The San Francisco call., 1897-03-25
RAIL ROADS ARE
DRAWING OUT
Supreme Court Decisions
Effect on Traffic AS
sociations.
Doubts That It Applies to Tas-
sengers and Their Trans.
portation.
1t Is Also Questioned Whether the
Mileage and Clergy Bureaus
Are Incl uded.

(. CHICAGO I'LL, March M.-All rail-
road traffic organizations in this city re-
Trained from transacting any business to-
day which had to o with the regulation
of rates or division of business. Although
the executive officers and clerical forces at
the various headquarters remained at
their desks, only routine business and
that which does not come within the ban
of the Supreme Courts decision, was at
tended to.
All the associations are in state of sus-
pension, practically looking over the
ground and waiting to find out where
they stand" as Chairman Caldwell of the
Western Passenger Association ex-
pressed it.
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy
gave sweeping notice of withdrawal to-
day from membership in every freight and
passenger association. The general coun-
sci OF that company advised the passen-
ger officials not to affiliate with other
roads.
The notice includes the bureaus for the
issuance OF mileage tickets and half-fa
clergy permits, which are departments of
the Western Passenger Association. At
the same time it hit upon the plan of ap-
pointing B. d. Caldwell, chairman OF the
association, its agent to attend to clergy
permits and mileage tickets, thus practi-
cally retaining the association machinery
for the sake OF economy and convenience.
This method of procedure will probably be
adopted by other roads which feel it in
cum bent upon themselves to sever all Off
cIal relations with the associations. Such
action would mean that although the asso-
Citations will be dissolved, in com pliance
with the Supreme Court decision, the Off
cials and other employees of the organiza-
tions will be retained to attend to the
business which is not prohi bited. The Bur.
lington road also erased its name from all
joint ratesheets with all connecting lines
The action Of the Chicago, Milwaukee
and ST. Paul road to-day is, in effect, a
withdrawal from all freight and passenger
traffic associations. The official announce
ment was made that until the full text of
the decision was received and an opinion
has been rendered by the legal depart
inent the company will not participate IN
any association. Its policy is that mac
ton is equivalent TO withdrawal, and,
therefore. within legal bounds. 1t is a
question among railroad men whether the
mileage and clergy bureaus come within
the scope of the decision. The Santa Fe
company did not enlarge on its action of
yesterday. limiting its withdrawal to
freight associations. This Limitation was
decided upon in the opinion, which is
held by many able attorneys, that as the
antitrust law is to prevent the restraint
of trade and commerce only the terms
cannot rightly be applied TO passengers
and their transportation, which are not
commodities.
Vice Chairman Parker of the Western
Freight Associations board OF admins
tratlon received notice to-day of the Min
neapolis ana st. Louis roads withdrawal
from all freight associations. The mem
bers of the board Of administration sat in
their offices reading the newspapers and
discussing the railroad situation as
printed therein. The same condition of
inertia prevailed at the offices of the
Western and Transcontinenta Passenger
associations. Commissioner Caldwell re-
turned to-day fran Washington and New
York, and an important meeting was to
have been held. but the officers of roads
who came discussed the MATES only in
formally and this, the chairman said,
would be continuation of the informal
ity tomorrow. No business was likewise
transacted by Commissioners Donald and
Tucker of the Central Passenger and Cen
tral Freight associations, respectively.