The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-08-15
SEAB0ARD MAY JOIN
IT DEPENDS UPON THE NEW
ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT
ADOPTED TODAY.
1T WANTS A SIxTY-DAY LIMIT.

But Some of the Other Lines Wish TO
Require a Member to Give Six Months
Notice Before he Can Withdraw from
the Association-The Election of OF
ficers Must be Unanimous and the
Board of Arbitration Will be Re-
tained-A Merry Rate war Possible.
MANHATTAN BEACH, N. Y, Aug. IL
The convention of the Southern Railroad
and Steamship representatives which
adjourned last evening, met here again
to-day, and adjourned after a brief ses-
sion until tomorrow. A committee Of
five was appointed last night to consider
the new agreement reported back to-
day.
They favored the new agreement as
announced by the Associated Press last
night with the following exceptions:
The Board Of Arbitration will still be
continued as provided for in the old
2g.coEcEt with the privilege that the
members having cases in dispute can
submit their grievances to outside arbi-
traitors, the contestants to name one
each. The remainder of the agreement
has been reported as satisfactory with
the exception of the third section of arti-
Gle "A. This is to the effect that any mem
Der can withdraw from the agreement by
giving the commissioner sixty days no
tice. This question of time is a stumb-
ling block, as some Of the lines wish to
make the time six months. 1t is said TO
be we'll understood that the Seaboard
Air Line will insist on the sixty days
limit and that if it is not agreed to the
Seaboard Air Line will not join the new
association. This matter will be fully
discussed at to-morroW's session.
As soon as the meeting adjourned
Commissioner z. B. Stahlman called the
executive committee of the old associa-
tion together to wind up old business. a
canvas of the members present elected
the fact that election of officers may Eot
take place at this meeting, but as one Cf
them said to day, railroad men can
change their minds more quickly than
their time schedules.
The new agreement provides that at
the election of officers the vote must be
while under the old agree
ment a two-thirds vote was sufficient to
elect. Several of the representatives
when seen this afternoon said it rg.1
quite possible that good deal of friction
might occur in the election of new off
GERS.
When the Executive Committee ad-
iourned this evening it had practically
finished up all business to be transacted.
When the meeting was over, Commis-
sioner Stahlman said to a representative
Of the Associated Press:
"The Southern Railway and Steamship
Association will soon be a thing of the
past After long and faithful service,
we have gently rocked the old lady to
sleep, and probably by tomorrow we
viii lay her away quietly after all the
good she has done This is all ] have to
say this evening""
When the convention re-assembles to-
morrow, representatives of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad are expected to be in
attendance in order to arrange matters
relative to the carrying Of produce etc,
in the interior of the East and South.
a majority of those who have been in
attendance at the sessions think that the
new agreement will be adopted, but one
of them who Is not as sanguine of its
adoption, said tonight:
''If this contract is not signed you can
look out for a very merry rate war, as
there will be nothing left for us to do"
If the agreement is accepted there is
Just bare possibility that the officers Of
the new association may be elected be-
fore the representatives adjourn on Fri
day or Saturday next.
The Southern States Passenger Ass0-
citation win hold a regular meeting at
the Oriental Hotel tomorrow morning.
Among the members who have
arrived at the hotel are Com
missioner W. W. Finley, O. E Harman,
General Passenger Agent of the Western
and Atlantic Railroad; W. a. Turk,
General Passenger Agent, Southern
Railroad; s. W. HardWick, Assistant
General Passenger Agent Southern Rail
road; B. W. Wrenn, Passenger Traffic
Manager of the Plant System and j. O.
Halle, General Passenger Agent of the
CAnfpal Railroad Of EpOroia