The times., 1898-05-12
RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS.
The Tenth Annual Convention Con
cIudes Its Work in This City


The second session of the tenth annual
convention of the State railroad com
missioners was held in the hearing rooms
of the Interstate Commerce Commission
yesterday morning. The convention was
called to order at 10 O'Clock by Chairman
Lindley.
The roll call of States was continued
and the following commissioners spoke
of railroad conditions in their respective
commemorative:
Chairman L. c. Caldwell and John II.
Pearson. for North Carolina; r. S. Kay
les, for Ohio; James w. Latta, of Penn
sylvania; J. c. Wilborn, Of South Caro-
lima; w. H. Tompkins. OF South Dakota
+. NJ. Thompson, of Tennessee; L. S. Stan
ton, of Vermont
In the absence of commissioners repre-
sening the States of Texas, a paper pre-
pared by them and forwarded TO the con-
vention was read by Assistant Secretary
Decker OF the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. The suggestions of the Texas
commissioners were favorably received
and the paper was made part of the re-
cord. Commissioner Stanton of Vermont
read a very able paper outlining the rail-
road conditions in the Green Mountain
| State.
/
| lation was read by Hon. Edward A Nose
ley, chairman. The report recommended
that laws be made so as TO provide for q
more specific method of enforcing rates,
requiring public carriers to keep their
books open TO public officers especially
showing the cost of the property and the
| details of the various transactions. and
providing more perfect machinery to en-
force the criminal clauses of the laws in
regard TO common carriers.
There was some question raised as TO
the immediate adoption of this report, or
postponement of its considerations, the
chairman having stated that he had been
unable TO get the committee together,
and the report was the expression Of his
| individual views. Some opposition was
expressed to some of the views in the re-
port, and after discussion it was decided
to postpone action upon the report until
the afternoon sessions
At l2:45 o'clock the convention ad-
iourned for the purpose of calling upon
President Mckinley at the White House.
The commissioners were received by the
Executive. the audience lasting over half
an hour.
The convention was reconvened at 2:3o
| o'clock Mr. Tompkins was accredited to
Montana as delegate and he was given
a seat and accorded a vote in the con-
vention.
Hon. e. A. Moseley then brought for
ward his resolution in favor of the pas
| sage of what is known as the Cullom
bill now pending before Congress. Sec
retary Moseley addressed the conven-
ton in behalf of his resolution and made
| a very forcible and lucid statement.
| AS a substitute for Mr.. Moseley's reso-
luton. the convention acted favorably on
! the recommendations of the Interstate
! Commerce Commissioners as set forth in
| their eleventh annual report. The sub
| stitute was perfectly satisfactory TO Mr..
| Moseley His original resolution viii
/ again come before the next annual meet
! ing of the State commissioners. Dur
| ing the discussion Interstate Commerce
| Commissioners Knapp chairman and
| Clements expressed their views TO the
/ convention.
The other important business was the
| arbitration resolution offered In Tues
| days session by Commissioner Joseph
! Florey of Missouri. The resolution has
| bearing on House bill No. 1872 concern
| ing common carriers engaged In inter
state commerce and their employees. Il
| provides for arbitration in case of differ
/ ences between railroad corporations and
] their hired hands. Commissioner Florey' $
| resolution that the convention indorse
| the bill. which is now pending in the
Senate. having passed the House, was al
| most unanimously adopted.
The convention then addressed itself
| to the settlement of routine business.
Upon the hospitable invitation of the del
egation from Colorado. II was voted TO
| hold the next convention at Denver, Au-
| gust 10, 1899. At $50 o clock the conven-
ton adjourned sine die