The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-22
THE PRESIDENTS SIGN
THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE Asso
CIATIoN AGREEMENT.
Four Railroads, However, Decline to
Join, Among Them the Illinois Central
and the KANSAS City, Fort Scott 81
Memphis

TO perfect the Interstate Commerce Asso-
citation with the lines that have signed the
Presidents agreement instead of laboring
further with the 6ompanies that have re-
fused to sign was carried today and the
association is now fact The member
ship il composed of eighteen roads out OF
the twenty-five which were at first deemed
necessary to the agreement The Wiscon-
sin Central for some unexplained reason
'changed front and became 4 party to the
agreement. notwithstanding its emphatic
declaration OF the preceding day that it
could not do so il the Chicago, Burlington
& Northern remained out. General
Manager Mlllen, OF tho Wisconsin Cen
trail, was present at tojay's session with
full authority to sign the agreement. Vice
President Harrison, OF the Burlington &
Northern, appeared before the meeting
and explained that his company in justice
TO itself could not consistently become a
member Of the association unless its prin-
cpal competitors on seaboard traffic were
also taken. This was given as the final
answer of the Burlington x Northern to
the urgent requests il has received to re-
consider its determination
When the Presidents convened, Mt IL
am, there seemed to be very little pros
pcct Of their being able to complete the
proposed organization. They changed
their place Of meeting from the Grand
Pacific Hotel TO a room in the Rookery
building, whore they heard the report OF
the committee appointed on the previous
evening 10 make such changes in the de-
tails of the contract us might be- necessary
or expedient. The committee made no
alterations, except to strike out the pro-
viso in regard to the number of signatures
necessary TO make ii binding, aud recon-
mended that the agreement be adopted ms
it stood. President Miller, of the Chi
CagO, Milwaukee q ST. Paul, who had
been Withholding his assent TO tho now
arrangement until he should sec what his
Northwestern competitors were going TO
do, appeared tO be in no hurry To sign the
articles even after the Wisconsin Central
had rcccdcd from It's position. This seemed
10 try the patience OF Charles Francis
Adams, Of the Union Pacific, and possibly
one or two others who were particularly
anxious To reach some kind OF a settlement.
| When matters were looking very blue and
everybody present was about ready TO give
up aud acknowledge the boosted agree.
mcnt failure, President Adams surprised
them by producing q rather remarkable
resolution. IL wis 10 the effect that tho
movement 10 organize the Interstate Com.
mcrce Railroad Association be then and
there abandoned, rs d had been found i'm.
possible Ia carry 1t TO success owing to the
obstruction placed In the way by the Chi
cagu, Milwaukee 4 II. Paul and the Chi
CayO, Burlington x Northern Railroads.
This caused q sensation and brought
President Miller to his feet with a
sharp criticism Of Mr. Adams's rc,olu.
tion 30 FAR rs IL applied TO him, and the
company he represented. Several olher.
took M Mr.. Miiler's cause. aud gave the
Boston gentleman 10 understand they con.
sdcrcd ho hud perpetratcd a breach ol
courtesy which the circumstance OF his
surroundings oud hardly excuse. The
resolution received no second, aud after il
had been, hgumuvcly sat down upon.
President AdIy, gracionsly Withdrew il,
and even HpOlogizcd 10 Mr.. Miller aud the
meeting Tor having offered IT, All this
occurred just before the adjournment OF
the morning session, and when the meet.
ing vconycncd at . O'Clock pm, prc,i.
dent Adams was conspicuous Tor his alb
scncc, nor did he appear again during the
day.
\ strong iigi was made by several OF
the presidents 10 bring about some kind
OF m organization, principally ON the
ground that q failure at this stage Of tho
proceedings would destroy confidence in
Western railroad values and possibly lead
20 decentralization Of rates. The oh.
jccior, were finally brought into liuc, and
The following Named companies signed IN,
agreement. with the understanding that Il
becomes effective immcdintcly The Chicago
4 Alton, the Rock Island, the Chicago,
Burlington 4 Quincy; the Chicago. Mil.
Yankee q 81 Paul; the Chicago. II. PAU
x Kansas City the Chicago x North
WESTERN; the Chicago, ST. Paul. Min
ncapolis q Omaha. the Wisconsin Cen,
trial, the Missouri Pacific, the Atchison.
Topeka q Santa be. the Union Pacific
st. Louis q san Francisco. the Wabash
Western, the Burlington, Cedar Rapids 4
J Northern, the Minneapolis & ~. Louis
! the Iowa Central, the Fort Worth a
Denver and the Wabash. The four road.
not in the agreement are the Illinois Cen
trail, the Chicago, Burlington & Northern
} the Kansas City, Fort Scott q Mcmphu
! and the Missouri. Kansas & Texas m,
details Of the agreement we're not com
plcipd this evening nnl adjournment WI,
J taken until tomorrow No ~ o'clock
7 Mr~rt llughitt, McNuln, Mcmillan and
! Miller wcrn constituted committee q,
J confer with Aldacc i, Walker Of the In
tcfsiatc Commerce Commission aud as.
certain ID Dec will accept the chnirmaushir
Of the Interstate Commerce hallway Ass6
citation.
The committee has communicated with
. Mr. Walker, and will probably have an
! answer 90 report nc tumOrruw's mcpiiny
There Is good deal of speculation a. 3,
whether be will accept Or not, with odd,
Ia favor oi refusal.
The skrptics look upon the iral action
oi the presidents as something OF farce.
They contend that the association will bt
Of no practical value with several import
ant roads omitted, aud that 10 cannot Ion.
survive. rho fnrsdcna talk differently
however aud Apparently timc alone cir
determine vhithiicW h correct Accord
ing Ia the tcrns Of the agreement, ans
company may on April !, give thrt,
DAYS notice ol ~ intention to withdraw
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THE cLKYToN MURDER.