Omaha daily bee., 1889-01-31
The Revision Completed and All But
Three SIGNATURES Obtained.

CHICAGO, Jan. 30.-The presidents of the
western railroads. after being in session one
week, completed the work of revising the
agreement which is to form the basis of the
interstate railway association, and ad-
journed this evening, subject to the call of
the chair The presidents declared unani-
mously for making Mr.. A. +. Walker, at
present one of the members of the interstate
commission, chairman of the proposed eXecu-
tive board While this announcement is
great surprise to everybody, all conceed that
q more judcious choice could not have been
made. Final action, of course, can not be
taken until the agreement has received the
signatures of all the companies party to it.
The signatures of the Burlington & North
ern, Illinois Central, and Kan
sas City, Ft. Scott s. Gulf are, still
lacking, and committee was appointed to
endeavor to obtain them. Presidents Hugh
lit, Gable and Strong constitute this commit
tee, and express the opinion that all the sig
natures will be obtained. There is little
doubt that the Illinois Central, at least, will
live up to the agreement, whether it signs it
or not.
In document now given to the public the
original agreement of the presidents, known
as the agreement Of January /, is placed at
the head of prelude. This is followed by
the articles of the agreement construction
OF the board of managers, etc.
Article three, regarding rate commit
tees, says that their conclusion,
when unanimous, shall be made
shall be referred to the board Of
managers, and if they disagree it shall
be arbitrated by the executive board.
Notwithstanding this decision, however, the
company claiming. right to make any par
tiCular rate may. after such decision, make
such rate on ten days. notice.
Article 4, relating to divisions of through
rates, IS also amended, the intention being
that bidding for business by means of private
concessions shall cease, and that divisions on
corresponding traffic shan be opened to all
lines; provided, however, that when one
road has proprietary interest in another,
the divisions between such roads shall be
what they may elect; and traffic CONTRACTS
sssay sgesn ues ess'ng ns having the dass es
proprietary interest shall be reported SO that
divisions with competing lines may, If de-
sired, be made on equal terms.
The minimum penalty for each violation is
made 500. instead of $3.50, but the company
convicted shall forfeit the revenue secured
by violation. Where penalties have been
collected under the rules of auxiliary asso-
Citations. they shall not be assessed second
time by this association
The provision that an employe, after once
being discharged for violation of rules shall
not be re-employed by any road in the asso-
citation, is stricken out.
Article thirteen defines the territory to be
CONGTGu ny Ile dSSOClitbiOn puSlucSS
ing origin or destination in the states of Hi
nois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado,
Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the territories of
Utah. Wyoming, Dakota, New MeXica, Mon
tana and Indian Territory. Except Pacific
coast business, covered by the trans-conti:
mental agreement, and Texas business, cow
cred by the International agreement, by
unanimous action of the manager of the in
terested lines any traffic may be included IN
or exempted from the agreement.
An amendment to the arbitration article
provides that any question on which the
ferred to the executive board, composed Of
the chairman and two others chosen from
the chairmen OF auxiliary associations.
The duration of the agreement is to be alb
solutely ninety days from January l. subject
thirty days thereafter to the desire of any
party to withdraw from or amend the same
The Wabash road is party to the agree
ment on y for that portion of its road from
Chicago to ST. Louis and Hannibal, via Tou-
Iona.