Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-25

doors and will give nothing out for pub
lication. AS the members are law-abiding
citizens, the organization viii. no doubt.
be dissolved, in obedience to the mandate
Of the court but whether this will pre-
vent about the same party Of gentlemen
meeting here tomorrow, or three times a
year. to have a pleasant visit and discuss
business matters in a general way re-
mains TO be seen.
WILL NOT DIsBAND.
NEW YORK, March 24-The Board Of
Managers Of the Joint Traffic Association,
at its regular session to-day. decided that.
in view Of the uncertainty concerning the
exact scope of the Supreme Courts de-
csion in the Trans-Missouri case, the
Joint Traffic Association should continue
i'm operation. The determination to MAIN
tain the organization was based. not only
on the views Of the several members Of
the board, but upon the advice of james
G. Carter, Of counsel for the association.
who this morning notified Commissioner
Blanchard that the full text OF the Su-
preme Court decision had not arrived and
until IT had been received and fully con-
sidered he deemed it not advisable 10 take
any action looking to the disruption OF
the association.
NEWSPAPERS TOO FAST.
NEW YORK March 24-President Fink
of the Norfolk and Western railroad. says
in reference TO the Supreme Court de-
cision against the Trans-Missouri Freight
Association. that the railroads and news
papers appear TO be going too fast in con-
sidering that the Traffic Association must
Uf.t.. a..
specific case" he continues. "and II is
not fair TO argue that under it all the
traffic associations are Illegal. Person
ally. l don't think they are. Every rail-
road has the right 10 endeavor 10 get the
best results from the conduct of its Owr
business. The Joint Traffic Association
case will come before long before the
Supreme Court. involving a rehearing Of
all the points at issue. and the result may
change the aspect of the situation. With
out the Traffic Association il would be
utterly impossible 10 carry out the in
terstate commerce law. and the interstate
commissioners are the compainants in
the present joint traffic case. The de-
cision rendered Monday in the TraBs-Mis-
souri, case seems 10 me 10 be based on
misunderstanding of facts and if IL were
carried out all the traffic associations
would be a disaster TO business the eX-
tent of which could not be calculated.
Not only would the railroads be unable
TO see five days ahead, but as practically
all Industries are dependent or transpor-
tation, all would suffer greatly"
40 BUSINESS YESTERDAY.
CHICAGO March 24.-All the railroad
traffic associations I'm this city refrained
to-day from transacting any business
which has to do with the regulation
Of rates or division of business. Al
though the executive officers and cleri-
cal forces at the various headquarters
remained at their desks, only routine
business, and that which does not come
within the ban of the Supreme Courts
decision was attended TO- Practically
all the associations are in state Of
suspended animation, looking over the
ground and waiting TO find out where
they stand" as Chairman Caldwell OF
the Western Passenger Association, ex-
pressed It.
The Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy
railroad gave a sweeping notice to-day
of withdrawal from membership in every
freight and passenger traffic association.
The general counsel Of that company
advised the passenger officials not TO
affiliate with other roads. The notice
includes the bureaus for the issue Of
mileage tickets and half-fare clergy per-
mits. which are departments of the
Western Passenger Association At the
same time it hit upon the plan Of ap-
pointing B. D. Caldwell, chairman Of
the association, its agent TO attend to
clergy permits and mileage tickets, thus
practically retaining the association ma
chinery for the sake Of economy and
This method of procedure
will probably be adopted by other roads,
which feel it incumbent upon them TO
sever all official relations with other
roads i'm association form. Such action
would mean that. although the assOcia-
tions will be dissolved in compliance
with the Supreme Courts decision, the
officials and other employees of the or
will be retained to attend to
business which is not prohibited
The Burlington road also erased its
name from all joint rate sheets with all
otner lines. which is an indication that
the company believes that the decision
probibits agreements with connecting
lines on through business.
ST. PAUL ROAD ACTION.
The action Of the ST. Paul road to-day
is. in effect a withdrawal from all freight
and passenger traffic associations.
The official announcement was made
that until the full text Of the decision was
received. and an opinion had been rem
dered by the legal department the COM
pany would not participate in any as
sociation. It's policy is equivalent to
withdrawal. and therefore within legal
bounds.
Ii is a question among railroad men
whether the mileage and clergy bureaus
come within the scope of the decision
The Santa Fe Company did not enlarge
on it's action of yesterday, limiting its
withdrawal from the freight association.
This limitation was decided upon In the
opinion. which is shared by many able
railroad attorneys. that as the anti
trust law is TO prevent the restraint Of
trade and commerce only, the terms can
not rightly be applied to passengers and
their transportation, which are not COM
modities
Chairman Barker, OF the Western
Freight Associations Board OF Admins
tration. received official notice to-day OF
the Minneapolis and st. Louis roads
from all freight associations.
The members Of the Board Of Admins
tration discussed the railroad situation
as presented in the newspapers. The
same inertia prevailed at the headQuar-
ters of the Western and Trans-Continen-
tai Passenger Associations. Chairman
Caldwell returned to-day from Washing
ton and New York. and an important
meeting was to have been held. but the
officials OF roads who came only discussed
the matter informally, and the chairman
said there would be a consultation to-
morrow. No business. likewise. was
by Commissioners Donald ana
Tucker, Of the Central Passenger ana
Central Freight Associations. respec-
lively.