New-York tribune., 1898-10-30

the Ncw-vork Central. George r. blanchard
was ,Icetod commissioner. The Board OF Arbi-
tratjon is made Up Of Garrct A. Hobart, james
T. Goddard and Edward T. Leonard. Nj. GOO
dard IS chairman. Theec a'e ;Eo officials OF tHe
o-ga niIatcn.
II is har, T. estimate Just how much :he 10Y
maiior D: ;his poe did "a restore rates. 'ef-
:ain}v rat,e arc IN nluCl -'ettc" o"nciNoh no"
than ,hoy have boou 10Y 3 long tme. bu' many
causes yiay have .onti .lr;ed a. ms "ho. I"'
election - Wiiliam kirieY, bs |ors. me
restoration o. ,cUGd' Ycc md he G""'rH pro-
peri,y OF tho country all Gid great Geai 20
revive prosperity and mahe Dis tCsine's loi 'he
roads With 50 much business In slfht IL was
easier to bring tho re1alcitrant ones ~ Inc ahd
make the most fragrant offenders cease theH
onerat.one II Is hard "a estimate what good
would have been achieved had times gone from
bad to worse. rs Il Is. rates have not Deeh
brought up to the standard hoped ioT' ana
many think verbal aclr omtnt between Inc
roads interested would be effective as the
pa 1ers IN force. The organization has dohe
some good for The ROADS, however, IL beinf
sort Of clearing house for information and ID
giving railroad men a sort Of a central boo! ."r
advice consultation and reference
DISCUSSING THE NEXT MOVE.
Without going into the iegal aspects OF the
question or making any reference 10 the right or
wrong OF The organization, upon al economic
ground there is much TO bo said by both sides
The railroad men rake many strong arguments
in favor of their organization. They have issued
many statements setting forth the'T views, anc
The giet Of them j. that an Understanding
among the roads Is absolutely imperative ,or
the road TO maintain the!r very existence. They
say .hat once an irresponsible road beg'ns 20
gu, every other OBJ must meet i or lose Taihc'
This tends 10 demOraze the rallroad lh'eiests
Of the country, reduce earnings, cfea" u's-
honest officials and eventually thlo" any roao'
however strong, into bankruptcy The! Sd! thd'
rate-cutting tends 10 puild W trusts ana "aI
down the small producer; 70 bud UP IaiGe
cities and work the destruction o. smaller ones
They argue 10 prove this that y TREMENDOUS
simmer can 20 70 4 road that VIII cat rates ana
force the officials Of that road 20 give h.m raie
that the smaller manufacturer cannot secure-
giving the big shipper an Incaicuiabie adN"
taee over his small competitor; that the big
cities can dictate TO roads where the smaller
towns arc helpless; that 4 demoralizes all busl-
ness as vel as the railroad business and "crKs
havoc All Of these arguments have been
printed and are well known. What the JOINT
Traffic Association vii! DO now remains 70 De
seen Each day conferences are taking place ID
the rooms in Liborty-st., where the ASSOCIATION
has its HEADQUARTERS. The most influential
memhers Of the association say hoTefully that
something can b. dDLe to meet the requirements
OF the law and still maintain rates There IS
some talk Of trying get pooling la" passed
ly Congress AT all events, the decision OF inc
Suprcme Court is not taken as final and ab-
solutc annihilation Of the theory or the BODY
and If its physical organization is Illegal some
hut stin uphold the principles anC the ideas Of
the association.