St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-11-08
Substance oft.e Agreement.

NEW DIRK, NOV. 1.-COllluliSSlOHGI
Fink to-day gave out the following as the
substance of the agreement of the presi-
dents of the trunk lines in their efforts to
secure harmony and cooperation in the
maintenance of rates: Whereas past ex
perience has fully established the fact that
the joint account of competing railroad
companies in establishing and adhering to
uniform rates of transportation for like
service to the public is necessary in order
to avoid the evils of unjust dis
elimination and fuctuating rates, so in
furious to commercial as well as
to the railroad interests; therefore. the par
site named (all but the Lehigh Valley en-
ter into the following contract for the pur-
pose of jointly establishing tariffs over
their respective roads on competitive traffic,
both passenger and freight. and of publish
ing said tariffs, and strictly maintaining the
same. All measures necessary to carry out
this contract shall be taken jointly by the
parties hereto, or jointly by such OF the par
ties as may be directly interested, and should
any question arise upon which they cannot
agree in relation to the terms of this con-
tract. as to any matter arising Hereunder,
it shall be decided by arbitration, it being
one of the fundamental principles of this
contract that no party shall take separate
action in any matter affecting the interests
of one or more of the other parties, contrary
to the spirit and intent of this contract.
The condition upon which the trunk lines
will enter into traffic agreement with
their connecting roads is that said connect
ing roads shall strictly adhere to the estab-
lished tariffs. 1t is an essential part of
the contract that the trunk lines will not
t, I,o how f+arb
to any traffic arrangement with any of the
connecting roads which decline or fail to
MAINTAIN THE PUBLISHED TARIFFS.
The traffic arrangements referred to are:
The issuing or honoring of joint due bills of
lading or through tickets; the interchange of
through freight and passenger cars; the col
freight and passenger fares, or
participating by division in through
rates or fares upon traffic covered
by the contract. Provision is made for the
method in which Western roads and the trunk
lines are to agree upon tariffs. Each of the
trunk lines further undertakes to fully con-
troll the maintenance OF agreed rates and
fares on its own road, as well as over its of
floating roads, so far as such rates and fares
are subject to the contract. 1t is funda
mental principle of this contract thai
each trunk line shall act as the
1uIIY-auLQOTiZ6u dSSuG anu representative VI
its connecting roads in all matters connected
with the maintenance of the joint tariffs, sc
far as traffic over its own road is concerned
and that no agent or officer or fast freight
line agent of said connecting roads shall have
the authority or power to vary from the
agreed joint tariffs.
The agreement has not been signed, but
each representative agreed to sign as soon
as clean draft could be forwarded to the
companies. The Lehigh Valley company is
not a party to the contract. 1t is a coal
road, and although in hearty cooperation
with all the lines, it was not deemed nee
essary that it should be party. Mir. Fink
commenting on the agreement said:
This is contract to regulate and maintain
tariffs. There is not word said about pools.
The principal feature in the contract is that
all the lines will act as one body in making
and maintaining road. Pools may or may
not be formed as incidental measures
in carrying out the provisions OF
the contract. This contract depends
for its execution upon distinctive official
bodies similar to those Offices which are
necessary in the practical operation of q
railroad. The presidents of all the lines con-
stitute the highest body; then the vice presi-
dents; then the general passenger agents;
then general freight agents, etc.