The times., 1897-03-24
OF THE DECISION
Organizations Governing Rates
Will Cease TO Exist.
GREAT DISTURBANCE AT HAND
Western Railroads Sever COnnec-
tions with All AssOciations-Pre
Work Injury to the General Pub
1ic-Opinions of Officials.

Chicago, ILL.,, March %. Within week
it is expected by high railroad effici ais that
not one of the congratulations having jurisdic
ton over passenger ana freight rates will
be in existence in this country, result
of the plain decision OF the United States
Supreme Court that all associations which
have for their purpose the maintenance Of
agreed rates and the division of traffic are
Illegal.
The oldest organizations Of this character
must go To pieces In fact, the work OF dis
intcgration began in this city today, the
legal advisers of great railroads being quick
to grasp the hopelessness OF the situation,
so far as continued membership Iii these as
sociations was concerned.
General Solicitor kenna, nf the Santa
Fe system, advised the traffic manager
OF that road to withdraw immediately
from all freight associations OF which 1t
has been u member. 1t is believed Mr.
Kenna will also advise the Santa Fe's
withdra wal from all passenger associations
tomorrow,
A long consultation with other attoT-
neys of the Chicago, Mil ilwaukee and st.
Paul road was held by General Solicitor
Peck. Before the meeting of lawyers, MIR.
Peck stated he would advise the 81. Paul's
withdra wal at once from all associations.
The counsel for the Chicago, Rock Island
and Pacific road advised the officers that
the only legal course to pursue was to
sever connection with all associations.
on reliable authority it was stated that
the following other important lines have
also decided to give similar notice OF
withdrawal:
Wisconsin Central, st. Louis and San
Francisco, Minneapolis and st. Louis and
Chicago Great Western.
The perenptory action OF all these com
panies means the certain disruption of the
following associations anu committees:
Western Freight Association, Trans-C on
tinental Passenger Association, Western
Passenger Association, southwestern Traf-
fic Association, Trans Missouri Freight
Association, Southwestern Passenger Com
nIittee, Mississippi valley Freight Com
mittee, St Paul and Minneapolis Rate
Association, Colorado Freight Association,
the local passenger associations OF ST
Louis, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Denver
and Chicago, local freight agents associa-
ton OF Chicago, st. Louis Association of
General Passenger Agents, Chicago and
St Louis Traffic Ass ssoCiation, Western
Classification Committee, and Minneapolis
Terminal Freight Association.
Officers of various western roads inter
viewed by the United Associated PRESSES
reporter were divided on the effect which
this disruption would have on rates,
The consensus OF opinion is that period
of widespread and disastrous rate dis
turbance is at hand because each rOa d can
now do as it pleases, and cut rates openly
and secretly, regardless of the Interstate
commerce law Railroad men and shippers
agree that such conditions will work in
jury to the general public, giving biz ship
pers and merchants who get lowest rates
an advantage over competitors.
AT the headquarters OF the Western
Freight Association the board Of admin
istration did nothing, althoughit has been
In daily session for weeks and an impor-
tant meeting on division Of traffic was
called for today one member said the
board had given the meeting no thought.
Chairman Donald, of the Central Pas
senger Association, changed the opinion
he gave yesterday, admitting the decision
affected passenger associations.
Commissioner Tucker, Of the Central
Freight Association, consoIed himself with
the opinion that the decision would not
stand the combined attack of railroads.
Chicago officials believe 1t would he
unwise and useless to combat the de-
cision, and that their prompt compliance
will help the passage of laws regulating
transportation companies, especially the
Patterson pooling bill now pending. 1t
is the general opinion that differentials,
which are an agreed lower tariff given
certain roads at a disadvantage by COM
petitors, will have to he abolished. Some
of them have been in force twenty years.
and have an important bearing on compe-
titfon between rail and water routes from
Chicago eastward.