The times., 1889-12-27
A DELICATE TASK.
The Union Paclfic-Northwest-
ern Contract on Trial.
ATTACK ON THE TRAFFIC DEAL.

The Interstate Commerce. Railway As
ISOLATION Condemns 1t Almost Unani-
mousiy and Gives Chairman Walker a
Hard Row to Hoe--A Regular Two
Horned Dilemma-The Canadian Pacific
Gets an Entrance into Chicago over
the Wabash.
CHICAGO, Dec 1S.-The meeting yesterday
ofthe Interstate Commerce Railway associ-
alton to consider the membership of the
Union Pacific and Northwestern railways in
the association was attended by every one OF
the twenty-three lines members of the asso-
citation, except the ST. Louis and San Fran
cisco. The charge was made that the Union
Pacific and Northwestern had violated tho
agreement of the association in making
the close traffic contract under which they
are now doing business. The members Of
these two roads argued that their traffic
agreement was in no way contrary to the
spirit or letter OF the association agreement,
but failed to produce an impression on the
other roads
The Matter To BE Investigated.
The sentiment was apparently unanimous
against them. Both yielded to the inevita-
bic, however, and voted with all the other
lines in favor of the following:
"Resolved, That the matter be referred to
the chairman of the association for investi-
cation, and for decision as to whether the
charge that the agreement has been violated
Is true; and that he report the result Of his
investigation to the presidents"
Has Difficult Task Before Him.
Chairman Walker will report at the Jan
uary meeting of the presidents of the asso-
,su4s s<..s -. "a L 4 n -
delicate he has yet had to perform in his
office as head Of the association. Charles
Francis Adams, president of the Union Pa
cific, is father of the combination of
which Mr.. Walker is chairman, and
Harvin Hughitt, president of the
Northwestern, presided at the meeting
which finally formed the association after
Mr.. Adams had left it in disgust and started
for Boston. Chairman Walker then, in de-
Gliding against the Union Pacific and North
western, would decide against the two most
prominent members in the association.
Should he decide in favor of them he would
have twenty-one objecting lines to recon-
cile.
A Hot Time i'm Prospect.
The outlook for the association is not a.
rosy one The new York meeting would
have been sufficiently hot without this addi-
tional tirebrand. Only the most careful pi-
loting can keep it clear from the breakers.
No student of tho western railroad situation
believes the association will be broken up,
as it is the only means left by which east
ern capitalists keep the western roads up to
even the semblance of maintaining rates.
The association, it is claimed, is absolutely
necessary to preserve the confidence of east
ern investors in western railroad securities,
and for that reason alone, outside of its in
trinsic value to the members, will undoubt-
edly be continued. The members are al
ready preparing for the struggle sure to
come at the New York meeting in January.
Canadian Pacific Goes to Chicago.
MONTREAL, Dec 1S.-The Canadian Pacific
railway late last night announced that it
had signed an agreement with the Wabash,
railway by the terms of which the Canadian
Pacific road is to gain an entrance into Chi
cago over the tracks of the Wabash system
Freight traffic commences in the course of a
few weeks, but passenger trains will not be-
gin running until next June, when, it is un-
derstood, the Canadian line will put in
service which for accommodation and COM
fort will be superior to any of the routes at
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