The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-29

open to them to wait until they have been
brought into the supreme court which
might come about either through an APP
peal against the recent decision in favor
of the Joint Traffic Association In a local
federal court; or through a new suit
against them; or by a test suit at their
own instigation. They are at present TAX
ing legal counsel upon the situation. and
will probably take no action until all the
legal aspects have been placed before them
The presidents of some of the companies
however, seem to have allowed their fright
to get the better of their Judgment and are
said to be counselling a dissolution OF the
association. This is unfortunate; as such
a course would break bonds which at pres
ent are holding the companies in harmony
and would invite the risks of unbridled
competition. For the sake of preventing
confusion, the existing organization should
be kept up until either some new arrange
ment is provided in its place, or It Is dis
solved by legal verdict. During that in
terval, peace would be preserved. conf
dence would he protected, opportunity
would be afforded for de.iberation. and the
companies would he held to harmonious
relations while they considered new plans
for cooperative protection
II seems to me that the fright to which
the decision has given rise has exceeded
all legitimate occasion. Ut can only be eX-
fortune happens, the first thought Is al
ways to discount the worst possible out
come This has already been done in this
case and now that the stage Of cool de-
liberation has been reached. Ii VIII be seen
to be merely question of what Is the best
way out of the dilemma. This, however
must depend upon whether managers keeI
their heads cool, hold together under
their existing relations and abstain from
cutting of rates This granted, there viii
be no occasion for further misgivings, and
the end Of the trouble will probably be soor
reached by new agreement that will run
foul of no existing law.
In some quarters II Is suggested thai
the railroads carry their case to congress
in the way Of asking a law that will au'
thorize some such cooperative arrange
ments as now exist; which might not bt
a bad course, provided they felt more free
than they have been to cooperate witt
the interstate commissioners.
II the Joint Traffic Association will vote
to disband and then come together as 9
board OF council and hold their meetings
as such, merely recommending the result
| Of their deliberations to the board of di
rectors of the various roads represented
| In the board Of council for their voluntar!
action the recent decision of the United
| States supreme court cannot reach them
| in my judgment, respectfully IL they Sc
| forth the fact that whatever recommends
ton they make is not for the purpose 0
maintaining rates, but simply Of influenc
ing uniformity and stability; and If tn
rates are kept on a low basis, as at pres
ent, they can DO regulated Just as well a.
| they are now under the9tnaffic association
plan. All penalties must be dropped, how
| ever, and they must act on a basis o
honor amongst themselves. There certain
ly can be no action taken against such
method, If adopted, under the recent Unit
ed States supreme court decision, as n,
complaint can be entered against them Co
restraining trade or commerce. All tn
western compacts can be managed Ia tn
same way.