The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-01
The Traffic Associations Will
Smell as Bad,
TRYING TO DoDCEDECIsION
% WESTERN ROADS NOW FORM
H.i A BUREAU" ....
THE PURPOSE SANE AS BEFORE
Roads viii Make a Strong Fight For
Right to Pool, and Will Leave no
.f. Stone Unturned to Bring
This About.


Chicago, March 31.--The executive
officers of the Western roads met to-day
for the purpose of considering changes
made necessary by the abrogation4
the Association agreements The meet
ing took no action, and will meet again.
tomorrow. 1t is the unanimous opinion
of the higher officials of the Western
roads that the organizations shall be con-
tnued IN force although their powers will
be limited as compared with
what they were before the Su-
preme Court decision OF late
years the associations, both freight
and passenger, have absorbed a large
amount Of routine work handled by the
association ut quite a saving to the indi-
vidual lines. The associations will be
kept in force to handle this class of work
If for nothing else There is no disposi-
ton on the part of the raods to keep
the associations at work doing under !.
verbal agreement what they have up to
now been doing under a written com
pact, and there is on all sides a desire to
comply with the decision of the Supreme
Court. AT the same time, the roads have
no intention of sitting down under the de-
cision. They are getting ready to make
strong fight for the right to pool.
and to form traffic associations, and they
will leave no stone unturned in order to
bring about their desires i'm this firec-
tloD. The officials discussed all the
phases OF the case to-day and it is likely
that they will take some action to-mor-
row.
THE PROGRAMME OF EVASION.
The action to be taken tomorrow will
be the adoption of the following agree
ments, which the attorneys of the roads
are going over tonight. If the agree
ment goes through, the name of the or
ganiZation will be the Western Joint
Traffic Bureau.
The territory coming under this bureau
shall be as follows: Joint rate commit
tee 20 fix it,.
The bureau shall be under the super
vision of u board OF commissioners. con-
sistins of five members, who shah be
elected by the presidents of the roads.
The headquarters of the bureau shall
be at Chicago. But it shall be- discre-
tlonary with the board to meet ut any
point within its territory
1t shall he the duty of the board to
copies of any joint or other tariff or rate
established 10y said member. covering the
traffic within the territory of the bureau.
either wholly or in part, and to compile,
print and distribute such tariff in con-
formity with the Interstate and other
laws, and 10 receive, formulate and dis
tribute statistical information as to the
freight traffic of all lines. TO this end
members will furnish such reports OF
freight traffic within the territory of th~
bureau as may be required by the board
All divisions of joint Through rates lex
cept those between proprietor lines) and
Such consequent changes thereof. shall
be fixed 10y the board and by il furnished
members. \ four-fifths vote of the board
of commissioners shall he necessary for
the adoption of any proposition.
ne exchanges of the bureau Shall be
aplortiOn"d fairly between the members
ny the board of commissioners. Nothing
herein shall be so construed as To estab-
liSh or otherwise affect rates on freight
traffic. and it shall be the duty of the
board of commissioners Ia SO exercise
the power conferred upon it as to dis
courage, and so far as possible prevent.
a violation of tie Interstate law, or any
other Federal or State law. or the provis-
iohS VI the cudrters Oh any OF the par
ties hereto. The board shall cooperate
with the Federal and State commissions
and courts for these purposes.
The rules governing the filing of freight
tariffs with the Interstate Commerce
Commission shall apply as to the filing
of all tariffs with the board and the par
ties hereto shall file with the board all
tariffs that they may issue.
The following shall become effective
April lSt, 1897, and continue in force un-
I'll december 31st, 1898 and thereafter
untll ninety days after written notices
or intention TO withdraw therefrom shall
nave been given by one or more members
through the chairman. Twenty-three
roads are parties to the agreement.