The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-10-26
Opinions Of Prominent Traffic
Managers DepIOre Decision In
the Joint TraffIc Case.
FULL SCOPE NOT YlT KNOWN
Text Of Decision AnxIously Awaited
by Railroad Men May Dissolve
All Traffic Agreements.

CHICAGO Oct. E.--Tho following are
tho opinions expressed by leading raj.
way oincials Of the city on the decision
of tho United etaios supreme court In
tho Joint Trafnc Association case. al be-.
INK given without text Of tho decision,
except that II II against the joint trafic
lines
J. r. Tucker. chairman OF the Central
Freight Association. says;
~ have not seen the decision and can.
not therefore say how Il will affect the
centr.l Freight Association. Tho Joint
Trafio Association saw NJ 10 continue
lts existence after the supreme court had
decided the trans Missouri freight case
on the ground that hs agreement dlf.
fercd from that OF the western body. II
may be that the central freight agree
ment differs from that OF the joint tranic
association"
Commissioner Donald. OF the Central
Passenger Association:
THE decision il a sad blow for the
railroads. II IL 10 DO regretted that the
court could no, have had In view the
result which will follow such decision
and been able TO decide the case on broad
grounds OF equity Tho result probably
will be TO reduce all traffic organizations
Of tho country TO basis Of every qucs.
tlonabie value. do not know what will
come OF tho organization Of which am
chairman Tha, remains TO be seen"
Chairman chadwell Of tho Western
Passenger Association:
"An I understand the decision I, does
not ancci us In any way our organlEa-
tlonH were all dissolved at the tine the
supreme court decided the transmits.
aouh freight case and reorganlzod TO
conform 10 that decision The revised
agreements wcrc submitted TO CON-
miiicc OF counsel and approved by that
committe. our agreements do not pro-
vide In any way for the organization
making. nKing, or controlling rates but
each line makes It's own iarlT and each
may change It's rate without question
Ing others We have no machinery for
maintaining rates,
Chairman Parker, Of the Western
Freight Association:
III the court simply reafiirms lis
rosi,lon In the trans-Mlssouri Freight
Association II IL disappolntmen, TO tho
railroads ! imagine that our agreement
IL very much like tina, OF the Joint
Traffc Association. The scheme OF the
eastern roads was followed closely
when we organized the western joint
tranio bureau. but that was dissolved in
1895. Since then we have had only
shadow OF an agreement but It has been
along the same lines as that the court
has just decided 20 be Illegar'.
II. II. Cortwright. OF the Western
Trunk Lines committe:
Before the western men can say how
they are affected by this decision, they
must see the full text OF the Judgment.
II may be adverse to the railways In
some points and favorable to them In
another.
Vice President Chapel. OF the Chicago
and Alton Railroad:
The trans-MissourI freight case was
exactly similar to this one IN that the
main question was to an independent
body in which rested the power to make
and control rates. our present freight
organizations have no such feature, The
board OF the Western Freight Assoela-
ion makes no rates, II does try to en-
force rules and regulations but not such
rs afrcct rates, A pooling law would
lelp railroads but II would not do all that
IL necessary.