The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-27
THINKS IT AN OUTRAGE
PRESIDENT RIPLEY.s VIEWS AS TO
JOINT TRAFFIC DECISION.
what Chairman Blanchard and Others
Say-Bie Four stockholders Re-
Elect Old Board.

T.. p. Ripley, president OF the Santa Fe
system, says in reference to the Supreme
Court decision against the Joint Traffic AS
sociation: AS a lawyer l do not care to
express opinion as to the law laid down
by the Supreme Court of the United States,
hui as a matter of equity 1 consider the
decision an outrage. The treatment of rail-
roads by the government is outrageous. A
railroad Is either private corporation or
a public corporation. IL the former, it
should be left alone; If the latter. then it
should be protected. and this the govern
ment does not do"
Commissioner George r. Blanchard of the
Joint Traffic Association. after reading the
fun text of the decision in the Joint
Traffic case said at New York yesterday:
''srhe decision of the United States SUI
preme Court in the Joint Traffic Associa-
ton case naturally attracts widespread at
tention by reason of its influence upon the
railway earnings and securities of the coun-
try and also because it may affect their
patrons by stimulating dissimilar and non
permanent rates and fares under the mis-
homer of competition. While / therefore
greatly regret the decision, it is now the
interpreted law of the land and must be
loyalty observed. 1t nevertheless forcibly
illustrates the power which may be exer-
cised by one mind which becomes a ma
Jority in the paramount court OF the land.
] am not, however, an alarmist who believes
that railroad properties are to be immensely
damaged thereby. Our contract did not ac-
complish all its purposes because from the
first 1t encountered the opposition rather
than the support of the governmental au-
thorities. 1t will therefore continue for the
time being an anomaly that the law of the
land, passed for the declared purpose of
securing uniform methods, is substantially
declared void and imperative Every MEN,
Der of the Interstate-cominerce Commits
sion thoroughly understands that even the
most reasonable rates cannot be maintained
without a railway cooperation and under
standing OF some sort. For example, the
Interstate law provides for nondscrimina-
ton between localities. How is this parity
of cities and districts to be applied unless
the lines leading to and from localities sub
stantally agree? The same law provides
for nondiscrimination between individuals.
How is this to be achieved except by con-
ference and an aggregated determination
TO stop the vices which produce such repre-
hensble determinations? 1 quite concur in
the view expressed by President Fowler of
the Ontario & Western Company, that the
ground is now cleared for an endeavor TO
secure such legislation at Washington as
will remove these apprehensions in this
country. they have been in England
from all uncertainty and doubt | thorough
~ e,isie IA te SvoluIion OF the rail-
IS the greatest one presented for solution
the ultimate result will be to convince the
general public. as our patrons and as most
trade bodies are now fully convinced. that
uniformity of rates made and secured by
the reasonable and properly guarded CO.
operation and aDDrOVT Of the AZ
commerce Commission is better than demor-
allied, uncertain, preferential and spas
mode rates made at the will of small indi-
vidual companies, but involving all other
companies and patrons in the results under
the cloak of competition. When these fair
purposes and proven results shall be fully
explained and understood / have no doubt
that the national legislators will be per-
euaded by the railway and mercantile in
terests that the purpose of the interstate
act can surely be fulfilled in a spirit of CO.
operation with the carrier rather than by
ing that Chairman Knapp. of the Inter
Btate-commerce Commission, has already
announced similar general views"
Railway who returned to Cincinnati from
Virginia yesterday said, when asked about
the effect of the decision of the Tinted
States Supreme Court upon the Joint Traf-
fic Association: Il have no doubt the assoc
citation will have TO dissolve When the
Sherman antitrust law was declared to APP
ply to railroads we knew that the present
agreement between lines could not stand
mis- VIII be worse Tor the shippers than
from every commercial body in the country
for Congress to pass law legalizing agree
ments between railroads as to rates etc
In the meantime IL becomes a question OF
honor and self-respect for every railroad
manager TO look after his own revenue and
act conservatively In a crisis like this.
really expect TO see better rates for the
next three months than during the past
three"
Vice President Shaughnessy, OF the
Canadian Pacific Railway. speaking al
Montreal. said the decision would have the
effect of breaking UP the traffic associa-
fions In the United States, thereby leaving
each company 10 make fits own rates and
presenting opportunities for roads SO dis
posed 10 wage rate wars, although he did
not look for any. It's application to Cana
dian roads would only be general and the
effect would be light Sir William Van
Horne. president of the company concurred
"a what Mr.. Shaughnessy said and added