The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-22
A RAILWAY SENSATION.
President stickney Anxious to Correc
Interstate Abuses.

President Stickney Anxious to Correct
Interstate Abuses.
CWCAGo, ILL.,, Dec. 2l.-Prcsidcnt A. b.
Stickncy, OF the Chicago, Kansas City Il
st. Paul Road, created quito sensation
among railroad managers by his speech
made at the meeting of the Western
Freight Association yesterday. The qucs-
tion came up Of adopting n resolution pro.
posed at the previous meeting TO rcailirm
the existing agreements and give addi-
tional power TO the chairman, enabling
him 10 investigate charges Of violation OF
rules and rates without waiting Tor formal
complaints TO be made. Mr.. Stickney
took the ground that such action as was
proposed would In no way correct the
abuses from which the roads were suffer.
ing, because the chairman would not be
able TO secure the evidence 10 convict "A
road. The present demoralized state of
affairs, he said was due TO the dishonesty
OF railroad officials and their willml viola.
tons Oi the interstate commerce law. Not
ono road in the association, lac said, hal
complied with the laws since its
adoption. Instead OF conspiring To
cvado the provisions OF the law,
they should band together and prosecute
any road guilty Of violating any Of its pro.
visions. The Interstate Commerce Com.
mission was the proper authority 10 nyes-
tigatc charges, ho said. II could bring all
railway officials before Il and compel them
10 testify under oath. The Commission
would have no difficulty in finding out
that secret rebates, drawbacks or other in
duCcmcnts were given favored shippers:
that tickets were placed in the hands OF
scalpcrs 10 bc sold at cut rates, and that
other Illegal practices were INDUCED in by
all the railroads. As the railroads failed
10 take concerted action 10 enforce strict
compliance with the law, hc for one pro.
posed 10 take individual action before the
Commission against the parties lac found
violating It. llo rrad drafts oi charges
against q number of ronds, 10 which lac pro.
posed to call the attention OF the Cummis-
sion, aud said hc uldappcar before II ns
public prosecutor. Ills principal charge
was that instead Of publishing aud posting
all tariffs In plea typo aud giving the ten
days notice OF a proposed change In
rates, alterations woro being mndo
Without previous noticc bcinv given,
nnl that instead OF puhllshin.
aud posting notices ~ required by law,
they simply posted written copy IN sDmc
out of-thc.Way place. Thus. II road lie.
sird 10 take lFrga shipment nj reduced
rate II posted such clandcstinc notice In
some obscure place. At the expiration OF
ten days the freight on which the cut rate
had been made was all disposed ui, and
the road would again charge taril rates
until there was another opportunity To
take q large amount Of business away from
a competitor. Under the law tho rates 10
Intermediate stations must correspond with
the through rates, but although 10 was
usually stated nt the bottom ui special
tarn giving reduced through rates that
charges To intermediate stations would
not be- higher, yet the regular tariiI 10 such
points was not changed.
The speech forms the general topic OF
discussion In railroad circles.