The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-25

/ lowed the example OF the Santa re in
Withdrawing from the westeTn Freight
/ Association today. These were the Bur
/ hngten and the Minneapolis a. 81. Louis.
! They both went a step further than the
santa F'e in thar they withdrew from all
/ organizations OF which they were menu
I bers. passenger as well as freight. The
/ santa re is still member OF the Western
] Passenger Association, and will remain
| 50 until fully satisfied that the law ap-
| plies 10 passenger traffic as well as
freight.
II was expected that the Rock Island
and the Milwaukee 81 81. Paul would also
withdraw today. but after mature dellb-
Grafton these two roads decided 10 content
themselves for the present with abstain
ing from any action In meetings or look
ing toward changes in rates they stand
at present until the faIl scope of the SUI
preTne courts decision has been fully as
certained. The Chicago a. Northwestern
road occupies a similar position.
All the associations still retain their cor
porate existence, and viii continue 10 do
so for the time being. None Of them will
however. attempt 20 do any business until
IL is decided what their future viii be.
That they win be continued some time
IS foregone conclusion. The business Of
the roads is too much interviewer to per-
nit OF Its transaction without some means
OF mutual action.
IL is believed that some way will he
found 10 reorganize them In a way 80 as
TO prevent a conflict with the law, and TO
that end the energy of the officials will
now be bent.
conference OF passenger representa-
tves Of Kansas City roads was held here
today. It's object was the consideration
of rate decentralization at Kansas City,
east-bound, and especially through the
st. Louis gateway. Owing TO the excite
I - -
cision in the trans Missouri case has
thrown the roads. the conference took the
shape Of an informal discussion of the
situation, and definite decision was
arrived at. Threats are openly made.
however, that unless deals with brokers
be discontinued, an open reduction in
rates Will be made.
The Burlington has appointed Chair
man Caldwell. OF the Western Passenger
Association. 10 handle its mileage tickets
and TO issue ciergymen's permits. which is
regarded as a first step toward a reorgan-
ization of the Western Passenger Associa-
ton, although necessarily on different
lines.
Following the action of the Burlington
and Minneapolis & ST. Louis In withdraw
ing from the association, the board of ad-
uinistration of the Western Freight AsSo-
citation took decided steps and ordered the
offices OF the organization in the Rookery
| buildlng to be closed and no more busi-
| ness VIII be transacted by X until orders
come from the executive officials Of the
! roads composing the association 10 wind
| up its affairs.
In regard TO the above the Inter- Ocean
| tomorrow viii say:
| This hasty closing of offices that have
| been ma antsiaed for years aud until a
| day or so ago one OF the most important
/ factors in the West. IL sensational and
| only tends to augment the panic now ex-
/ iSting among the big railway systems. IL
/ filings upward OF hundred clerks OF vari-
/ ous kinds and degrees out Of employment,
/ and in a day or so this number Is likely
| to be increased by the probable dissolu-
| tion OF the Western Passenger Associa-
| ton"
| Chairman Morrison. OF the interstate
/ commerce commission. has rendered an
| opinion that the trans-Missouri freight
case applies TO passenger. as wei as
| freight associations of every character.
To Test the Decision.
| NEW YORK March 4.-The Evening
| Post says: The Joint Traffic Associa-
/ tion. acting under legal advice, mas de-
| cided 70 continue formally IN existence
/ and test the trust DECISIONS actual scope
RExsell Sage when interv3e we'd today
/ regarding the decision OF the supreme
| court against the Trans Missouri Traffic
| Association. said that a four-to-aye deci-
| sion was not alarming after all.
| 1T Is bound 70 come out all right In the
| end" said Mr.. Sage. There IS no ques-
/ ton on that point Trains ana capital
man. and natural laws have not been
/ changed because of this one adverse de-
/ cisson No human la@ can prevent the
/ combination Of interests In social or husi-
ness affairs. So-cailed protective laws are
( not needed BY the public. for no associa-
/ tfpa or trust has yet been able 20 operate
/ with a profit for any length ~ time when
! Il attempted TO oppress the people.
! Il think an amendment 10 the present
law VIII be asked of congress, whereby
I combinations Of interests can be legally
/ effected.
/ "Ax 10 the railroad properties fn which
! am personally interested. l do not yet
/ know what viii be done. or whether they
/ will Withdraw from the associations 20
which they belong. The directors vii
meet In the course Of tine. and VII talk
action The lawyers VIII also consider
/ the case in al It's bearing and evolve some
| plan for future procedure -.,..
In the meantime let The investing pub
| iic keep COO"
Western Association Ignored.
KANSAS CITY. March 4-The result
OF the supreme courts traffic decision
vas shown today when a number of local
/ firms ignored the branch Office az the
| Western Freight Association IN piGlng
.heir cereals East Heretofore al this
business has been transacted through the
/ local cfrf~e of that association. In the fr-
! ture these firms VIII present their billings
20 the different railroad companies lndl-
vfauaIiy Should the roads refuse 20
transact the business thus offered them.
! +ha unla xfulne<z OF the organization OF
the Western ight Association may be
I hrcuvh, 70 the attention OF the Federai
courts
The Memphis Withdraw
KANSAS CITY, March 24-As a resul,
og the supreme c2gTt decision holding that
! rha sherman anti-tTast iaw apples 20 ratt-
-osds. he Kansas civ. Fort Sccu &
( NernphIs road scaav gave forTr&l n0tsce
- frs tRteesea wlfhdra xal from the West
EN- Frssxht Association and the Trans
Missouri Freight Kate Committee the
onEy trarIs orEalizs tions II waich the
Nennhts - represent -.
Sotgc~ From the Missouri Pacific
81 LOUIS. Mach 1.-THE A3ssouri Pa
CSC lzte this afternoon gave notice % rs
vrt+hs~asal from az freight associations
Thls. however does not include weighing
sd Inspection bureaus.
Huntington at Los Angeles