The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-10
ROADS TAKING HEART.
Blow to Pooling Not So Serious as
Was Feared.

CHICAGO, April 9.-The legal advisers of
the Western roads are rapidly recovering
from the panic into which they were thrown
py the recent decision of the supreme court
regarding the right of railroads to form as
soclatlons. They have advised the COM
m1ttee that is now working on the new agree
ment of the Western Passenger association
that tnere is nothing in the deciS. on to pre-
vent the roads from granting reduced rates
whenever they choose and now declare that
the roads can agree to make maintain
any and all kinds of rates as long as the
rates do not interfere with the convenience
OF any individual road. They base this as
sertfon upon the decision which stated that
the reasonableness or unreasonableness of the
rates did not enter into consideration at all.
Ihere could not be any agreement which did
not TO certain extent interfere with the
freedom of action of all the roads parties to
1t Just IN proprtion to the extent which it
DID so interfere with individual acton it was
a restriction of trade and therefore unlaw-
fui. Therefore, no agreement of any kind
anect1ng competitive rates could be legally
made. Now the railroad attorneys reason that
any agreement that does not restrict the &C
ton of any of the roads is not unlawful and
that it does not become unlawful until il
does so restrict. Under this advice the old
agreement of the Western Passenger assoca-
ton can be allowed to stand with the ex-
ance of rates and that providing for the
division of traffic for the purpose of main
tanning rates
The committee to which was re-
ferred the matter of fixing upon the
jurisdiction of the officials of the West
ern joint traffic bureau (the successor
of the Western freight association has
decided upon the following:
First-All freight traffic having origin or
destination ct any point in Minnesota Wis
consin. Northern peninsula Of Michigan
Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska Wyoming
Montana. North Dakota, South Dakota and
Idaho, east of Kuna and Sand Point which
passes to- from or through any point on the
Mississippi river. Minneapolis to New Or
leans, both inclusive, or which is exported or
imported by any port the Gulf of Mexico
or Atlantic coast.
Second-All freight traffic forwarded to
from or through any point on the Missouri
river, Sioux City to Kansas City, both in
the Mississippi river in the States of Mis-
souri,. Minnesota, North and South Dakota
Third-All freight traffic within the states
OF Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, North and
South Dakota which is competitive between
two or more members. except that portion
which Is included in the agreement of trans
Missouri freight committee.
Fourth-A1 freight traffic to- from or
through st Paul, Minneapolis. Minnesota
Transfer, Duluth, Superior. West Superior or
Ashland. except between st. Paul Minnesota
Transfer or Minneapolis and Duluth Superior
or West Superior.
Fifth-All freight traffic between Chicago
and Peoria on the one hand and Illinois points
north of the Santa Fe, Chicago to Fort Mad
ison, both inclusive, and Mississippi river
points north of Princeton, on the other
Sixth-Al freight traffic having origin or
destination to points in Wisconsin or the
Northern peninsula Of Michigan, forwarded
over any portion of the lines Of members and
not covered by the foregoing.