New-York tribune., 1891-05-08
LEEDS Is THE SCAPEGOAT.
HE is SACRIFICED BECAUSE OF THE MIS-
SOURI, PACIFIC's CUT.

THE ADVISORY BOARD FOUND HIM GUILTY OF
VIOLATING THE AGREEMENT-A REsoLU-
TON IN FAVOR OF JOINT AGENCIES
AND TONNAGE POOL.
Il was somewhat jadedlooking set OF railroad presi-
dents that fled out of Room % Of the Windsor Hotel
last evening when the meeting of the Advisory Board
of the Western Traffic Association came TO On END
They looked llhe who had passed through Crisis.
Each however stoutly ressserted his allegiance TO
Peace and Harmony-with capital etters-and his un-
dying devotion TO the of the association.
The meeting was not without results. In the mrs.
place, a solid wording quorum wns secured, ana tns'
Is good deal in the light Of the burnngs tnat lo
lowed the famous Chicago failure. More Sgnincan''
and in a manner picturesque, was Mr. Gouias re-
pudlaon OF the Missouri Paeifcs sugar tarn WIN all
Incidental offer to resign the presidency oil tt road
any charges could be made and proven against nSen
General Traffic Manager Leeds was found gllV' auu
started 10 ST. Louis last night to turn over the eohro
of his department TO S. II. II. Clark, the manager OF
the Missouri Pacific. What will be done VITA MT
Leeds, or who will be his successor IL Is as ye' 'oo
early TO foretell.
As important almost as the disciplning Of the
Missouri Pacific were tho points OF resom1"
adopted by the Board. They were;
l. That the life OF the association be e4tenueu ior
g. That the commissioners OF the Association prepare
ta 3 That tho commissioners report on the sdyisa.
blllty OF the division by percentages OF compcuNe
| tonnage.
when Mr. Leeds was called before the BOARD yest,r-
day morning lie was allowed to flo the 100 pages OF
typewritten explanation that he had started 10 ean
the day before The statement was too HISTORICAL IL
was SAID and possibly too directly aimed at some oers
OF the roads represented to be profitable caohs loV
the Board Mr. Leeds made a verbal explanation, how
| ever and then retired from the room. the Boaro
found him guilty Of q violation OF the agreement OF
| January o. announcing the verdict just before the
noon recess This left Mr.. Gould only one course,
| as the agreement distinctly provides for the as
missal Of any officer guilty Of violating It's provisions
After short interview with his superior hr. Leeus
said he would start West Immediately ana wouio TURN
over his Office TO the manager Of the road. He knew
of no other provision that hsd been MADE LOT hfn'
| he said, and cspccal;y denied that there had been
any arrangement by which he should become general
traffic manager OF the Union Pacific.
al do not admit the justice OF my sentence,
said Mr. Leeds Il issued the sugar tariff on my own
responsibility for that seemed to me to )usy
that course The Board would not admit the present
alton OF these reasons, and so am found guilty.
did not make that tariff to get sugar. and IN fact do not
get 1t. That tariff is stin In effect and yet mucl
more than half OF the sugar tonnage goes over other
lines that supposed to have lived up to the agree
| ment7
Having thus steered clear of the rock that threat
ened TO split permanently the organization, the Board
turned its attention to other matters. Most OF the
questions previously reported to be slated for cohsid-
Grafton were taken up, though that Of assaing the
long and short hand" clause OF the Interstate Com
merce Act was left for the action Of the Trunk Line
| Association. The following resolution was unahi-
mously passed
1t is the sense OF this Board that the life OF the
Western Traffic Association ought 10 be extended for
fixed period Say until January 1. 1896 IN order that
reforms and economies may be established which can
not now be carried into effect owing 10 the uncertain
| Ties attending the existence OF the association.
| That the commissioners be directed TO prepare
plan by which far possible independent agencies
| may be abolished and Joint agencies established, TO
| lessen the expenses in the competitive business OF
| members OF the association
| That the commissioners be directed to look into
the matter OF the division. by percentages, Of com
petitive tonnage arising at such Joint agencies and
the routing thereof. and to submit report, together
with the plan referred TO In the previous section TO
| each member OF the association
That. without binding any member OF the associar
ton 10 the adoption OF the report OF the commissioners
but solely for the purpose Of saving time, when the
reports Of the commissioners shall have been received
by the members OF the association, they shall be sub
mtted without delay the respective boards OF direct
ors with the object Of asceralning II be advisable
to enter into such plans and agreements as are con-
| templated IN the foregoing resolution