New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-16

THE MEETING WAS HARMONIOUS
The preliminary and informal conference OF
Western railroad presidents and several New
York bankers, held yesterday al the house Of j.
Pie.pont Morgan, ended in action which Is gen
orally considered to be a long stride toward the
improvement Of tie Western rate situation, to-
ward which all persons interested are now bend
ng their energies. Practically all the roads
west of Chicago and St Louis represented.
The absence Of the Chicago and Alton. and the
failure Il the Chicago. ST. Louis and Kansas City
to vote upon the propositions adopted by the other
members Of the conference. are not considered
significant of any objection TO the better main
trnanc' of rates. The reticencc OF the railroad
men present w, broken after the meeting only
to express qualification NJ the harmony attained.
The plan adopted at the conference is not go
strong in some respects rs was the "preilmlnaTy
agreement" 10 which several signatures were Sc
cured THROUGH the cXcrons OF Jay Could. In the
new pan there is 30 provision for routing
traffic under agreed proporto ons and under tie
direction Of an absolute Commissioners. Mr.. Gonlds
old prop,sll 10 abandon outsd, agencies for
tie soliciting Of freight and passenger business
receives bat vague attention in The new plan.
Nor DOES the latter contain the formers provision
for restriction Of new cNtcn,ions by railroads.
Tie Gye years life Of Nr. Goub's plan is ex-
changed for ono of SIX months. The resolutions
passed AZ tie meeting at Mr. Moraan's house pro-
vide. after approval hy the directors of tho sew
crll companies. for tie formation Of a new West
ern Association under the management and drec-
ton Of an Advisory Board. compose of the prc5i-
delt and enc director of each company. with
power 10 maintain rates. decide all questions of
common interest and have charge OF outside
a-cuc o, for soliciting business lie advantage
Of the Morgan over tie Gould plan IS tnat 1t
avoids prov sions that mght excite unreasonable
Granger hostility and furnishe, basis for an
agreement and an association which can. in the
working ont Of details, possibly be brought =
high state Of efficiency well 10 into more rg!d
lines Of restriction and reform. The Official
claims for the action taken were summarized as
follows:
The mott perfect harmony prevailed the meeting, and
- ua. cons t,f.d by au r-, that the action ai-n was
.rt ,trd. toward ,e.urne Conservative and effective 'P
operation between all the companies 90 arranging [" N','
absolute power hoay OF mon. constituted a. tl' ID
a. rv Board N. br and a.'u- with frU authority .', All
companies - tho a.-ocltion. Nrh t"i htfer
tln aay otr clu b. rolled uIon % act under aii circnr
-tai.., with G"h.iarW in n' interest OF ~" p.t' -
y.u a. Oh. rHwoy- TO provide f'r strict economies "a
th. administration OF tlr rlo.rc, and % make suitable
,,,..,u fr tb, ,ror.f protection ~ aI tt lines con-
..ru.d whether -t',p- v..a. er' element Of con-
i.,,-n. in t, pan witt be mo f,rt wat 10 viz i'"h
u i<e place nrnon' tr formal and i.t'rio action oi
board ~ directors
TIN, invitations issued hv Nr MORGAN had fixed
io.to m "a, ttc hour ai whicu the conference
o.,> ~ Ic held at li, home. At Aadsoa-ave and
Tb,rty-,i>tb-,t. BIZ that time feary every man
WAS at the house The Official roster showed
when a fnll attendance had hccn secured the fol-
loving persons present: Marvin IIu2litt. pres-
dent. ana H. Nick. 1wombly. director. OF the
Chicago and Northw','eIh' 'haf1es l. IeIhIAs'
president AID General Paine director, OF The
Iii...,,, Purliurfnp and Ouipcy: H. f. Gable,
,.. ,.t:.... T. I'll, Island ,ud Pacific.
-, u: ~,
h''"'i "+'''i' I''''''''' '' '' '-'
W1uN"" and -. lail: Nl'"I pul"h. P''Ni''lO
u i.r Mon Inri'r. JAY could, president of tle
\f...,,5 Pacific. ,U.u N1uyrl prr>ideui aud
,.r..,,I I.br Nr'..l, Of tle Atchi>o,, Touela
g, .s a.,
"'' N'il'" I'' ~ ~ NH''''' f'''", ~
" 1hlSu, Johh VI. li-th' Fr'Nh''' y D. ''IoA