The herald., 1898-10-26
Official Opinion

CHICAGO, Oct. 25.-The following are
the opinions expressed by leading railway
officials of the city on the decision of the
Supreme Court in the Joint Traffic Associa-
ton case, all being given without the know
ledge of the text OF the decision, except 1t l.
against the Joint Traffic Association lines:
j. +. Tucker. Chairman OF the Central
Freight Association, says
Il have not seen the decision and cannot
say how it will affect the Central Freight
Association. The Joint Traffic Associa-
ton saw nit to continne its existence after
the Supreme Court had decided the Trans
missouri freight case on the ground that
its agreement differed from that OF the
Western body. 1t may be that the Central
freight agreement differs from that or the
Joint Traffic Association
Commissioner Donald of the Central Pass
enger Association:
The decision is a sad blow for the rail
roads. 1t is to be regretted that the court
could have not had i'll view the result which
will follow such decision, and been able tc
decide the case on broad grounds of equity
The result probably will be to reduce al
traffic organizations of the country to Z
basis of very questionable value. | do not
know what will become of the organization
of which l am chairman; that remains to
be seen"
Chairman Caldwell of the Western Pass
enger Associations:
''As l understand the decision, it does
not affect us in any way. Our organizations
were all dissolved at the time the Supreme
Court decided the Transmissouri freight
case and recognized to conform to that de,
cision. The revised agreements were sub
mitted to committee OF counsel and ap-
proved by that committee. Our agreements
do not provide in any way for the organic
tion, making, fixing or controlling rates, but
each line makes its own tariffs, and each
may change its rate without questioning
others. We have no machinery for main
tanning rates"
Chairman Parker of the Western Freight
Association:
II the court simply reaffirms its position
in the Transmissouri Freight Association,
it is disappointment to the railroads. |
imagine that our agreement is very much
like that OF the Joint Traffic Association
The scheme of the Eastern roads was fol
lowed closely when we organized the West.
ern Joint Traffic Bureau. but that was dis
solved in 1896. Since then we have had only
shadow of an agreement, but it has been
along the same lines as that which the
court has just decided to be illegal"
II. Fl. Cortright of the Western Trunk
Lines COMMITTEES:
Before the Western men can say how
they are affected by this decision, they must
see the full text of the judgment 1t may
be adverse to the railways in some points
and favorable to them in others"
Vice-President Chappell of the Chicago
and Alton Railroad:
'The Transmissouri freight case was ex-
actly similar to this one, in that the main
question was as to an independent body in
which rested the power to make and con.
+Yn1 ota- h,,, .,.1@
tions have no such feature The board of
the Western Freight Association makes no
rates. 1t does try to enforce rules and
regulations, but not such as affect rates. A
pooling law would help the railroads, but it
would not do all that is necessary"