The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-25
RAILROADS TO MAKE A RALLY.
TRAFFIC. ASSOCIATIONS MAY NOT
Bic KNOCKED OUT YET.

Joint Traffic Association Advises
That IL BE Maintained Until He
Reads the Full DecisiOn-PFesident
Fink Interviewed.
New York, March 2t-The board Of man.
ayers 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 court decision
in the Trans-Aiissouri Freight Association
case the Joint Traffic Association should
continue in operation. the determination to
maintain the organization was based, not
only on The views Of the several members
of the board, but upon the advice Of James
G. Capter of counsel for the association,
who this morning notified Commissioner
Blanchard that the fun text of the SUI
preme court decision has not yet arrived,
and that until 1t mad been received and
fully considered he deemed inadvisable
any action looking to the disruption Of
the association.
President Fink of the Norfolk and West
ern railroad, says, in reference to the SUI
preme court decision against the Trans
Missouri Freight Association, that "the
railroads and newspapers appear to be go
ing too fast in considering that the traffic
associations must disband by reason of the
decision just rendered. The real qustion
is whether all are in restraint of COM
merce as decided In the Trans Missouri
case. The decision applies to one specific
case and 1t Is not fair to argue that under
II all the traffic associations are Illegal
Personally, / don't think they are. Every
railroad has the right to endeavor to get
the best results from the conduct of Its
own business. The Joint Traffic Associa-
ton will come before long before the su-
preme court involving a rehearing OF all
the points at issue and the position of the
law MADE then may change the entire as
pect of the situation. without the traffic
associations, 1t would be utterly impossi-
BILE TO carry out the Interstate commerce
law, and the Interstate commerce COM
msSioners are the cOmplaiuants in the
present joint traffic case The decision
rendered Monday in the Trans Missouri
case seems to me TO be based on a mis-
understanding of the facts and IL Il were
carried out against all the traffic associa-
tons would be a disaster to business, the
extent OF which could not be calculated
Not only would the railroads be unable
to see live days ahead, but as practically
all Industries are dependent on the trans
portation, all would suffer greatly"
Fort Monroe, Va, March 22a.asThe nnenis
bers of the Southeastern Traffic Associa-
tion, now in session at Chamberlain's ho-
tel are in state of mind over the recent
decision of the supreme court, declaring
such combinations unlawful. They have
been in session all day behind closed
doors, and will give nothing out for publi-
cation. 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 pre-
vent about the same party OF gentlemen
meeting here two or three times a wear
to have a pleasant visit and discuss bus
mess matters IN a general way remains
to be seen.
Chicago, ILL.,, March 2.-All the rail-
road traffic associations in this city re-
Trained from transactlng any business to-
day. which had to do with the regulation
of rates or division of business. Although
the executive officers and clerical force
at the various headquarters remained at
their desks, only routine business, ard
that which does not come within tie ban
of the supreme courts decision, was at
tended to. Practically all the assocla-
tions are in a state Of suspended anima-
ton, 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 to-day from membership In every
freisht and passenger traffic association.
The general counsel Of that company ad-
viscd the passenger officials not to affl-
late with other roads. The notice includes
the bureaus for the Issue OF mile
age tickets and half fare clergy
permits, which are departments of the
Western Passenger Association. At the
same time IL hit upon the plan of ap-
pointing y. ID. Caldwell, chairman of the
association, its agent to attend to clergy
permits and mileage tickets, thus practi-
Cally retaining the association machinery
for the sake of economy and convenience.
This method of procedure will probably
be adopted by other roads which feel IL
incumbent upon themselves 10 sever all
official relations with other roads In asso-
citation form. Such action would mean
that although the associations viii be dis
solved IN compliance with the supreme
court decision, the officials and other em-
poyes Of the organizations Will be retain
"a 10 attend to business which Is not pro-
hlbited The Burlington road also erased
Its name from all joint rate sheets with
all other lines, which is an indication that
the company believes the decision prohib-
its agreements with connecting lines on
through business.
The action Of the st. Paul road to-day
Is in effect a withdrawal from all freight
an passenger traffic associations. The
official announcement was made that until
the full text Of the decision was received
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 withdraw
al and therefore within legal bounds.
It 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, action Of yesterday, limiting rs
withdrawal from the freight association.
Thf Limitation was decided upon in the
opinion, which Is shared by many able
railroad attorneys, that as the antitrust
law Is 60 prevent the restraint Of trade
aud commerce only. the terms cannot
rightly be applied 10 passengers and their
transportation, which are not commodi-
ties.
Vice Chairman Baker OF the Western
Freight Associations board Of administra-
tion, received official notice to-day Of the
Minneapolis and ST. Louis roads with
drawal from all freight associations.