Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-10
Tenth Annual ConVeVptiqp of Railroad
Commissioners and Others.
REPRESENTATIVES OF LIFE EMPLOYEES
Addresses by PromXinee1t Delegates
on Leading Topics.
THE LAWS DISCUSSED

Men who represent various states Of the
country in the enforcement of laws re,at-
ing to railroads and state officers charged
with any duty in the supervision of rail-
roads met this morning in the large room
of the interstate commerce commission
Sun building, where the hearings are held
The occasion was tn, tenth annual conven-
ton of railroad Commissioners. Members
of the association of American Railway
Accounting officers were also present. and
were invited to take part in the discussion
The secretary OF the convention Mr. Ed
ward A. Moseley, called the convention to
order and announced that owing to the
death of the chairman, Mr.. Chas L. David
son Of Iowa, and the unavoidable absence
of the vice chairman, Mr.. H. NJ La Rue
it had been decided to ask Mr.. James W.
Latta Of Harrisburg. Pa. chairman of the
program committee, to preside temporarily
Mr.. .Latta then came forward, and after
paying tribute 70 the. late chairman said
that the committee on program had Select
ed Mr.. c. j. Lindley of Illinois to act as
permanent chairman.
Mr.. Lind1ey, amid considerable applause,
stepped to the platform and made an eIab-
crate address, in which he referred to the
peculiar circumstances that had called him
to the position of chairman His reference
to the war with Spain. and his statement
that the people Endorsed the President and
Congress in the policy adopted in regard to
| the war, brought forth hearty demonstra-
lions of applause.
Railroads and Public.
He then discussed various phases of the
relations between the railroads and the
public He also referred to the question of
| the crossings of streets in this city by
steam railroads, and said the loss of life
from this cause was so appalling that
| something will have to be done, either by
any 49, rf
by the elevation of the tracks He was of
the opinion that the importance of the mat
ter justified the placing of street railroads
under the supervision of state commits
sioners.
Mr. w. w. Ainsworth of Iowa was elect
ed vice chairman of the convention.
President Ingalls, Address.
By invitation address was delivered
by Mr.. NJ. E. Ingalls, president of the
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and st.
Louis and the Chesapeake and Ohio rail-
way companies who spoke of the present
relations between the railroads and the
people. He said that bfarldhirty years a
contest has been going 6a between the
railroads and the people, TIE latter insist
ing upon the right tolAdp}fffvise the bust
ness of the railroads and the former main
tanning their right to, smaQage their own
affairs. This contest, he added, terminated
some ten years ago irff theopassage of the
| Interstate commerce laWi which has been
In the courts ever since. He said the de-
cision of the United States Supreme Court
in March, 1897 which maintained that the
Sherman antitrust LAW applied to rail-
| roads, produced chaos sing the maintenance
of tariffs. He said, further, that possibly
this decision might be set aside by a de-
cision in a case now pending. but at pres
ent rates were not mafnt aimed. He went
| on to speak of the money paid by railroads
| in wages and taxes, ana added 1T could not
be expected that prosperity would return
to the country unless the railroads are pros
porous. s.. 81 hf.,rYy G .r-., $40. -, .,--
He said the present tr rcs Wv was not due
| entirely to the interstate commerce law,
but in part to the sharp cofhpetition grow
ing out of business, conditions, so that now
there is an entire breakdown in rates.
GOOD faith, he said, seemed no longer to be
regarded as factor in the arrangement of
| railroad rates. He predicted the greatest
breakdown ever known in the business of
the country, unless some remedy shall be
| found.
Sharing Common Fate.
AS to the interstate commerce law, he
| said 1t was sharing the fate of all laws
| which were not backed by the sentiment of
| the people. The latter did not believe in
| the law. and he thought the remedy for the
| present difficulty lay In Congress modifying
the present law. For example, he favored
the abolition of the Imprisonment clause
| and in its place fine Of 5000 for every
u
to railroad corporations to contract with
Y each other for the maintenance of rates
4 and the division Of business, with power
MO sue in the courts for violations of agree
| rnents. The opposition to these changes he
| said, came from those who want the gov
| eminent to own the railroads, those who
think the interstate commerce commission
| should nave entire control and railway
| managers who oppose all legislation and
want to be left alone to manage their own
! business.
1 In
| tnat II this body Endorsed the changes in
the law above proposed they would be
| adopted.
MIR. ingalls, address, was written, but at
| tunes ne dropped his manuscript and made
bis remarks independently. Upon the con-
cluslon resolution of thanks was voted
| and the suggestions in his address were re-
| Ierred to special committee.
! From Standpoint of Employees.
| Mr.. E. E. Clark. the grand chief con-
| ductor of the Order of Railway Conductors
OF America. and the chairman of the Fed
Grafton of American Railway Employees,
| then made an address, also by invitation,
from the standpoint Of railroad employees.
He referred to what had been said by the
chairman Of the. convention and by Mr.
ingalls,. and said it was evident to him that
those who had charge Of the execution of
| rallroad laws, the railroad managers and
! the employees were not as far apart as a
good many people supposed. He then went
| on to say that the effort made to popuiarize
/ the movement in favor of the reduction in
| rates had made considerable Roadway. but
| ne thought If people knew the facts they
| would not join in such a movement. He
| quoted the rates of railroads in other coun-
tries. and said the charges in this country
were oEe-third less. What was wanted
| Eere, he added. was not lower rates, but
more equal and stable rates. and he favored
granting permission for pooling. which. he
said. was better than xhe nexisting condi-
tionS. ny
He then discussed at some length the
| character and aims of labor organizations.
| and paid an eloquent tribute to the devo-
ton to duty on the ptrt Of railroad en-
pioyes in thu face of peril to life and limb
He referred to the importance of the laws
requiring railroads to adopt safety appli-
ances, and also to the movement toward
having all questions in dispute between am
pioyers and the employed settled by ar
bitration. 4 81
Mr.. 'Clark's address was almost entirely
extempore and was deliEersa with much eff
rect. At the close a vote pf thanks was
rendered him, and it WAS ordered that his
remarks be printed In fsll In the record.
A resolution was adopted providing for
the appointment of a committee to report a