Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-28
A RAILROAD CONVENTION.
Representatives Of Many States and
Railroads Present.

JUDGE COOLEY PREsIDEs AND MAKES THE OPEN.
ING ADDREss-REcoMMESDATIo LOOKING To
THE SECURING OF UNIFORMITY OF LEeIsLA-
TIoS-THE INTERSTATE LAW.
An important convention was held today al
the rooms of the interstate commerce commits.
sion. 1t was meeting of the railroad commits
sloners of the various states, and was
held IN pursuance OF a. resolution
adopted at convention of state
railroad commissioners held in this city in
March of last year. The railroad commissioners
OF all the states and state officers charged with
the supervision of railroads and railroad inter-
ests and the executive committee of the Asso-
citation of American Railway Accounting Officers
were invited TO attend. There was a large at
tendance when the convention was called to
order at IL o'clock today.
DELEGATES PRESENT.
The following delegates were present: Con-
necticut-George NJ. Woodruff William o. Sey-
mour. Illinois,. r. Wheeler, Isaac " Phil
lips. j. Ii. Paddock. Charles Hansel. Iowa
Spencer Smith kentucky-L A. Spaulding.
W. b. Fleming. Maine-D. y. Mortland. A.W.
NIldes. Roscoe y. Bowers. Massachusetts--
George c. Crocker. Edward W. Kingsley.
Everett A. Stevens. Michigsn-John I. Rich
Minnesota-JOhn p Williams. A. h. Teisberg
Gllebrist. New Hampshire-John NJ. Mitch
ell. New Hork-Isaac V. Baker, jr.
North Dakota-David Bartlett. Ohio-James
A: Norton. Pennsylyania-Isaac b. Brown.
Rhode lsland-E. L. Freeman. South Car
oiina-Miiedge E. Bonhue. Eugene T. Jeryey.
South Dakota-John King. Vermont-E. j.
Ormsbee. Alfred E. Watson. clerk Wyoming
j. W. Hammond. acting representative. J. T.
Whitehead, controller Atchson. Topeka and
SantaFe Railroad Company; A. Douglass auditor
st. Louis and San Francisco Railway Company;
J. q. Courtney auditor Western and Atlantic
Railroad Company: Oliver W. Mink. con-
troller Union Pacific Railroad Company, repre-
sentlng executive committee of the Associa-
ton of American Railway Accounting Officers;
Z. q. Phillips, secretary Association American
Railway Accounting Officers: c. l. sturgis.
assistant general auditor Chicago Burlington
and Quincy railroad; A. I. Hadley, New Haven.
Conn. Representatives of the press-James
Peabody. Railway Review; II. r.. Hobart Rail-
way Age
JUDGE CooLEYs OPENING ADDRESS.
Judge Cooley, the chairman of the last year s
convention, called the meeting to order and
made an interesting opening address. His ap-
pearance of health and vigor was remarked
upon by the delegates, who knew of his recent
illness, and he was heartily congratulated upon
object Of the convention was to discuss
in the main the subjects of uniformity of
legislation IN the country and the uniformity
OF regulation. He spoke of the Importance of
these two matters. and said that since the con-
venton of last year the commissioners of nine
states had made their reports for the fiscal
year correspond iI date with that of the inter-
state commission which makes twenty states
in all where the fiscal year corresponds. Dur
ing the past year also four states have adopted
the same form of report. He spoke of the diff
ficulty OF securing adequate railroad regula-
tion in this country owing TO the peculiar con-
ditions which made the railroad problem in
this country different from that of any
country in the world. The attempt made
to secure the regulations of rail-
roads by the interstate law was referred to
and the Judge said that while some features
of the law might be criticised, yet the main
principle was right and just and not intended
to interfere with the rights of any ones busi-
ness. He referred to the importance of the
work placed in charge of the members of the
convention and said that they we're called upon
to regulate railroads which, as far as mileage
was concerned, equaled nearly half the entire
mileage of the world
OFFICERS CHOSEN.
Upon the conclusion of Judge Cooiey's re-
marks the convention organized by the election
of Judge Cooley as chairman and Mr. L. A.
Moseley as secretary. committee. consisting
OF Messrs. Spalding, Crocker. Baker. Williams
and Mitchell, was appointed on the order of
business. The subjects TO be consid-
cred by the convention are as fol-
lows: Railway legislation, annual reports
from carriers, uniformity in railway
accounting, classification of railway statistics.
classification Of freights, railway construction.
state rail ways. reasonable rates and safety ap-
plances for railroad cars. The committee ON
order Of business reported in favor OF cousid-
f1rCf fltn las nf
reports and a committee vas appointed to con-
slider these subjects.
UNIFORMITY OF LEGISLATION.
Mr.. Crocker, from the committee on nni-
formity of legislation appointed at the last
meeting. submitted a report In this report
he pointed out. that the lack Of uniformity in
legislation was due to two causes. First. a
lack of harmony in United States legislation
and that of the states. Second, lack of
harmony between the legislation OF the
different states. The report recommended
that the main feature of the interstate law be
Incorporated in the laws of the states. 1t was
further pointed out that there dis
crepancy between the rulings of the United
States and state courts on railroad questions
While admitting the advantages of entire control
by Congress of the railroads, the report was of
the opinion that Congress in it's present over
burdened condition could not undertake the
entire control He thought, however. that
practical harmony in operating roads ought to
be secured. but that greater harmony in state
legislation was desirable. The report stated
that uniform law in regard to beating and
lighting cars was not at this time practicable
A uniform law IN regard to train brakes and as
to engines with driving wheel brakes and
automatic car coupling should be adopted Re-
auirements as to tho habits of en-
ployes and the furnishing of cars with
safety appliances and a variety of other details
relative 70 railroad management were recon-
mended
The report was made the order for 2 O'Clock
this afternoon
Mr.. Jervey Of South Carolina was elected
vice chairman. The convention then took
recess.
The business portion of Cambridge, Wis. was
DESTROYED by An incendiary fire A do1e,