The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-26

way for them 10 conserve their interests
and prevent their revenues from being dis
associations attempted TO do any business
yesterday. No circulars were issued by any
one OF them. and no attempts were MAIDS
to enforce observance of agreements. As
yet no rate-cutting has been resorted TO as
a result OF the collapse of the associations.
The roads are simply attending 10 routine
business and seem 10 be afraid 10 take dg-
gressive action OF any kind.
Chairman W. r. Morrison, of the Inter
state-eommerce Commission. when asked
by the Atlanta Journal for his opinion on
the decision. wired the following signed
statement from Washington:
Replying 10 the Journals telegram. I
would say that the Supreme Court decision
in the "transmisSouri case applies as well to
the Joint Traffic and 10 the Southern Rail-
way and Steamship Associations. If carriers
may combine and agree TO keep up rates on
prices of transportation. which make part
OF the price and cost of goods. why enact
antitrust laws to. prevent combination
and agreement to control production and
At an informal conference of the execu-
tive officers the traffic managers and gen.
eral solicitors of the st. Louis lines, the
conditions which confront the railroads in
the light of the decision was discussed at
length. Colonel Fordyce. president of the
Cotton Belt, was i'm the chair. AS the full
text OF the decision has not yet been re-
celved the attorneys We're not disposed to
express an opinion as to it's far-reaching
effects. but they shared the view taken by
the legal departments of some of the Chi
cago lines that il would be well at once to
suspend the opei atoms of the various traf-
nc associations in the West and Northwest.
a mass meeting of passenger men repre-
senting the Western, transcontinentaI,
Ohio river and Southern lines. was held in
Chicago yesterday. 1t was OF an entirely
informal character, no resolutions being
adopted or concerted action of any kind
agreed to. This was very different from
the result wished for when the call for the
meeting was sent out. That was before the
supreme Courts decision against the asso-
Citations had been rendered. Ii was then
hoped that some arrangement could be ar
rived at by which existing generalization
consequent on the higher payment of com-
missions on transcontinental business by
the Southern, than by the direct Northern
routes could be overcome. Two ways for
accomplishing this exist-the cessation OF
commission payments by the Southern and
ONO river lines or the payment of higher
commissions by the direct Northern lines.
Inc latter was the one standing the greater
cnance Tor adoption. but Ii is now conceded
that an agreement of any kind in the mat
ter Is out OF the question.
The general traffic managers of the
Grand Trunk and Canadian Pacific rail-
"NSSs -HNSSAS. NNOi sc ihCtNtS anu l.. MI
Nicoil, i'm interviews at Montreal YESTERDAY.
state that they see nothing in the Supreme
Courts decision 10 create a panic among
Western railway managers. In their opin-
ion 1t Will take but little time and consid-
Grafton TO procure the same results as I'M
der the joint traffic agreement, by some
other means.
A dispatch from St. Louis, dated last
night. says: The Missouri Pacific and
Iron Mountain set a pace to-day that will
probably be followed by other Western rail-
way systems. Notices were issued for both
companies by their general freight agent.
w. e Stith, of which the following is a
copy: In view of its withdrawal from
freight-rate associations on account of the
decision of the Supreme Court of the United
states IN the TrasmiSSouri Freight AssOcia-
ton case. notice is hereby given that this
company adopts, as its individual schedules.
the tariffs that were current March %.
1897. " This may be taken to mean that
until further notice the Missouri Pacific and
Iron Mountain systems will maintain rates
Just the same as If they We're still under the
direction OF the various freight associations.
from which they withdrew.
The transportation committee of the Chi
cago Board of Trade is reported TO be en-
gagged at present in formulating charges. of
rate-cutting against certain lines of road
and of receiving illegal rates against certain
favored shippers. These are to be pre-
sion and by Ii prosecuted in the federal
courts. IL is said that some half-dozen
favored firms. have been given such reduced
rates on grain that their competitors on
the board have been effectively crowded
out of the market and found themselves
unable 10 ship a pound of grain. \ lot of
evidence mas Deen collected. sufficient, it is
said. TO secure conviction in a number of
cases, and these. il is intimated. will be
pushed to the utmost limit of the law.
whether the traffic associations are dis
solved or not.