Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-03-25

A KNOTTY one
Traffic Associations Seem to Be
Divided
BECAUSE OF THE RULING
Windy City Associations Refrain From Business
Views of President Fink, of the
Norfolk & Western.

Chicago, March 24.-All railroad traffic
association in this city refrained from
transaosing any business today which had
to do with the regulation of rates or di-
vision of business. Although the execu-
tive officers and clerical force at the va
rious headquarters remained at their
desks, only routine business, and that
which does not come within the ban of
the supreme courts decision, was at
tended to. Practically, all the associa-
tons are in a state of suspended anima-
tion, Cooking over the ground and wait
ing to find out where they stand" as
Chairman Caldwell, of the Western Pas
senger association, expressed 1t.
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy
railroad gave a sweeping notice of with
drawal today from membership in every
freight and traffic association. The gen
eral counsel of that company ADVISED the
passenger officials not to affiliate with
other roads. The notice includes the bu-
reaus for the issue of mileage tickets
and half-fare clergy permits, which are
departments of the Western Passenger
association. At the same time 1t hlts
upon the plan of appointing b. D. Cald-
we'll chairman of the association, It's
agent to attend to clergy permits and
mileage tickets, thus practically retain
ing the association machinery for the
sake of economy and convenience rms
method of procedure will probably be
ADOPTED by other roads which feel it in
cumbent upon themselves to sever all
official relations with other roads in as
sociation form. Such action would mean
thar although the associations Will be dls-
solved in compliance with the supreme
court decision, the officials and other en-
ployes of the organiza tions will be re-
taincd to attend to business which is not
prohibited. The Burlington also erased
is name from all joint rate sheets with
all other lines, which is an indica ton
that the company believes the decision
prohibits agreements with connecting
lines on through business.
The action of the ST Paul road today Is
in effect a .hdrawal from all freight
and passenger traffic associations. The
official announcement was made that
until the full text of the decision was re-
ceived and an opinion had been rendered
by the legal department, the company
will not participate in any association.
It's policy is that inaction is equivalent
to withdrawal, and therefore within le-
gal bounds. 1t is a question among rail-
read men whether the mileage and clergy
bureaus come within the scope of the de-
ession. The Santa Fe company did not
efiarge On its action of yester dsy;- him
iting it's withdrawal from the freight as
sociation. 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
cannot rightly be applied to passengers
and their transportation, which are not
commodities.
Vice Chairman Baker, of the Western
Freight associations board of admins
tration, received official notice today of
the Minneapolis and st. Louis roads
withdrawal from all freight associations.
The members of the board of admins
tration, sat in their offices reading the
newspapers and discussing the railroad
situation as presented therein The
same condition of inertia prevailed at
the headquarters of the Western and
Trans-Continental Passenger associa-
tions Chairman Caldwell returned to-
day from Washington 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 con-
tinuation of the informality tomorrow.
No business was likewise transacted by
Commissioners Donald and Tucker, or
the Central Passenger and Central
Freight associations respectively.