Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-11-15
CITY & NEWS ITEMS
MONDAY MORNING, NOV. is, 1855.
Railroad Convention

sions on the Rules and Regulations. The question
of the connection of Railroad Companies with Ex-
press Freight Companies was largely discussed by
Messrs. Bliss, Brough, Brooks, Cass, Moran and
others
In the course of the discussion some most effec
tive speeches were made by several members of the
Convention which had great influence in bringing
about the harmonious adopting of the entire plan.
Blr. Dennison, of the L ". and c. q x, made
one of the most noble and telling speeches 10
which We have ever listened. He had. he said,
been accused of inconsistency in this meeting
The charge might be true, and he was not ashamed
to avoW thai he was willing TO be inconsistent and
to change twenty times day, if by doing so he
could each time go nearer the right. He felt con-
ident that there would be some way by which We
might adjust the difficulties that had arisen. He
had come prepared 10 labor long and earnestly to
unite upon some action, and he earnestly appealed
to the members of the Convention that they should
not go away without removing the obstacles His
remarks had great influence in securing the results
be wished lie was greeted with involuntary and
hearty applause as he took his seat.
Judge Jewett, Mr.. Cass, Mr. Bliss and others
also made some most admirable remarks.
During the FIRST part OF the day there were many
signs of dissatisfaction and it was feared that the
Convention would adjourn without accomplishing
any good result, but the noble, manly example of
these leading men turned the scale, and the de.
bates closed with the adoption of almost the en-
tire compact with great unanimity and good feeling
In the course of the day it was
RsSOlred That Committee of one from each
District be appointed to notify the Roads located
within the territory represented in this Convention,
and to receive their response thereto, and in case
the shall be approved and ratified by the EX-
ecutive Committees or Boards of Directors of Com.
panies representieg two thirds Of the number of
miles embraced in said territory, and to make pub
lcatiOn thereof, and to call a general Convention
for the election of Commissioners
Messrs. W4. DENNIsoN, JR., JOHN INGLE, JR.,
and JOHN VAN NoRTwIcK were appointed this
Committee in the lst, 2d and Sd Districts res
pectiyely.
hessrs. HENRY FAREHAH, J EDeAs THOMPSON
and S. L. NJ. BARLOW were appointed Commit
tee to cooperate with Railroad Companies through
out the United States in endeavoring to have more
equivalent pay for carrying the mails than is now
allowed by Congress.
At the close Of the debates it was resolved to
have the proceedings published, and, together with
the compact, furnished to the several Companies.
Votes of thanks were passed to President BLISS,
to the Secretaries, and to the Railroad Companies
Of Cleveland, for services rendered. The Conven-
ton then adjourned sine die.
The following is the Plan of Organization adopt
ed by the Convention, together with the Rules
and Regulations
l. The Roads west of Buffalo, Suspension
Bridge, north of Ohio and east of the Mississippi
Rivers, shall elect three Commissioners, in the
manner hereinafter provided; each of said Com
missioners shall have his Office established, at the
time Of his appointment, or Immediately tEereaf-
ter in the district by which he is nominated.
9. For the nomination and election of such
Commissioners, the territory shall be divided into
three Districts, as follows:
First District.-The territory bounded west by
the Western line of the State of Ohio, south by
the Ohio River north by the line of the Northern
Indiana Railroad and Lake Erie. and east by the
Western terminus of the four Eastern Lines. So
much of the Northern Indiana Road as hes within
the State of Ohio, not TO be included within the
district
Second District-Commencing at the southern
corner of the State of Indiana thence north by the
Eastern boundary of said State to its intersection
with the Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana
Railroad; thence with the line of said road TO its
intersection with the western boundary to its inter-
section with the Toledo, Wabash and Western
Railroad; thence with the Great Western Railroad
TO Naples and Quincy; thence with the Mississippi
River to Cairo, and thence with the Ohio River to
the place Of beginning. The Great Western Road
of illinois, to be included in the Second District
Third DLstrict-All the territory north of the
First and Second Districts east of the Mississippi
River and west of line due north from Buffalo; the
whole of the Michigan Southern and Northern In
diana Railroad; the whole of the Joliet and North
ern Indiana Railroad, and the whole Of the Michi-
gan Central Railroad TO be included in this Dis
trict.
3. Each District shall nominate one Commis-
soner at the annual election. and also in case of
vacancy 1t shalrequire majority of not less than
wo-thirds of the votes cast in any such district
/ for the nomination Of such Commissioner. Such
nomination shall thereupon be reported to the Gen.
eral Convention; and if no objection be made, the
same shall be confirmed. If objection be made,
| the same shall be considered, aud referred to the
other two districts, and if such nomination is ap
proved by two thirds of the votes present Of each
of such districts the same shall stand confirmed;
/ but if sueh objection be sustained by more than
onethird of the votes of either Of said districts,
such nomination shall be set aside; and the district
proceed to nominate another Commissioner.
| 4. In all such nominations and action thereon,
in District meeting, each Incorporated Company
shall be entitled 20 one vote for each mile of IFS
| lire or lines of road owned actually operated
/ by said corporation within the district. When q
4 road lies in two or more districts, the Company
shall be entitedto vote in each district the num-
Der of miles of its road in such district. Provided
that when one and the same Company controls
and operates more than one line between the COM
mon termini they shall be entitled to vote on the
longest line only.
Each Company shall vote in person, and be rep
resented in District and General Convention by the
President, Vice President Superintendent, or
| Director authorized by the President in writing
or delegated by the Board duly certified by the
Secretary. No proxy votes shall be cast.
OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
| s. Neither of the Commissioners shall during
the term of his appointment, be connected as an
Officer, Agent, Director or Stakeholder of any
| Railroad Company.
I. 1t shall be the duty of the Commissioners 10
carry into force and effect all orders and resolu-
tions of the Convention of Roads in interest. To
! hear and determinate upon all complaints address
ed to them in writing, as to violations of ach rules
and regulations They shall from time to time reg
ulate the rates of fares and freights between COM
peting roads, TO and from common points, being
| guided by a maximum and minimum rule fixed by
| the Conventions. They shall meet once in each
month, at some convenient place in the territory
embraced by said roads, adjourning each meeting
to the time and place of the next one, and giving
notice thereof, alternating such meeting, SO that
| nc two successive regular monthly meetings shall
be held in the same District. They may hold such
special meetings as the nature of complaints may
require,
8. They shall have free access TO such books and
| papers ofeach Company, as may be necessary to
| any examination they may be required 10 make in
the discharge of their duties; and may examine
any and all officers agents and servants of roads,
touching all matters connected with the rules and
regulations aforesaid, and the observance or vio-
lation thereof.
9. It shall be the duty Of any Company within
the jurisdiction, upon the requisition of the Com
missioners, to suspend ticket and freight arrange
ments with any other road, that may he found
guilty Of violating any fthe rules and regulations
Of the Convention, and that may, by said Commis-
sioners, be deemed to merit such suspension.
10. The Commissioners may, in their discretion,
assess fine Of not less than one hundred dollars,
nor more than one thousand dollars, upon any