The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-18
A Peculiar Agreement.

The recent decision of the United States
Supreme Court in the case of the govern
ment against the Transmissouri Freight
Association has been productive of many
strange things since announced, but of
nothing that approaches in popularity the
agreement which the Southwestern lines
have adopted for the purpose of governing
freight traffic. In this document the in
terested lines sedately and soberly will
agree that they will do nothing which fed
eral and state laws forbid, will arrange to
appoint a. man under the title of general
agent to see that they keep their word,
and provide for the deposit of $1,000 each
to be drawn upon by the general agent as
a penalty if they do become lawbreakers.
All this they will do in an organization to
be known as the Southwestern Freight Blu
reau, the purposes of which are set forth
in the preamble of the agreement With a
view of more strongly impressing upon all
minds that the agreement is not one in re-
straint of trade the trainers have inserted
the following as the final section: Nothing
herein shall be so construed as to give to
the bureau the right, to suffer it by the
JOINT action OF the executive board or of
the conference committee or the general
agent, to establish or change freight rates
over the lines of any member, nor shall it
be held that any member party to the
agreement has parted directly or indirectly
with its sole and exclusive right to fix and
control any and all rates upon any and all
itations Of federal and State laws.
The agreement is to become effective
June l and remain In force for one year.
The governing body is to be an executive
board, consisting of the president, a vice
president or the general manager of each
company having membership.
Local Association to Be Revived.
The chairman of the Western Passenger
Association has sent notices to all the lines
in the association that it has been deemed
advisable to revive the local associations at
all the railroad centers throughout the as
ISOLATION territory, and, if possible, to get
them in working order by the Oath of this
month. For time it was the intention
to get along without the local associations
at least until after the membership of the
association should have been completed.
This has been found impossible. however,
and as the roads that were already men,
bers of the association were suffering from
the lack of the local associations, it was de-
termined to put them into operation at
once. They will be in all of the cities in
which they existed before the association
went to pieces Immediately following the
PRONUNCIATION of the Supreme Court deci-
sion.
Pennsylvania officials En- Route West.
President Frank Thomson of the Penn
sylvania Railroad, left Philadelphia yester-
day morning on his annual inspection tour
over the Western lines. Mr.. Thomson is
accompanied by First Vice President John
f. Green and Chief Engineer Brown. At
Pittsburg he was joined by Vice President
McCrea and several of the executive Off
GERS of the company west of Pittsburg.
The party will proceed slowly over the line
from Pittsburg, reaching Chicago on
Thursday. Stops will be at Dennison, o.,
Columbus, Cincinnati, Louisville, Indianap-
oils, Richmond and Logansport. A full day
will be spent in and around Chicago and
the start home will be made on Friday.
Stops will be made en- route at Bedford
Cleveland and Ashtabula. Mr.. Thompson
expects 10 be back in Philadelphia on Sat-
urday night.