Birmingham state herald., 1895-10-19
NOW A THING OF THE PAST
HaWnf Served Its Purpose for Just seyen-
 teen Years.
w ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN FORMED
De Known as the Southern States Freight Association, With Col. H. s. Haines as Commissioner ona Salary of
 5000 Per Year.

New York, Oct. 1S.-After six months' effort and as many mortgages the south ern lines, which. through their repre- sentatives, have been in session all the week at the Waldorf have at last formed an association. and there is some req son now 10 expect that the peace of the traffic situation in the south is compar- atively secure for another year.
 At the meeting this morning the old Southern Railroad and Steamship asso- ciation formally passed out of existence, and the new Southern States Freight as- sociation was ushered in, with Col H. s. Haines, formerly vice-presldent of the Plant system, as commissioner. The ob- stacles that stood in the way of the signing of the agreement have in a meas ure been removed. and twenty lines. rep resenting the roads in the southern ter ritory, have adopted the agreement for their guidance for the ensuing year. The South Carolina and Georgia: Port Royal and Augusta; Port Royal and Western; Carolina; Florida Central and Penin- sula; and the Savannah, Americus and Montgomery lines, however are not par ties to the agreement, for reasons that are considered of mo moment as far as conflicting wien the association Is con- cerned. The life of the new association begins today.
 When the representatives met yester- day afternoon it was apparent that un- less something was done organization would be impossible. A resolution of- fered by Commissioner Stahlman defer ring the question of arbitrating differ ences to subsequent time relieved the situation, and the way of forming the association became clear. After the reSo- lution went into effect the Georgia road, through General Manager Scott. admit ted that his claims of heavy loss of busi- ness under the old agreement were sound. When an adjournment was taken all that remained for adjustment was the ques- ton of organizing the new association. At the final meeting this morning J. w. Thomas, president of the Nashville, Chat tanooga and St. Louis road was made president and Richard G. Erwin, vice. president of the Plant system, vice-pres- ident
 The election of Colonel Haines, at salary of $15.000 per year, as the commits sloner of the new body followed. The members to compose the new board of arbitration were not designated the se- lection being deferred to a future occa- sion.
 At noon the first meeting. of the new organization was held and the work of forming the executive board, rate com- mittees and other committees was then proceeded with.
 The new agreement remains virtually the sa me in detail as the one in force last year There are some important fea- lures which show that the spirit of lib- eralty has played leading part in Its formation. There Is decided advant- age, although 1t may prove dangerous. The penalty clause is practically abol- ished. and any line can insist upon a board of arbitration other than the regu- lar one to settle any grievance 1t may have.
 The old Southern Railway and Steam ship association has lived just seventeen years, having been organized in October, 1878, and although its usefulness has been often questioned. it managed through Maj E. B. Stahlman to keep the south- ern lines under control.