The sun., 1897-03-24
NAY BRINGA BIG RATE WAR
THE SUPREME COURT DECISION AZ
FEoTS RAILROADS At ONCE.
A DisiateErntion or Many Associations ana COM
mittecs EIpected-Counsei for Leading HAIL
roads In tho west Advise Them to with
draw from All Their Agreements ~ 70 Rates

CHICAGO, March 23.-Within n week It Is ex-
pocted by railroad officials that not one Of the
organizations having jurisdiction over passen-
ger and freight rates will be In existence, us a
result OF the decision OF the United States
Supreme Court that all associations which have
for their purpose the maintenance Of agreed
rates and the division OF traffic arc illegal.
The work Of disintegraton began in this city
to-day. General Solicitor Kennn OF tho Santa
road to withdraw Immediately from all freight
associations. 1t is believed Mr.. Kenna will also
advise the Santa F6's withdrawal from all pas
senger associations tomorrow.
A long consultation with other attorneys Of
the Chicago, Milwaukee and st. Paul road was
held by General Solicitor Peck. Before the
meeting OF lawyers Mr.. Peck stated he would
advise the St Paul's withdrawal at once from
all associations. The counsel for the Chicago.
Rock Island and Pacific road advised the Off
GERS of that road that the only legal course to
pursue was to sever connection with all associa-
tions
On trustworthy authority It was said that tho
following other important lines have also do
cided to give similar notice OF withdrawal:
Wisconsin Central. st. Louis and San Francisco,
Minneapolis and st. Louis and Chicago Great
Western. Tho peremptory action Of all these
of the following associations and commit
tees: Western Freight Association. Trans
continental Passenger Association, Western
flo Association, Trans-Missouri Freight AS
sociation, Southwestern Passenger Committee,
Mississippi Valley Freight Committee st. Paul
and Minneapolis Rate Association, Colorado
ciations of st. Louis. Colorado Springs, Pueblo.
Denver and Chicago; Local Freight Agents Asso-
citation OF Chicago, St Louis Association Of
General Passenger Agents, Chicago and st.
Committee and Minneapolis Terminal Freight
Association.
Tho officers OF various Western roads arc
divided in opinion on the effect which this dis
Santa Fe said they saw no reason why rates
should become demorslized. Representatives of
the Chicago and Alton, notably Vice President
and General Manager Chappell. said they did
The general opinion, however Is that a period
OF widespread and disastrous rate disturbance is
at hand, because each road can now do as 1t
pieuseS and cnt rates openly. regardless OF the
Interstate Commorce law. Railroad men and
shippers agree that such conditions will work in
jury to the general public. giving big shippers
and merchants who get lowest rates an advan-
tage over competitors.
At the headquarters OF the Western Freight
Association the Board Of Administration did
nothing, although II has been in daily session
for weeks. and an important meeting on division
OF traffic was called for to-day. Chairman Dom
aid ofthe Ccntra Passenger Associa ion changed
the opinion he gave yesterday admitting the de-
cision affected passenger associations.
II is the general opinion. also, that differen-
tiaIs. which are an agreed lower tariff given to
certain roads at a disadvantage by competi-
tors. will have to DO abolished. Some OF them
have been in force twenty years and have an Inn
portant bearing on competition between rail
and water routes from Chicago eastward.