New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-20
TRUNK LINE AGREEMENT.
PRESIDENTS VOTE THEIR APPROVAL.
STRINGENT MEASURES ALSO ADOPTED TO STOP
THE PEORIA DECENTRALIZATION.


srBINGENT MEASURES ALSO ADOPTED TO sToI
THE PEORIA DECENTRALIZATION.
Tho trunk limo presidents held a meeting at Com
missioner FnRs Office yesterday to receive the report
Of the executive committee which had revised the new
trunllne agreement that was decided upon after the
famous melting OF Eastern and Western railway pres
dents at the house of j. Perpont Morgan last Decem
| ber All OF the roads we're personally represented
except tho Delaware, Lackawanna and Western, the
Philadelphia and Reading and the Grand Trunk OF Can
ada The latter was represented by General Traffic
Manager Sergeant Mr.. Sloane, of the Lackawanna,
was detained by the annual meeting of his stockholders
| and General Manager Hegeman acted for him. There
was significance the absence of President Corbn,
Of the Reading who is known to be In thorough sym.
patty with the association. There was some discus
sion OF the general rate situation, which under other
conditions would doubtless have led to acrimonious
debate but the disposition of the presidents to
their agreement carried with 1t the that
les stringent provisions would obviao the difficulties
now existing 1t was voted that the agreement be
| accepted and take effect to-day.
Commissioner blanchard OF tho Central Traffic Asso-
cIaon participated in the nesting when the subject Of
tho rate Irregularities at Peoria was taken up. The
action Of the Board OF Trade OF Peoria IN attempting
break up tho inspection OF billing that the roads have
established in order to equal rates TO all ship
pers and prevent secret manlpuatons considered
There was hut opinion that the roads must resist
any combination of shippers which sought, after tho
manner Of Of the dressedbeef ring to seize the power
10 dictate the prices OF transportation by conspraces
or nlogai methods. The trunk lines voted that they
would discontinue all Joint rate traffic arrangements
with any connecting roads engaged In manipulatons
and devices which clearly violated recent agreements
and tho Interstate Commerce law. In order to be
assured that freight In the future is correctly billed at
published tariff rates and correct weights, the presi
dents further agreed 10 make 10 condition Of the con-
FINANCE of Joint traffic arrangements that the Joint
inspectors shall examine waybIlDg and weights, ana
correct the same wherever found improper Onders
were autographed West that these regulations should DO
carried out at once. Tho shippers Of Peoria VIII
now find themselves unable to any road Improperly
without running the danger OF having that ROAD 1850
ALI tho advantages OF through connections.
The revised articles Of association OF the trunk
lines differ from tho trunk line agreeemnt OF NO
yember 9, 1885, and April l. 1887 In that a more
direct method Is provided for bringing important
questions OF difference TO the attention OF the Board
OF Presidents and having them moro promptly decided
By arbitration The chief objection 10 The old agree
ments was that tho responsibility for carrying out
their provisions was divided among the several COM
mlttecs who nom the nature Of the case, could not
act promptly aud efficiently In the now or amended
agreement the responsibility for details Is thrown
upon the Commissioner and the distractions ne meets
may at once DO brought before tho presidents or
chief managing officers, who assume the Responsibility
Of carrying out the agreement The Commissioner Is
10 act arbitrator, bu, in case his decision Is ap
pealed from, two additional arbitrators are to be
selected the majority vote Of tho board so constituted
10 Be final. The Commissioner or tho Board OF
Arbitration shall decide what subjects are proper
ones for arbitration, IN case that question arises.
Is provided however that members who are not
willing to abide By the decision OF tho Board OF
Arbitration shall withdraw from the association The
organization Of the association remains substantially
AZ before except In increased expcitnes OF terms Tor
procedure and in new provisions for nhng tariffs and
otherwise conforming 70 the Interstate Commerce
law Tho general rules (which are comprised IN
Article XXI provide that In complaint IS made
against Any company Of violation OF tariffs or rules,
he company shall 10 good faith investigate the charges
II the complaining parties are not satisfied WIN me
Investigation and the violation complained OF II not
stopped, tho complaining company has the night 10
reduce the tariff 10 meet the reduction made. either
opcnly or By secret devices by competing lines, but
the reduction mus; not be made except upon due notice
nom The complaining company. and Is 70 take effect
simultaneously hy all lines In case OF violations OF
The agrcomeut that infIing the Interstate law com
plant direct the Federal Commissoners Is al
loved and the frcnk line Commissioner Is gwen hill
freedom 10 furnish the Federal officers with any iniorns
tinn that will aid them IA detecting and Furnishing
violations Of tho law.