The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-11
THE NEW AGREEMENT
SOME DISAPPOINTMENT OVER THE
INJUNCTION PROCEEDINGS.
Views of Local officials on Threatened
Lfigation-First Pool Organized
at Indianapolis in 1866.

To say the majority OF railway officials
are disappointed over the operation OF the
new presidents agreement is no exagger-
alton. There is a general desire that the
Joint Traffic Association should have con-
troll for a time in the hope. that rates might
be firmly maintained and small shippers
placed on the same footing with larger
ones, and that bankrupt roads should not
ruin solvent roads by their reckless methods
of doing business. John Lazarus, traffic
manager of the Indiana, Decatur & West
ern, said he could not see any ground for
an injunction. The new association did not
propose to advance rates or trample on the
rights of any shipper, but aimed TO place
shippers an equal basis. 1t was sircply
a step to cut Gown expenses and he does
not see how the roads can be enjoined from
doing this. He said he thought 1t very Ut
fortunate for the roads that the Pattison
bill was not passed by Congress.
H. G. Stiles, general agent Of the Cincin-
natl, Hamilton & Dayton at this point, said
he was sorry any opposition had developed
in the direction it had. The best legal and
railroad talent had spent months in prepar-
ing the plan and it certainly had merit.
v. T. Malott, who watches with good
deal of interest the movements in railway
circles, said that were this association baf-
fled in this effort it meant that many more
roads would go into the hands of receivers;
besides, SUCH failure would cut off the
prospective prosperity for therailroads which
would have resulted from the operation or
the association. He feared this meant dis
aster for the roads and for other business
also, for the country prospers best when the
railroads are prosperous.
A high official, who preferred that his
name should not be used, said that as a
lawyer he questioned the legality OF the
presidents agreement; still, for the sue
cessful operation of his road he would have
preferred that the agreement snouid De put
20 a test without any interference or the
courts.
A local freight official quotes one Of the
board of control as saying, when he left
for New York, that before April he would
be back at his post and the Jcnt franc
Association a thing of the past. The official
who gave this statement to the Journal
reporter said that some OF the roads, to
his certain knowledge. while processing to
their competitors that they were IN favor
of the agreement, by word and action plain
ly indicated that they were not when they
thought it policy for them SO to do; The
fact that three of the Chicago roads are
now carrying freight on contracts made
last year. when all contracts were to ex-
pire Jan. ], had convinced him of the in
sincerity of the high officials of such roads.
II. H. Noonan, general manager OF the
Central States Dispatch. says he thinks it
is an earnest effort on the part Of the
presidents to protect both the railroads and
shippers, and where there can be anything
illegal about 1t he cannot see. He thinks
the action TO enjoin the carrying out OF
the agreement is possibly friendly suit
brought to discover whether there are any
legal flaws, in order that at the outset they
may be eliminated. He says the character
of the attorneys and the railroad men who
prepared the agreement Is such as TO make
ii seem impossible that any provision of
the agreement is contrary TO the interstate
commerce laws or to the laws against
trusts.