New-York tribune., 1896-05-29
RAILROAD MEN PLEASED.

THE AGREEMENT WAS DRAWN WITH GREAT
CARE AND THOUGHT.
The ruling of the Court In sustaining the pooling
agreement hailed with great deal OF satsfac.
ton by. the railroad men. Chauncey NJ. Depew told
some facts in connection with the drawing up of the
agre ment, the attempt to prove 1t unconstitutional
and the ruling OF the Court I'm the first place"
said Mr. Depew. II never had moments uneasness
about what the ruling would be- There has
BEEN / suppose, in the history of the country, an
agreement that drawn up with as much care
as that In the first place. four solid months
were spent by the best authorities upon Transports
ton matters In the country In formulating II in the
crude form. These railroad men met almost daily
at the Oriental Hotel, at Manhattan Beach. Many
came thousands OF miles and stayed there until the
agreement drafted. After that the agreement
was submitted to the railroad presidents and for
two weeks they studied the matter and remodelled
II and drew II into more compact form. Still
unsatised, the matter turned over 10 the coun.
sci Of the various roads interested. These lawyers
the ablest In the country. held series of consuta.
tions Anywhere that the agreement conficted vita
the law It modified else the offending pro-
vision stricken out entirely. Then after all this
trouble. and the realization OF ron-clad agrees
ment II was submitted TO the country. Immediately
the Interstate Commerce Commission attacks the
matter and we are glad that It did. We wanted
the matter settled forever This Is the bes. asres-
and every in general that has ever been effect:
ed 1t helps the Interstate Commerce commission, u
Under the old system Of cutting rates. the trafne
tes mes were dsorganized WHEN the railroad pres-
dents Of this country took hold Of the matter last
as transportation concerned and everything in
a chaotic condition. The cutting OF rates was such
aas lower rates a but S's Z ihe heavy Shipper who
shipped great quantities. that could demand and get
fered and the whole tendency was to buid up great
rata thah hea Shf underapll
a small capital and small business The producer
mas es0 In Of oaS he ps s os
chose to pay and the trust in turn could sci! for
Sonsst %a t"ss dealer and bad for prcdue
1t was centralzing the capital and trade Mniie sns
mission yet it was the trusts that were indirectly
behind s6a 3 ssSg ali to ou down a M
stands 1t gives the railroads a fair and EQUITABLE
s0 fOb 6usnee shrns and small capital the
that any great organization has: It gives the pro:
1p sy ss and Keeps
NAL. The conditions are ironcad and VIII stand. II
far as Transportation goes that country has
and transportation is great question and In
owing to the tremendous business done each year
and the acute way in which 1T is brought home TO
George r. blanchard. commissioner of the Joint
important because it establishes the rights Of rail-
roads in the domain that II covers. II VIII ma.
contention that the association carries out instead
OF violates the Interstate Commerce law.
J. F. Goddard, commissioner OF the Trunk Line
Association said: THE dismissal OF the action
had been expected by railroad men. and conse-
quently was not surprise The Joint Traffic Agree
ment has been in full force since January l. and
there being delay incident 10 the pending case
the decision will make change. The practical
operation OF the agreement has resulted in a bet
ter maintenance OF rates than ever before. and
without any hitch. The people az we'll as the rail-
roads are beginning TO appreciate stability in trans
portation charges. The moral effect Of the Joint
association has already been pronounced. and there
Is no doubt that the decision will have tendency
to promote similar organizations"
f. B. Thomas president OF the Erie Railroad,
said: The decision is of vital importance. Had u
been otherwise. the sovency Of the railroads Of the
country might have been teopardzed Railroad IN
terests will be immensely benefited by the decision
Furthermore. the public wiz reap great benefits
from It"