The record-union., 1897-03-26

CHICAGO, Mafcn -0.-Ine CIlCdSO
and Northwestern, the Missouri Pacl-
fic and st. Louis and San Francisco
roads filed notices of withdrawal to-
day from all the traffic associations OF
which they were members. The LOUIS
vile and st. Louis Air Line also With
drew from the Southern States Asso-
citation, of which it was "a member
A meeting of executive officers of
Western roads was held to-day at the
office of the Third Vice-President of
the Santa Fe to talk over the s1tua-
ton. AT the close of the meeting, how
ever, it was announced that no con-
certed action had been decided upon,
and none was likely to be.
The more the decision of the Supreme
Court is considered the more clearly
does it appear that not a vestige of
ground is left the traffic associations,
as they have heretofore been conduct
ed, on which to stand. All that now re-
mains for the roads to do is to direct
their energies to securing legislation
that Will open some way for them to
conserve their interests, and prevent
their revenues from being dissipated by
made competition.
None of the associations attempted to
do anything to-day. No circulars were
issued by any one ofPthem, and no at
tempts We're made to enforce observ-
ance of agreements.
AS yet no rate cutting has been re-
sorted to as a result of the collapse of
the association. The roads are simply
attending to routine business, and
seem to be afraid to take aggressive
action of any kind.
A mass meeting of passenger men
representing the Western, Transcon-
tinental, Ohio River and Southern lines
was held here to-day. 1t was of an en-
tirely informal character, no resolu-
tions being adopted or concerted action
of any kind agreed to.
The Transportation Committee of the
Chicago Board of Trade is reported to
be engaged at present in formulating
charges of rate cutting against GER
tain favored shippers. These are to be
presented to the Interstate Commerce
Commission, and by it prosecuted in
the Federal Courts. 1t is said that a
half dozen favored firms have been
given such reduction on grain that
their competitors on the board have
effectively crowded out of the mar
ket and found themselves unable to
ship a pound of grain. A lot of evil
dence has been collected, sufficient, it
is said, to secure conviction in a num-
ber of cases, and these, it is intimated,
will be pushed to the utmost limit of
the law.
CONSIDERABLE STIR AT NEW
YORK.
NEW YORK, March 2J.-The news
that Western railroads We're withdraw
ing from the passenger and freight as
sociations as a result of the decision of
the United States Supreme Court
against the Trans Missouri Association
caused considerable stir among rail-
road men in this city. The New York
railroad men as a rule look upon the
Withdrawal of the Burlington from the
various associations as hasty, holding
the opinion that it would do better to
wait until the associations are forced
to disband.
No steps have been take by the Joint
Traffic Association in reference to dis
banding. In fact the opinion of leading
trunk line officials Indicate that they
viii remain quiet for the present and
await developments.
Il do not see any other way of con-
STRUNG the decision" said Judge Har-
mon. Il have received many congrat-
ulatory kilograms and consider the
victory a personal one for me, because
/ fought the case for the Government
and was pitted against such legal tai
ent as +. ]. Phelps, James c. Carter
and others, who represented railroads
interested.
The decision is sweeping in its char
acter, and l think that all pools will
come under the head of the Trans Mis-
souri, body, which is declared illegal by
Justice Peckham."
Chauncey NJ. Depew, Chairman of the
Joint Traffic Association, said: 1T
certainly does not follow that a United
States Supreme Court decision against
the legality of the Trans Missouri AS
sociation will initiate against our as
sociation. The two associations were
established on radically different lines.
Our association was formed with the
express provision that each railroad
should preserve its own autonomy. In
the other association the rate-making
With US rates are made by Boards of
Directors of the different companies
or by their Presidents
Vice-President Bond of the Chicago
Milwaukee and st. Paul said that he
had received notice from the Chicago
Office of the company that no action
would be taken by that company until
the full decision had been read by the
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