Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-11-13
Gigantic Pooling scnem.

NEW YORK, Nov. 6.-The Times this
morning has full details of tho proposed
contract Of the new trunk line plan. The
plan contemplates, practically, central
body, which shall have control of the ad-
ministration of the railway business through
out the United States. Provision is being
made. in committees to be formed, with
power to enforce their DEGREES, for q repre-
sentation for each of the eight trunk lines.
The presidents will constitute the committee,
with authority to select commissioner.
This committee will settle broad questions
OF policy, details being left to other COM
mittees. The commissioner, who will be
chairman Of the presidents commit
tee, will have the naming of the
trunk line executive committee, which
will consist Of vice presidents.
This joint executive committee
will appoint freight and passenger COM
mittee, which will be made up of traffic
managers and freight and passenger agents.
The commissioner from the committees will
select the chairman, and to these will be
given authority to act as commissioners, one
for freight business and the second for pas
senger traffic. No one will be appointed 10
position either upon the freight or passen-
ger committees who has not full authority
in his own company over the department
which he represents in the committee.
Prompt action is provided for on any sub
ject that may be brought to the attention of
the committee. Commissioner Fink will
probably be selected as arbitrator, and the
chairmen OF the passenger and freight pools
will also probably act as arbitrators, besides
acting as chairmen of their respective COM
mittees. Whenever complaint of a breach
of contract for the strict maintenance is made.
the committee Of the department affected
Will be convened at once. Should repre-
sentatives of any company be absent the
chairman may act in his place, and what
ever action is taken it shall remain in force
until such company shall be present BY its
authorized agent. Arbitrator selected shall
devote all their time to the work of their
commission, and iE the case of disagree
ment on the part of their respective COM
mittees, they are authorized, upon an agreed
statements of facts, TO arbitrate at once,
their decision remaining in force until re-
versed by the higher committee The ex-
ecutive committee will therefore have no
cause for action except on such matters as
may be outside of the questions of tariffs and
division OF traffic, except upon appeals
from the action of the freight or pas
senger committees, and the presidents
committee will not have any special
business except over such questions rs
the executive committee fail to agree upon,
and the action of subordinate arbitrators is
appealed from. All this provides for carry
ing matter up to the highest authority--the
arbitrator bimself-but the action of the
majority is to stand in every case
until reversed by higher authority.
Each of the trunk lines is made responsible
for the acts of its western connection. The
New York Central being held for whatever
Infringement of contract may be traced to
the Lake Shore, Michigan Central, Canada
Southern or Nickel Plate and Pennsylvania
x Fort Wayne, the Chicago, S.. LOUIS &
Pittsburg, and Pittsburg, Cincinnati & st.
Louis, and SO on. All roads connecting
with trunk lines and their controlling roads
are classed as affiliated roads, and are en-
entitled to representation in joint commit
tee, which is made up of representatives
of those roads and members of the
trunk line executive committee. This
committee will have authority over CLASH
iication, over goods, the fixing of through
rates. and will appoint special committees
on certain classes of goods, such as cotton,
tobacco or any other through freight which
is carried over long routes and a number of
lines. In case of failure of the Joint COM
mittee to agree upon any question the APP
peal shall be made to the executive commit
tee, thus placing connecting lines to whom
cutting is usually traced entirely at the
mercy Of the trunk lines.
The contract was drawn up by commits
sioner Fink, and frequent reference is made
all through it that it is to be observed in
spirit as well as in letter. The primary OBJ
ject is to provide for uniform and regulated
rates on business passing over trunk
lines and affiliated roads. Rebates
OF any kind, terms, contracts, special
rates, agreements for given amounts of
freight, and all subterfuges by which the
the spirit of union may be united, are for
hidden, and transfer of cars, use of through
bills of lading, or making of through rates
with any road refusing to be bound by the
trunk line agreement are also prohibited.
The business to be governed by this con-
tract is:
First-East-bound dead freight and live
stock coming from or beyond the western
terminus of trunk lines.
Second-West-bound freight from sea-
board cilies TO western terminus OF trunk
lines.
Third-Competition in passenger traffic
Of the first and second class and amigrant
traffic
Each party to this contract is to deposit a
stated sum with the commissioner from
which shall be deducted such fines as he
may impose for the violation of the agree
ment when proved and the method of de-
lection and conviction is fixed.
The trunk line committee has signed the
new pooling agreement at Commissioner
Fink's office. After the agreement has been
signed by the officials of the western roads, |
he new pooling arrangement will go into
fleet.