Show IN RAILWAY GIRGLE + Discussion as to Action of Northern Lines RATES HAVE BEEN CUT AND COMPIZnTOHS 3rtAY FIGHT FOR HOiEESEEKEBS Action of Nprthern Pacific and Great Northern Brews Trouble They Claim toBe Justified Truesdales Successor Chosen Car Combine Organized Sale of l V Road 4 The subject most widely discussed among railway men today is the Drab ability of n serious disruption of the present amicable terms between all lines competing for the business of the Pacific co s I is feared that a passenger rate war will Jje the result of the homeseekers excursions in March April and May The Northern Pacific and Great Northern have taken it upon themselves them-selves to establish a lower rate for homeseekers than has ever before been given These roads propose to sell their tickets at onehalf the usual fare good to any point as far west as the Pacific coast The rate becomes effective ef-fective for excursions on March 1 and 7 From this it is apparent that the two roads named have taken the initiative in-itiative in breaking the strict maintenance mainten-ance of tariff rates on passenger business busi-ness this winter and the consequences ne are likely to be farreaching At the same time the northern lines are offering reasons for their dangerous danger-ous step I seems that the agreement under which these excursions are conducted con-ducted provides that the rates shall apply only to Minnesota the Dakotas I Nebraska Kansas and as far west as Idaho In this they claim there has been an attempt to cut out territory along their lines in favor of Utah Colorado Col-orado and other western states I is to meet and counteract this alleged discrimination dis-crimination that the Northern Pacific and Great Northern have made their rates apply to Montana Oregon and Washington points As these localities are also reached by southern lines the Union Pacific Burlington and others have announced that they will not stand quietly aside and see competing lines make a lower rate than their tariff provides but will unless the northern lines withdraw meet the rate on cominzr excursions The Oregon Short Line Denver Illo Grande and Rio Grande Western will doubtless follow whatever oolicy Is adopted by the Union Pacific in dealing with the truant roads in the north All agree that their Interests in the northwest are of too great imoortanco to risk losing any traffic by the Illegitimate Illegit-imate action of any competing line A rate war of no small Import is likely to be precipitated unless matters are satisfactorily adjusted within a short trc March 7 and 21 April 4 and IS and May 2 and 16 are the selling dates for the excursions from the Missoiii river I to Utah points |