The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-24
IMPORTANT CONFERENCE
THAT MAY RESULT IN MAINTENANCE
OF UNIFORM TARIFFS.
Presidents and other Railway Officers
Meet acknowledgements Commits
sioners and Make Promises.

The presidents, general managers or other
representatives Of about twenty-five rail-
road companies comprising almost the en-
tire trunk-line service between Chicago and
Lake Michigan and the Ohio and Missis-
sippi rivers and beyond. were in executive
conference throughout yesterday with the
Interstate-commerce Commission at Wash
ington. The result was a verbal assurance
on the part of all the roads represented TO
maintain uniform tariffs, thorough cooper
alton and the appointment of a committee
to confer with the commission to-day look
ing to more definite and specific action for
securing general stability In freight rates.
This committee consists of Paul Morton,
vice president of the Atchison, Topeka &
Santa Fe; ii. G.. Burt president OF the
Union Pacific: A. c. Bird. general traffic
manager of the Chicago, Minneapolis & st.
Paul: b. +. Yoakum, vice president of the
St. Louis & San Francisco; c. G. Warner,
vice president OF the Missouri Pacific, and
Edward S. Washburn, president of the
Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis. This
committee will meet with the commission
this morning at 10 o'clock. The general con-
ference closed after being In session from
IL in the morning till at night and most
OF the magnates have returned home. Those
who participated in the conferences looking
to absolute rate conformity in the West
were: President Burt, of the Union Pa
cific, the general manager and traffic man.
ager Of the Kansas City, Pittsburg & Gulf;
Mr.. Storm. of the Minneapolis, st. Paul &
Sault Ste. Marie; Vice President Morton. of
the Santa Fe system; Traffic Manager Bird,
of the c.. NJ. & St. p; Vice President
Yokum. of the St. L. & s. F.; Vice Presi-
- t6o d.
ident Washburn. of the Kansas City. Fort
Scott & Memphis; Vice President Russell
Hardin. OF the St Louis Southwestern; Vice
President McCullagh, of the Chicago North
western; President d. B. Robinson of the
st. Louis & San Francisco; General Man.
ager Knight, of the Wabash: Vice Presi-
dent Harris. of the Chicago. Burlington &
Quincy; Receiver II. +. Whitcomb, of the
Wisconsin Central; Receiver Samuel Hunt
of the Toledo, st. Louis & Kansas City;
President w. G.. Purdy. of the Rock Island ;
the traffic manager OF the Missouri. Kansas
& Texas: Receiver George T. Jarvis of the
L., Z. Il St L.; W. Z. Robinson, of the
st Joe & Grand Island, and the Kansas City
the c., c., c. * St. L.; Vice President c.
III. Chappell, OF the Chicago & Alton, and
Traffic Manager Campbell, of the Chicago
AT the conference yesterday every. road
represented was called 10 report its
freight tariff conditions generally, wheth-
er its published rates were being care
fully observed and what future diff
culties were anticipated Each reported alb
solute maintenance Of published schedules
and the reports summarized indicated the
most thorough cooperation in the Western
territory. No road had any definite COM
PLANT OF secret rate practices 10 report, and
IL was brought out that several reports of
secret practices We're found TO be ground
less when the suspected roads had been
quietly investigated Ii was recognized,
however. in the discussion that mutual jeal-
ousy and distrust was somewhat prevalent
and that full general confidence must be es-
tabashed. Fortunately. in the instances
cited. IL was reported that none of the
other roads had retaliated as usually hap
pens. and that every case mentioned was
unfounded In view of the enormous volume
of traffic now taxing the carrying capacity
of all the roads the gentlemen present at
the conference were inclined to feel consid-
cradle apprehension as 10 the future. when
this volume might diminish when the
formidable lake navigation competition
would set i'm. or other conditions arise
which ordinarily might demoralize freight
conditions One main point of apprehension
was the difference between the rates on
grains and other products for export and
those Tor domestic use, a material differ
ence which was acknowledged but as to
the necessity of which the railroad officials
di1ered in their views. No definite action
on this line was taken. however. The anti
trust law, taking away the legal sanction
OF any concerted effort among the roads
10 maintain rates and at the same time re-
Quiring the observance of published rates
was discussed and efforts to overcome this
obstacle were informally mentioned The
general sentiment TO the results of the
conference is that each road will make a
consistent effort to act fairly with each
other and with respective shippers. The Of
ficials present pledged themselves not to
deviate from their published tariffs and not
20 discriminate between the large and small
shippers. At the meeting to-day definite ac-
ton may be taken looking to insuring as
far as possible against possible future con-
tingencies which might precipitate democrat
fzat In,