Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-03-30
A DEATH BLOW.
Traffic Associations Stunned BY
the Decision.
THEIR DISSOLUTION is APPARENT,
Breaking of Freight Tariffs Has De-
Eun-Passenger Rates Also VIII
be Afrected-RailwayL Lawyers
Hold a Conference.

Chicago, March ga conference Of
the legal representatives of the Chicago
railroads was held Friday in the office
of George r. Peck, general counsel Of
the Chicago, Milwaukee & ST. Paul road.
b. +. Aver, general counsel for the Illi-
nois Central company, presided, and
and there was full attendance of law
yers from the important lines west,
south and north of Chicago. The con-
ference was called on account of the SUI
preme courts decision adverse to rail-
road traffic associations. The prevailing
sentiment of those present showed that
the western railroad lawyers are prac-
tically a unit in the opinion that the
eastern railroad lawyers and Joint Traf-
fic association magnates are wrong,
from legal standpoint, in assuming
that the decision does not place the
stamp of Illegally on any other associa-
ton except the Trans-Missouri Freight
association. The lawyers declared
unanimously that the decision outlawed
such associations as the Western
Freight association, and the result of
the conference will be that such roads
us have not already formally with
drawn from that organization will forth
with send notice to that effect. The re-
lation of the decision to passenger as
sociations was not discussed sufficient
y for general opinion to be given out
and each road for the present will be
guided by its own lawyers.
DtschnrGing Employees.
The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific
and the Sioux City & Northern, the lat
ter road running between Minneapolis
and O'Neill, Neb., sent notices of with
drawal Friday from all traffic associa-
tions. The Western Freight associa-
ton has practically ceased to exist,
many employees have already been dis
charged for lack of work to do, and
those of a higher grade are seeking posi-
tions elsewhere. Most of the officials
have contracts which run to 1893, in
Guiding Commissioner Midgley, who
is now in the Holy Land on sick leave
Of absence.
Effect on PassenEer Rates.
The disagreement of transcontinen-
tai roads as to the payment of commits
sions is reported to have already led to
independent action OH the part of the
Union Pacific, which may be the be-
ginning of serious rate trouble in the
absence of the Transcontinental asso-
citation agreement, except on paper.
The Union Pacific is said to have raised
commissions over it's lines from the
Missouri river to Denver two dollars
and to California points three dollars
The Chicago-St. Paul passenger situa-
ton is also reported to be in condition
bordering on collapse in rates. The SUI
preme courts decision has had the eff
feet of abrogating the agreement of the
Transcontinental Passenger association
| to pool the business for the Christian
Endeayor convention to be held in Sar
Francisco next July, and there is
danger now of a free-for-all bid for the
business by ench line, which NIGH,
bring rates from Chicago and return
down to $40.
Break in Freight Tariffs.
1. Milwaukee. March FIT was sale
on change Friday that the first of tn,
expected breaks in through freigh
rates, as result of the peculiar position
in which all railroads find tbemselve
without the binding influences of asso
Citations, had come. 1t was currentl,
reported that one of the all-rail line
had given certain Milwaukee shipper
an 1S-cent rate, all rail, to New York OF
malt, which would be cut of two cent
per 100 pounds, and the same rate as tn