The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-04-30
ORGANIZATION COMPLETED
The Southeastern Passenger Association
Formed at Meeting of Representatives
of Leading Southern Railroads.

Washington, April 2s.-Representa-
met here today and concluded the for
nation of a new passenger traffic asso-
citation, to be known as the Southeast
ern Passenger Association, and elected
officers for the ensuing year. The arti-
lies of association We're tentatively
formed at recent meeting at Atlanta,
subject to the concurrence of four alb
sent members. These members We're
present at the meeting today and, after
some minor changes in the articles,
they were formally adopted.
The roads entering the association
are the Atlanta, Knoxville and North
ern railway; Atlanta and Western
railroad; Atlantic Coast Line; Central
of Georgia railway; Florida Central
and Peninsular railroad; Florida East
coast railway; Georgia and Alabama
railway; Georgia Southern and Flor
ida railway; Louisville and Nashville
railroad Mobile and Birmingham rail-
road; Pennsylvania railroad; Plant
system of railways; Richmond, Freder-
icksburg and Potomac railroad; South
ern railway; Triton and Northeastern
railroad; Western Railway Of Alabama.
The election of officers resulted in the
choice of Henry Walters, president of
the Atlantic Coast Line, as president; :;
Joseph Richardson, formerly commits
sioner of the Southern States Passen-
ger Association, chairman of the con-
ference committee of the new aSSocia-
ton.
The articles adopted today set forth
the object of the association in the fol-
lowing preamble:
h. of int OF "a n 1Cyl r
authentic information in regard to the
tariffs of the respective parties, mem
berS of this association; for conSulta-
tion and mutual advice in regard to
the reasonableness Of tariffs and the
publicity Of the same, and to aid in
fulfilling the purposes of the laws OF
the states and of the United States, af-
fecting 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 ar
ticles provide for a conference com
mittee to whom shall be submitted al
changes in rates, rules or regulations
affecting the traffic within the terri
tory of. the association. 1t is made the
duty of the chairman to discourage re-
ductions in rates by rebates, draw
backs, commissions, or by any illega
devices.
At the conclusion of the morning ses
sion, which was behind closed doors
the officers Of the association stated
that the new agreement is designed tt
come fully within the requirements o.
| the recent decision of the United
States fupreme court in the transmits
| souri, case. 1t is said to be mainly IL
| the nature of a club arrangement, fol
| the exchange of information of mutua
| benefit and not for a control of rate:
| within the meaning of the recent de
| cisiOn.
| All of the roads entering the associ
| alton were represented al tOday's meet
| ing either in person or by proxy.
| The association concluded its WOrl
| this afternoon and the members lef
! for home. "A number Of them accepted
| an invitation of General Passenge
Agent Pannill, of the Norfolk, Virginit
! Beach and Southern railroad to visi
| Virginia Beach tomorrow. The South
| eastern Freight Association meets her
| tomorrow to conclude an organization
| similar to that of today on passenge
traffic.