The times., 1897-04-03
EISEMAN Bros,
Ger. 9TH and E SITS. N. W.
No Isr:tnch Store I'm Washington.
A REPORTED POOL LOBBY
Railway Men Said to Be Pressing
Remedial Laws.
No Communications From the Rail-
road Bureaus Yet Received by
the Interstate Commission.

There are reports about the Capitol that
some of the railroad people are putting IN
their spare time there discussing with
Some of the Representatives. the chances
Of what they cali remedial legisla atom
which is intended to nullify the action OF
the Supreme Court, which has had the
apparent effect of breaking up railway
pooling.
The fact that there are no committees
in the House and that nearly all of the
! POpuliSts and free silver Senators are
! against railroad pooling, makes the out
| look for legislation very gloomy, but IL
| Is not impossible, 1t waS stated ycster-
day that the fact OF there being no COM
| mittees in the House would not be Il bar
to action: and that on the contrary the
rules and Mr. Reed VIII permit the intro
! ductiun of the subject at any time And
! besides, senator Culiom, OF the Committee
| on Interstate Commerce, is now consider
/ ing the propositions made 10 the committee
! by Western railroads, and the railroads i'll
| geLeral. affected by the decision, To bring
up the matter OF new law as soon rs
| possible.
NoLe of the railroad people here admit
! that they are making such requests, aud
there appears to be u desire to await ghe
decision OF the Supreme Courtof the United
states in the case Oft he Joint Traffic As
sociation OF New York, which has been adj
vanced on the docket, and which viii be
disposed OF during the latter part OF the
month 1t is held that the decision of the
a.. ,.af lfarn1t- -,
| this kind Of association. and if the court
| holds that to be a fact there S no reason
why the Western associations may not
adopt the plans Of the Joint Traffic AS
| soCiation, whatever they may be. 1t has
nevertheless been stated by the Interstate
commerce commission that the law of
the Supreme Court applies with greater
force to the New York association. If
| this be affirmed TO be the fact then there
will be no remedy for tile railroads, but
to seek new legislation.
At present the railroads are CCntenting
| themselves with the formation Of bureaus.
| 1t was desired TO know yesterday now
the Interstate Commerce Commission re-
! garled these bureaus with reference to
| their liability Tie statement was made
! at the commissions offices that none Of
! tie agreements known as bureau arrange
lnentS ha1 been communicated to the cou
mission and ii was therefore not desired
! to discuss them.
One OF the Senators, a POpultFt, said
| that no matter what the railroads called
an arrangement intended to control rates,
! il would come under the decision of the
Supreme Court.
1t will be impossible for some time, :
| iia said, Ito get at.the inwardnesS OF these
! bureaus. but their meaning will inevitably
come out by their results. As l under
| stand It, If the bureau so manipulateS
! railroads as to pool rates, 1t VIII be
amenable TO the interstate commerce law
| ana the antitrust law, becausett has been
| held by the Interstate Commerce COmUiiS-
| siou that the transportation enters as a
factor into production, and any illegal
tampering with that amounts to the same
! thing as If the act had been directed
against any product taken cognizance OF by
the antitrust law.
II regard the matter as having been
settled by the Supreme Court so far as
| the Senate is concerned. No bill VIII
ever pass the Senate the actual effect Of
which will be to override the good law
laid down by the Supreme Court 1 do
not think that the Senate VIII put Itself
on record as saying that the Supreme Court
saws to the railroads, sou shall not pre-
vent competition, which is fair play in
| the United States, and the Senate shah
admit that ii will be party practically
| to the next pool. On the other hand, the
responsibility will rest with Mr.. Reed if
he permits any bin to be introduced at this
session of the House. and especially when
the whole country knows what its object
will be and those who stand behind it,