The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-01-11
RAILROAD TREATY
Gould's Clearing-Hou Plan
Adopted.
PENALTIES FOR RATE CUTTING.
The Interstate CommIssien's I'm
Discourage Road Il aiding

NV YORK. Jan. Io.--At The confer
ence to-day between the bankers and
presidents Of railroad lines west of
Chiesgo aud ST. Louis, which lasted
about three hours. Charles F. Adams
William d. Strong and Frank :. Bond,
who were appointed a committee al
the last meeting 70 perfect plan OF
organization and confer with the inter
state com nlercs commission, submitted
( report and plan. In the report the
committee says 10 has considered that
in the matter OF tra fic it was best to
adhere strictly to the agreement known
as the agreement OF presidents 81 ne
Ist OF January, issa They have not
sought TO extend the provisions of
that agreement or introduce into the
present plan features likely to excite
discussion. They have sought TO in
troauee. in the simplest possible form.
the machinery necessary TO secure the
interstate commerce act and at the
same time To make the agreement OF
January effective. In order more
eiiectually 10 secure the results, il IS
proposed that the association should
be an association Of presidents, 10 the
end that the highest officials of the
various companies may be made re-
sponsibie one TO another.
THE CLEARINGHOUSE Plan.
The plan appears to be in its entire
( ly very similar to that of the proposed
Clearinghouse. which created so much
comment a short time ago. Ii is sub
stantially a follows The object OF
! the association Is the enforcement OF
/ the provisions OF the interstate COM
merce act and the establishment and
maintenance of public. reasonable.
uniform and stable rates in conform
Z ity with the provisions thereof, also to
( secure complete reports OF competitive
/ traffic, subject to the provisions of the
I interstate commerce act, and such
other strafiic as is seemed advisable.
! The board OF managers shall consist
Z of an accredited representative OF each
company. the president of which is q
member of the association. The rate
I comm fttees appointed by the board OF
managers for the freight and passen-
ger departments. shall be constituted
! whose province il shall be to consider
all proposed changes in rates, rules
and regulations of traffic, subject to
/ approval of the association. Their
conclusions, when unanimous, shall
! be made effective when they SO order;
but Il they differ the question at issue
shall be referred TO the board of man
ayers, and il they disagree, it shall be
arbitrated by the executive board as
| hereinafter provided. \ provision OF
I through rates j. provided for.
One officer of each company the
J go IL II. .,Fs
association shall he held responsible
1 for the strict maintenance by his com
pany of all the rates and rules estab-
.lished By the association. The board
! of managers shall hereafter establish
such rules and regulations as il may
deem expedient. to limit needless out
/ lay and reckless striving for business
I through separate agencies or the pay
4 ment OF commissions; or they may, if
/ they deem proper. totally abolish and
7 forbid the same in whole or in part, or
/ cause Joint agencies to be established,
the expenses of which shall be paid by
| the association. The auditor Of the
association shall have authority TO ex-
anime and check any and all accounts
of each company. No vouchers or
( other form of concession which would
/ decrease established rates OF influence
/ the routing OF business shall be paid or
allowed unless authority is given by
[ the executive board. Compireilers or
general auditors shall be instructed by
( their respective presidents 90 pass no
way bills. expense bills, claims or
/ vouchers extended at rates or charges
/ different from those duly authorized.
I Officers making reports to the assOcia-
ton shall certify TO their correctness.
and in case irregularities are charged
/ may be examined under oath by the
executive board.
When a charge is made to the eX-
ecutive board that any provision OF
{ the interstate commerce act has been
/ violated or any rate, rule or regulation
established By the association disre-
garded. the accused shall be given 10
days in which to reply. and if after
I investigation it then should appear to
/ the executive board or . majority
/ thereof that the charge is sustained,
said executive board shall. II such Of
/ Tense involves violation, real or appar-
ent. OF the provisions of the inter state
commerce. forthwith communicate its
I findings. together with the
evidence in support thereof,
TO the interstate commerce commits
/ sioners for such action as said com
I miSSi0ners may deem proper. IL such
I oifenses involve a violation only OF the
articles OF this agreement and does
not involve in addition thereto any vi
olation OF the provisions Of the inter
state commerce act, penalty shall be
| assessed OF not less than $3.50 for each
/ offense
The presidents agree among them
/ solves to Immediately discharge, on
/ the reconmendati0n of the executive
board. any employe guilty OF viola
/ ton OF any provision Of this agree
ment. and he shall not he engaged or
employed by any member OF the asso-
ciation except upon approval OF the
executive board.
The board OF managers shall deter
/ mine the territory 10 be covered by
the agreement. and the association
| shall. on matters which particularly
lie IN any given territory, he divided
into sections By the board OF managers
and for the consideration OF subjects
solely concerning such groups sepa-
rate meetings shall be held.
Statistical statements shall be issued
I weekly "a members, in order To attest
I the sincerity Of the members, and 70
{ create lNhG upon Nii-t-ti 4iltVs -a7et1
| ed can I've collected Each member
/ shall deposit and keep gold in q bank
/ TO be named hy the managers,
I TO the credit snd subject
( 10 the draft Of the executive
/ toard OF not less than Si00 in any
( case. nor more than $500, as may he
agreed. or n the executive board shah
{ determine.
| APPROVED ~ THE INTERSTATE coNsfS-
sIOS.
I In presenting the documents on be-
{ half OF the committee. Charles Francis
Adams said the report and plan OF
| organization had been discussed with
I the interstate commissioners IN detail.
They we're inclined 90 criticise, and
expressed q decided opinion that the
plan was 8 vast improvement on any
| thing vet proposed which had come 70
their knowiedge They suggested a
| few alterations IN II relating to the
matter Of form and expression, but in
no case substantially affecting the re
port. All OF these changes the com
nittee adopted The report Of the
| committee was unanimously adopted
and the committee discharged by the
| representatives OF the Western roads.
srFRcyED 1T THE TRsNK LINES.
After a discussion in which the