Birmingham state herald., 1897-04-29
GETTING RIGHT IN LINE Leading Railroads of the South
 Form a Combine FOR SELF PROTECTION And Its Name Is South-Eastern Passenger As- sociaton-0ficers Chosen-The Sea-
 board Air Line Not In It.

Washington, April 2S.-Representative of leading railways of the south met here today and concluded the formation of a
 new passenger traffic association to be known as the Southeastern Passenger as- sociation and elected officers for the ensu- ing year. The articles of associate were tentatively formed at recent meeting at Atlanta subject to the con- currence of four absent members. These members were present at the meeting to- day and after some minor changes in
 the articles they were formally adopted.
 The roads entering the association are the Atlanta, Knoxville and Northern rail- way, Atlanta and West Point railway, Atlantic Coast line Central of Georgia, Florida Central and Peninsula railway. Florida East Coast railway, Georgia and Alabama railway, Georgia Southern and Florida railway, Louisville and Nashville railway, Mobile and Birmingham rail- way, Pennsylvania, Plant system of rail- ways, Richmond, Fredericksburg and 1 Potomac, Southern railway. Triton and l Northeastern railway, Western railway of Alabama. ~
 The Seaboard Air Line system has not joined the association. The election of officers resulted in the choice of Henry Walters, president of the Atlantic Coast line, as president; Joseph Richardson, formerly commissioner of the Southern States Passenger associa tion as chair man of the conference committee of the new association. The articles adopted today set forth the object of the asso- citation as follows:
 For the purpose of interchangirg au- thentic information in regard to the tar ifs of the respective parties, members of
 this association, for consultation and mutual advice in regard to the reasona- bleness of tariffs, and the publicity of the same; and to aid in fulfilling the purposes of the laws of the states and of the Unit ed States affecting commerce, especially
 with the view of preventing illegal and unjust determinations between persons and localities or kinds of traffic." The territory of the association is south of the Ohio and Potomac and east of the Mississippi rivers. The articles provide for conference committee to which shall be submitted all changes in rates, rules or regulations affecting the traffic within the territory of the association. It is made the duty of the chairman
 to discourage reductions in rates by re- bates, drawbacks, commissions or by any illegal devices. At the conclusion of the
 morning session, which was behind closed doors, the officers of the associa-
 tion stated that the new agreement is designed to come fully within the re- quirements of the recent decision of the United States supreme court in the trans MlSSOuIl case. u IS Sdll lO De Hldlliy in the nature of a club arrangement for the exchange of information of mutual benefit and not for a control of rates within the meaning of the recent deci- sion,
 Al lof the roads entering the associa-
 ton were represented at today's meet ing, either in person cir by proxy. Among the prominent railway men participating were: William Chickley Shaw. president, and G. A McDonald, general passenger 1cAl ,4ta Ssr.,f 1,ar aud ida railway; W. w. Finley, second vice.
 president; J. M. Turk, traffic manager, and w. A. Turk, general pais nger agent of the Southern railway; Henry Walters, president, and T. M. Emerson, traffic manager of the Atlantic Coast line; w. B. Wrenn, traffic manager of the Plant system; J. c. Halle, general passenger agint of the Central of Georgia; C. A. Taylor, traffic manager of .he Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac; c. P. Alt more, general passenger agent of the Louisville and Nashville; A. O. McDon- ald, general passenger agent of the Flor ida Central and Pendnsular; John A. Me- CHI, general passenger agent of the At lanta, West Point and Westefn of Ala bama, and Joseph Richardson, former commissioner.
 TGTa following execw i've board will serve for the ensuing year:
 H. Walters, president Atlantic Coast lire; E. c. Spalding, vice-presidsnt A. R. & N. railway Ge'r,ge c. Smith. presi- dent Atlanta and West Point railway; w. Finley, vice-president Southern rail- way; R. Knott vice-presdent Louisville and Nashville railway; w. B. Mem, P. T. M, Plant system; N. s. Pennington, T. N. A., Atlanta and West Point rail- way: William Chickley Shaw. vice-presi- dent Georgia Southern and Florida rail- way; w. S. Parrott. vice president of the F. c. Railway; A. c. Taylor, T. M, Rich mond. Fredericksburg and Potomac rail- way: H.. H. Tift, presiden. Louisville and Nashville railway; Cecil Gabbett vice president G. & A. railway; G. M. Egan, vice-president Central of Georgia rail- way; T. G. Bush president M. & B. rail- way; J. R. Moody, general passenger agert of the Pennsylvania railway
 The association concluded it's work this afternoon and the members left for home. A number of ,hnm accepted an invita- tion of General Passenger Pannill, of the Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Southern railway, to visit Virginia Beach tomor- l.tx.
 The Southern Freight association meets here tomorrow to conclude an organiza- tion similar to tha- of today on passenger traffic.