The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-07
The New Trunk-Line Agreement.

The New Trunk-Line Agreement.
NEW YORK, Nov. 6.-The Times this morn
ing, has the full details of the proposed contract
of the new trunk-line plan. The plan contem-
plates, practically, central body, which shall
have control of the administration of the rail-
way business throughout the United States, pro-
vision being made to give the committees to be
formed the power to enforce their DEGREES. The
presidents will constitute a committee. with au-
thority to select an arbitrator and commissioner.
This committee will settle only broad questions
Of policy the details being left to other commit
tees. The commissioner, who will be chairman
of the presidents committee, will have the nam
inc of the trunklne executive committee,
which will consist of the vice presidents This
joint executive committee will appoint freight
and passenger committee. which will be made
I'D of the traffic managers or general freight and
passenger agents. The commissioners from the
subcommittee will select a chairman,
and to these will be given authority
to act as commissioners, one for freight business
and second for passenger traffic. No one will
be appointed to a position, either upon the pas
senger or freight committee, who has not full
authority in his own company over the depart
ment which he represents in the committee.
Prompt action is provided for on any subject
that may be brought to the atten ton of the
be selected as arbitrator and the chairman of
the passenger and freight pools will also prob
ably act as arbitrators, besides acting as chair
men OF their respective committees. Whenever
any complaint of breach of contract for the
strict maintenance of rates is made, the com
mittee of the department affected will be con-
vened at once. Should the representatives of
any company be absent, the chairman may act
IN his place, and whatever action is taken shall
remain in force until such company shall be
present by its authorized agent. The arbitra-
tors selected shall devote all their time to the
work of the commission. In case of disagreement
on the part Of their respective committees
they are authorized. upon an agreed statement
of facts, to arbitrate at once their decision re-
manning in force until reversal by higher
committee. The executive committee will,
therefore, have no cause for action except on
such matters may be outside of the question
of tariffs and division of traffic. except upon ap-
peas from the action of the freight or passenger
committee, and the presidents committee will
not have any special business except over such
questions as the executive committee fail to
agree upon, and when the action of the subor-
dlnate arbitrators is appealed from. All this
provides for carrying matters up to the highest
authority, the arbitrator himself, but the action
OF the majority is to stand, in every case, until
| revised by the higher authority. Each of the
trunk lines is made responsible for the acts of
its Western connections, the New York Central
being held for whatever infringement of the
contract may. be traced to the Lake
Shore, the Michigan Central, the Canada
Southern, the Nickel plate or the Decline, and
the Pennsylvania for the Fort Wayne, the
Chicago, St. Louis e Pittsburg and the Pitts
burg. Cincinnati & St Louis, and so On. ALI
roads connecting with the trunk lines and their
controlled roads are classed as affiliated roads,
and are entitled to representation in the joint
committee which is made up of representatives
of these roads and of the members of the trunk
line executive committee. This committee will
have authority over the classification of goods
the fixing of through rates. and will appoint
special committees on certain classes of goods
such as cotton, tobacco, or any through freight
which is carried over long routes and number
OF lines. In case of failure of the joint COM
| mittee to agree upon any question, the appeal
shall be to the executive committee thus placing
the connecting lines, to whom cutting is usually
traced, entirely at the mercy of the trunk lines.
The contract was drawn up by Commissioner
Fink and frequent reference is made all through
it, that it is to be observed in spirit as we'll as in
letter, the primary object being to provide for
uniform and regulated rates on business pass
ing over the trunk lines and affiliated roads.
Rebates of any kind, time contracts special rate
agreements for given amounts of freight, and
all subterfuges by which the spirit of the union
| may be violated are forbidden, and the transfer
of cars, the use of through bills of ading or the
making of through rates with any road refusing
| to be bound by the trunk-line agreement are
also prohibited.
The business to be governed bv this contract
is. first east-bound dead freight and live stock
coming from or from beyond the western termini
of the trunk lines: second, west bound freight
from the seaboard cities to the western termini
of the trunk lines; third, competitive passenger
traffic of the first and second classes and emil
grant traffic. Each party to this contract is to
deposit stated sum with the commissioner from
which shall be deducted such fines as he may
impose for violations of the agreement, when
proved, and the method of detection and convic-
ton is fixed