The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-03-26

n
| sociation to Await Further study Of the
Decision President Fink's Hopeful View
| of the Case-West-rn Roads Canceline
All Joint Agreements.
Fort Monroe. Va, March 24-The
members OF the Southeastern Traffic
Association. now in session at Chamber
| lain's hotel are in a state Of mind over
the recent decision OF the supreme
court, declaring such combinations un-
| lawful. They have been in session all
| day behind closed doors and will give
nothing out for publication AS the
| members are law abiding citizens. the
organization will no doubt be dissolved.
| in obedience to the mandate OF the
court, but whether this will prevent
about the same party OF gentlemen
meeting here two or three times a
year to have a pleasant visit and dis
| cuss business matters in a general way
| remains to be seen.
New York, March 24-The board of
| managers Of the Joint Traffic Associa-
| ton, at its regular session today de-
| cided that, in view of the uncertainty
| concerning the exact scope of the su-
preme courts decision in the trans Mis-
| souri, case the Joint Traffic Association
| should continue in operation. The de-
| termination to maintain the organiza-
| ton was based. not only OIL the views
| of the several members of the board
| but upon the advice of James c. Cart
| er, of counsel for the association, who
| this morning notified Commissioner
l To-, v,,.1,s tlN.f f,,1
| preme court decision had not yet ar
| rived and that until it had been re-
| ceived and fully considered, he deemed
| inadvisable any action looking to the
| disruption of the association.
| New York, March 24.-President Fink
| of the Norfolk and Western railroad
| says in reference to the supreme court
| decision against the Trans Missouri
| Freight Association, that the railroads
| and newspapers appear to be going too
| fast in considering that the traffic asso-
| Citations must disband by reason of the
| decision just rendered. The real ques-
| ton is whether all are in restraint of
| commerce as decided in the Trans Mis-
souri, case. The decision applies to
one specific case, and it is not fair to
! argue that under it all traffic associa-
| tions are illegal. Personally / don't
| think they are. Every railroad has the
| right to endeavor to get the best re-
| suits from the conduct of its own busi-
| ness. The joint traffic association case
| will come before long before the
| preme court involving a re-hearing of
| all the points at issue, and the posi-
| tiOn Of the law made then may change
| the entire aspect of the situation.
| Without the traffic associations il
| would be utterly impossible to carry out
! the interstate commerce law and the
! Interstate commerce commissioners
n a n N ba
| joint traffic case. The decision render
| ed Monday in the trans Missouri case
| seems to me to be based on a misundcr-
| standing Of the facts, and if it were
| carried out against all the traffic asso-
| Citations, it would be a disaster to bust
| ness, the ext Mt Of which could not be
| calculated. Not only would the rail
| roads be unable to see five days ahead,
| but, as practically all industries are de-
| pendent on the transportation, all
| would suffer greatly.
| Chicago, March 24.-All railroad
! traffic associations in this city, re-
| Trained from transacting any business
today which had to do with the regula-
tion of rates or division Of business. AL
though the executive officers and cleri-
cal force at the various headquarters
| remained at their desks, only routine
business, and that which does not come
within the ban of the supreme court 8
|
| all the associations are in a 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 of
withdrawal today from membership in
every freight and passenger traffic as
sociation. 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 permits, which are departments
of the western passenger association.
| At the same time it hit upon the plan
. Of appointing b. d. Caldwell, chairman
| OF the association, its agent to attend
; to clergy permits and mileage tickets
thus practically retiring the association
-, machinery for the sake OF economy
and convience. This method OF pro-
cedure will probably be adopted by
other roads, which feel il incumben,
upon themselves to sever all official re-
| lations with other roads in association
( form. Such action would mean that
? although the associations will be dis.
r solved in compliance with the supreme
courts decision. the officials and other
: employees of the organizations will be
2 retained to attend to business which i,
2 not prohibited. The Burlington road
3 also erased its name from all joint rat
sheets with all other lines, which is az
I indication that the company believe:
t the decision prohibits agreements witt
connecting lines on through business.
The action OF The st. Paul road TO-DAY
' is in effect withdrawal from al
! freight and passenger traffic associa.
| tons The official announcement wa.
made that until the full text Of the de
cision was received and an opinion haG
! been rendered by the legal department
.. the company will not participate in any
= association. Its policy is that inactior
:, is equivalent to withdrawal and there
, fore within legal bounds. 1t is a ques
!, ton among railroad men whether tn,
: mileage and clergy bureaus come with
in the scope Of the decision.
| The Santa Fe Company did not en-
large on its action of yesterday, limit
q ing its withdrawal from the freight as
limit ion, EIax