The record-union., 1897-03-26

NoIC a lnOulHCdtlOu u eIlC oCSASioii.
President Fink of the Norfolk and
Western, which is not member of the
Joint Traffic Association, said: THE
railroads and newspapers appear to be
going too fast in considering that the
traffic associations must disband by
reason of the decision just rendered.
The real question is whether all are in
restraint of commerce as decided in
the Trans Missouri case. The decision
applies to one specific case and it is
not fair to argue that under it all traf-
fic associations are illegal. / do not
think they are. Every railroad has
the right to endeavor to get the best
results from the conduct of its own
business The decision rendered Mon
day seems to be based on misunder-
standing of the facts, and if it were
carried out against all traffic associa-
tions it would be disaster to business,
the extent of which could not be cal
culated. Not only would the railroads
be unable to see five days ahead, but,
as practically all industries are depen-
dent on transportation, all would suffer
greatly
THE UNION PACIFIC.
DENVER, March 25.-Receivers
Frederic r. Coudert e. Ellery Ander
son and Oliver w. Mink, General Man
ager Edward Dickinson and other offic-
ials of the Union Pacific road arrived in
Denver to-day on their annual tour of
! inspection. The original intention Of
| the party was to go as far as Salt Lake,
but that has been abandoned, as re-
| ceiver Clark is i'll in st. Louis.
| Il can hardly say" said Mr.. Mink, to-
| day, what will be the effect of the Su-
preme Court decision in the Trans
Missouri case. The Union Pacific has
not acted as yet and l cannot forecast
| what we will do. Much depends on
| the developments of the next few
| days"
THE breaking up of the freight and
| passenger associations" said General
| Manager Dickinson, means a general
| Generalization of rates, and eventually
| a most disastrous war. When the war
| comes it will be the survival of the fit
| test. The big roads are able to take
advantage of this to crush out our ri
walls. l hardly believe that any of the
roads are looking for trouble, but
trouble will come, now that each line is
| on an Independent basis. The rela-
! tiOnS between the Union Pacific and
the Oregon Short Line remain undis-
| turbed, and no change in traffic agree
| ments seems likely. Railroad business
| is gradually improving. Business is
| better now on the Union Pacific than
| it was a year ago.
OMAHA, March 25.-Frederc R. Cou-
dert of New York City, one of the re-
| ceivers of the Union Pacific was in
| Omaha last evening attending the meet
| ing of the receivers. In speaking Of
| the courts decision on railroad asso-
Citations he said:
There can be no doubt that the
| effect Of this decision of the Supreme
| Court declaring the Trans Missouri
Freight Association illegal will be very
far reaching. 1t may be very likely that
all freight and passenger associations
will be dissolved because of the decis-
ion. 1t looks as though the Union Pa
cific and all other railroads that are in
the hands of receivers would be most
keenly affected by the decision The
receivers of a railroad are really a part
Of the court and no part of the court
can take a position adverse to that of
the Supreme Court. The whole matter
is of such very great Importance that
should not care to give an opinion until
l have first read the full text of the de-
| cision."
SOUTHWESTERN ASSOCIATION.
ST. LOUIS, March 25.-The South
western Traffic Association in the
Union Trust building was open to-day,
but no new business was being trans
acted.
E. I. Campbell said: "The work we
have fn irfc
several days Whether we will close the
office then depends upon Developments.
If the executive officers of the roads
having a membership in the associa-
tion decide that the decision applies to
this organization, we will have to sus-
pend operations. 1t may be found that
this association is not Illegal. The only
road that has officially notified US of
Its withdrawal is the Santa Fe, though
l understand several other roads de-
| cided to withdraw yesterday. The clos
ing of this office would throw about
twenty-five men out of employment,
including Chairman L. F. Day and
myself
| DENVER, March 25.-D. c. Dodge of
the Rio Grande Western has left here
for Salt Lake City, giving notice that
the Western will withdraw from the
| Western and local passenger associa-
| tiOns
MAY PRECIPITATE A RATE WAR.
SAN FRANCISCO March 25.-The
| United States Supreme Court decision
declaring the trans Missouri Freight
Association and similar railroad or
ganizations as a violation of the anti
trust law of 1890 and abolishing the
same, has created a sensation in rail-
road circles in this city The opn-
ion prevails among railway officials
that the decision will precipitate a rail-
road rate war in the near future. All
agreed that the prospects for organ
lied action in the matter of rates are
very unsatisfactory.
| The various lines in the East which
belong to the many railway associa-
tions are withdrawing therefrom. and
their disruption is threatened The de-
cision which is the cause of all. this
trouble grew out of a proceeding in
which only the Trans Missouri Freight
Rate Committee was interested. but
the traffic officials of most of the big
transcontinental and Eastern railroad
systems had agreed yesterday, acting
on legal advice that the decision ap-
! plies to all associations of a like ma
ture. These associa tionS are now going
into rapid disintegration through the
withdrawal of the lines that consti-
tute their membership, and from pres
ent indications there win be no freight
| CT passenger associations or committees
| in the country before MANY dayS have