on differ
entails and prefcrontials. revenues
and profits. and other transportation
matters that II would have taken a
3and degree rAilroadcr 20 interpret
Then. just ms The Star reporter
was feeling like n collapse. threw
up HIS hands and admitted that the
roundtrip rate from Chicago 10 San
Francisco via the Southern lines f.
arbitrary.
| II IN generally termed the arbi-
trary" when spoken OF In the offieer
OF the Southern Pacific and It's al.
/ lied lines. the Union Pacific and
Oregon Washington Railroad A. Nav.
igAtion Co. ne said.
what IN an Arbitrary be was
asked
Looks Up the Definition
The tiT50 difference IN the
charge for round.trip ticket" he
answered
Hut why call II arbitrary"
Well" he explained. because IL
Is arbitrary. guess"
] The stars man was nonplussed.
Here Was n man admitting that the
rates fixed by his road were arbi-
trary. Maybe. The Star man
thought. he was wrong in his idea
OF tho meaning OF the word "arbi-
trAry" lie looked in the diction-
AIRY.
aARBtT RY-- pEspoTlc.
TYRANNicAl." said Webster
Wants Things Talked Over
Being passenger agent. An
drovs f.. II follows. a pacifist and
I diplor'at
/ lie was strong for airing railroad
matters. 10 said Sometimes II did
a lot OF good for the people 10 wake
the railroads up. He was sure OF
that. But he believed IN d..s:s.:-.-'
! ii would be much better. he
thought. for the people OF Seattle
a nd the Northwest 20 get together
with the traffic representatives OF
tho railroads and discuss the case
amicabiy.
He kids" the Reporter
The utilization between the
o-w. and the Southern Pacific has
been absolutely severed" he de-
eiared. otherwise. wouldn't be
maintaining an office here"
He Was Kidding the reporter
again.
Tho courts ordered this affilia-
iion severed several years ago. SO.
out OF Difference TO the courts. the
two roads would naturally main
tain separate offices.
The differentisl. Andrews ex.
planned finally. was not a diiteren.
tial At ell. as II was generally
spoken OF IN the $. r. ans allied
railroad offices. bu, an arbitrary
Taking his word for &. Il ~ an
arbitrary rate. aud discriminatory
/ gainst Seattle and the Northwest.
Taxes Business From Seattle
II costs $3.50 more when sum
mer rates are In force 10 travel
from Chicago 20 San Francisco and
return via Seattle than u costs over
the allied Southern lines. leaving
Seattle out.
In winter Il costs y2i.75 more by
4 the Northern route And the dis
itanee this way is ?53 miles less.
That's what makes IL arbitrary.
T