The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-11
A NEW FREIGHT ASSOCIATION.
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS BEFORE
THE RICHMOND MEETING.

The REORGANIZATION of the Southern
states Association in Pro&ress--A
Plan Submitted and Referred 20
Representatives of the Roads-Au-
other Meeting to Be Held Week
After Next.
The officials and traffic men who repre-
scented the local railroad lines at the Rich
mond meeting Tuesday, returned yesterday.
An air of secrecy stills hovers over the
meeting and everything about it, Those
who attended say there is not very much
to give out, but that little is faithfully
guarded in accordance, seemingly, with
an agreement reached among all the rep
resentatives not to let the details of the
meeting get out.
AS foreshadowed in the Morning News of
| Tuesday, the meeting, as the officials who
| attended admits, was for the purpose of
| reorganizing the Southern States Freight
| Association. The Morning News hazard
ed the opinion that eithr new association
or the reconciliation to the old of those
lines that have withdrawn. would be the
work before the meeting. The reorganiza-
ton of the association seems a very con-
| sentative name to apply to the proceedings,
when the very radical changes that are
| probably to be adopted are noticed. 1t is
| properly formation of a new association,
! the only thing that gives color to the re-
| organization idea being the fact that it
| will be comprised of those lines which are
in the territory of the present association.
| The committee appointed to submit form
| for rpnrPa nina fion advised the QhOli
of the office of commissioner, and the
| establishment instead of an ad-
visory board whose chairman will have
| power to act for it. But this chairman's
| prerogatives will not be merely equal to
| those of the commissioner of the pres
| ent association, and his powers are to be
| greatly curtailed when considered with
| those of the commissioner.
The abridgement of the powers of the
rate committee and the executive board
| was suggested by the committee, but
| those bodies were recommended to be re-
| tanned as a part of the organization.
The report of the committee was not
| adopted but 1t was agreed to meet again
| at Richmond March %, when the discus
| sion of the report submitted by the COM
| mittee will be resumed. The report as
| submitted met the immediate approval of
nearly all the representatives., but it was
desired to give time for elaboration, so
| a later meeting was decided upon. In
| the meantime, those who attended will
| be mailed copies of the form drawn up by
the committee, and they will have an OPP
portunity to go over and consider 1t to-
gether with any of their fellow officials
| with whom they may see fit TO advise.
A noticeable feature of the meeting was
| the absence of the present commissioner
of the freight association. From this an
other inference is drawn that is to be a
| new association throughout. A num-
| hpr n roads t.ad
| at Richmond that we're not at the Charles
| ton meeting, and covered the southern
| territory much more completely than the
| present association. A number of steam
ship lines were also represented, and
| their officials were thoroughly in evidence,
it is understood, in the appointment of
| committees and in the work of the meet
| ing. 1t has not been decided whether the
| new association is to retain the name of
| the Southern States Freight or not, but
| the odds are in favor of a new name.
| The principal point in view in the forma
| ton of the new association, an official
who attended the meeting, stated yester-
| day, is to have all of its provisions and
rules in thorough and perfect accord with
| the laws, both state and interstate. gov
ernng traffic matters. This was one rea-
son why additional time was taken on the
form or prospectus for the new associa-
ton. A careful comparison of all the
| changes advised with the state and in
! terstate laws will be made. The rules of
the Southern States Freight Association
will be strictly adhered to until something
is done regarding the establishment of the
new federation among tie roads.
One of the objects of the meeting was
to provide for the strict maintenance of
the present tariff sheets. The railroads
like to get together in the spring, an Of
fetal said and make such provisions, just
as a thrifty housewife likes to have her
bprna CLEANED from ton tn hOttOm at that
| season.
Those present at the Richmond meeting
were: W. w. Finley second vice presi-
dent John M. Culp, traffic manager, and
II. F. Smith, general freight agent Of the
Southern railway; Reuben Foster. general
manager of the York River route; T. NJ.
Emerson, traffic manager of the Atlantic
Coast Line; r. G. Erwin, vice president;
d. T. Jack, third vice president, and +
B. Papy, general freight agent of the
Plant system; William G. Shaw, vice
president of the Georgia Southern and
Florida railroad; Thomas X. Scott, gen.
eral manager and A. G. Jackson, gen.
eral freight agent of the Georgia rail-
road; Joseph Whitney, traffic manager of
the Merchants and Miners Transporta-
ton Company; w. L. Guilleudeau, vice
president of the Old Dominion Steamship
Company; G. I. Newhtrry, general freight
agent of the Old Dominion Steamship
Company; ]. M. Egan. vice president and
general manager of the Central of Geor-
gia railway; w. A. Winburn, general
freight agent of the Central of Georgia;
]. w. Fry. general manager, and w. T..
Kyle, general freight agent of the Cape
Fear and Yadkin Valley railway; Cecil
Cabbett, vice president and general man
ager of the Georgia and Alabama, and
II, II. Raymond of Brunswick, general
southern agent of the Mallory line Of
steamers.