St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-10-01
A KNOTTY PROBLEM.
1t Is That Of Formulating a
New Agreement for West
ern Roads.
A WelI-KnoWn Traffic Official
Expresses His Views
at Length.
The New Agreement Should
Embrace All the West
ern Roads.
Grand Trunk to Reduce Mile
Grand Trunk to Reduce Mile
age on Private Refrig-
orator Cars.

CHICAGO, Sept. 30.-An important and
difficult task cOnfronts the committee of
vice presidents and general managers of
the Western roads appointed by Chair
man Midgley's special meeting some
weeks ago to formulate an agreement to
take the place of the one now in exist
ence. The committee is TO meet next
tuesday. II it can recommend an agree
ment that all lines in interest will sub
scribe to-and 1t has been demonstrated
that an agreement that does not include
all interested lines caunot be successful
and then devise some means of com
pelllng all members to fulfill their OBJ
legations in good faith. it will deserve
great credit. The traffic officials of the
various roads have very decided opin-
ions as to what should be done, and if
the committee should call upon them
for advice. 1t is probable that some prac-
tlcable scheme may be adopted. One of
the best known of these traffic officials
said today, in speaking of the matter:
Pointers by an Official.
1.-The territory to be covered by the
new agreement should embrace all that
now covered by the Western Freight and
TranS-MisSouri association with only
one chairman. There should be rate
committees at Chicago, ST. Louis, st.
Paul, Omaha, Kansas City, Denver and
Salt Lake, TO consider all subjects per-
tanning to their respective territories,
and report their recommendations TO the
general meetings. Statistics should be
kept of all competitive traffic. If long
time money pool cannot be agreed upon,
then the Western Freight association
agreement should be made to embrace
the territory now covered by the Trans
Missouri association. The interests of
the two are Identical and one aSsOcia-
ton would suffice.''
with some notifications the West
ern Freight association could be made
stronger and more efficient. The clause
requiring ten days notice of 4 proposed
change i'll rates should be made to read
thirty days. This would enable object
ing roads to use every means to prevent
reductions. If aline giving such notice
cannot be persuaded in that time to
forego its right it must have very
good reason for its action. All neces-
sary lines in the Western Freight asso-
citation territory are members. Al are
on an equality. each has its individual
right of action, and there have been no
Withdrawals.
The Western Traffic association was
supposed to be an ideal association but
from traffic officers standpoint it was
the
Weakest Ever Organized.
sits membership numbers fifteen, and
it was expected to regulate all the COM
merce west of Lake Superior and New
Orleans. 1t has been dismal failure.
because it did not have the necessary
membership. 1t might have been made
strong agreement had the members
Withdrawn from all other associations
and protected themselves by cancellng
through rates and divisions with lines
refusing 10 become members. AS it
was, they simply tied their own hands,