The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-05
WILL OBEY THE LAW
JOINT TRAFFIC ASSOCIATION DE-
CIDEs TO QUIT BUSINESS.
Resolutions Adopted AnnuIing the
Agreement and Appointing a Com
mittee to Settle Accounts.

The board of control of the Joint Traffic
Association decided at New York yesterday
to dissolve the organization. This action
was taken because of the recent decision
by the Supreme Court of the United States
that the efforts of the association to con-
troll rates were illegal. The whereases. re-
cite that the Joint Traffic Association was
formed Jan. /, 1886. for the following pur-
poses, as set forth in the agreement, name
ly: ITO aid in fulfilling the purposes of the
fnterstate-commerce act; to cooperate with
each other and adjacent transportation COM
panies to establish and maintain reasonable
and just rates fares, rules and regula
on state and interstate traffic; to, prevent
unjust determinations and secure the re-
ductiOn and concentration of agencies and
the introduction of economies in the conduct
of the freight and passenger service" The
association, it is stated. has, during the
existence of nearly three years, endeavored
by every lawful means to cause its members
to adhere to strictly and carry out the pro-
visions of the interstate-commerce law, and
1t has kept the Interstate-commerce Com
mission informed of it's action upon all
questions and furnished the commission
with all its resolutions, the conclusions of
its committees and the schedules and agree
ments of every kind adopted, bu. as it has
been decided. by. the Supreme Court of the
United States that the agreement under
which the association was formed in some
OF its terms is in conflict with the statute
known as the Sherman antitrust law,
therefore. it is resolved that this .assoeia-
tion be and it is hereby dissolved, and that
said agreement be and it is Cancelled and
annulled that each system represented in
the association designate one person, who
together shalt constitute the committee,
whose duty it shall be to settle and adjust
the accounts and obligations incurred in
connection with the association, and that all
books, papers. documents and property of
the association be delivered to said COM
pames Dy the commissioner aud mapagers.
and that said committee proceed as expe-
ditiously as may be to close up the affairs
OF the association.
Pursuant to the above the following COM
mittee was appointed: H. ]. Hayden. repre-
senting the New York Central and affiliated
lines: d. S. Gray, the Pennsylvania. Geo.
i. Randolph, the Baltimore & Ohio; G.. G.
Cochrane. the Erie; John Burton, the Grand
Trunk; H; G. Hicks the Delaware, Lacka-
wanna & Western; Gen. Orlando Smith, the
Lehigh Valley; NJ. knight. the Wabash,
and George Odds, the Canadian Pacific
An executive session of the presidents of
the railroads of the Joint Traffic Associa-
ton was held in the afternoon. The resolu-
ton which was passed at the morning seS-
sion dissolving the Joint Traffic Association
was formulated by Judge s. A Williamson.
counsel for the New York Central & Hud-
son River Railroad; j. a. Logan, solicitor
for the Pennsylvania Railroad; Colonel
Blodgett, counsel for the Wabash Railroad.
and g. c. Green, counsel for the Lake
Shore & Michigan Central Railroad As far
as could be learned, no action was taken at
the afternoon session. DIR. Depew, who pre-
sided at the meetings. hurried away after
the meeting was over.
Il can't say word" DR.. Depew said,
the association is a spirit--a corpse" DR..
Depew further said that beyond the disso-
luton and discussion thereof nothing was
done. THE matter" he said. lis left to the
Legislature
+. H. Hoyt. secretary of the board of con-
troll of the association, also said that no
creative action had been taken; that no
agreement, verbal or otherwise, had been
be followed by speedy legislation that would
allow the railroads to protect their inter-
eStS.