Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-18
National Board of Trade Holds
Busy Session.
JOHN W. FOSTER TALKS
THEME OF FORMER
SECRETARY OF STATE.
Question of Railroad Control Rates Dis.
cussed at Great Length-Ban-
quet Last Night.

Features of the forenoon session of the
national board of trade today were the
addresses of former Secretary of State John
W. Foster. on arbitration, and Mr.. III. Il.
Newcomb of the Washington Board of
Trade favoring a resolution advocating
legislation by Congress to amend the inter-
state commerce law as to permit reason
able traffic agreements by railroads under
the supervision of the commission.
When former Secretary Foster reached
the meeting place the delegates were in the
midst of vigorous discussion regarding
the regulation of railroad traffic rates Mr..
J. ]. Sullivan president of the national
board of trade, announced Mr.. Fosters
presence and he was invited to the plat
form, and at once delivered his address.
He said he had been invited to appear be-
fore the convention to say something about
international arbitration, and would con-
fine himself to that subject.
''There is no body of men in this coun-
try. added the former Secretary of State,
'who understand the full meaning of arbi-
tration better or more fully than the bust
ness men. 1t is not necessary, therefore,
for me to speak in favor of arbitration here.
We think we are making some material
advancement in the acceptance of arbitra-
ton by the nations of the world. We be-
iieve the governments of the world are
coming to see this question as the business
men see it. War is not the way of settling
THESE matters. 1ney SnOulQ De settled Dy
wisdom. argument and reason. You gen
tlemen can aid in the present emergency
by again expressing your opinions at this
juncture and by adopting resolutions calling
upon the Senate to give favorable consid-
Grafton to the number of treaties now
pending before that body"
Mr.. Fosters remarks were greeted with
applause and other manifestations of APP
prevail
Favor Postal Rate Change.
When the delegates assembled this morn
ing to begin the first session of the second
days meeting they were each presented
with a little pamphlet issued by the Postal
Progress League. This publication favors
the passage by Congress of House bill
1883, which was introduced in Congress
December by Representative Henry of
Connecticut, at the request of the league.
The bill provides for the consolidation of
third and fourth-class mail matter at a
rate of one cent for each two ounces. 1t is
stated that the bill is advocated by the
Post Office Department, and that its enact
ment into law will reduce postal expenses;
VIII reduce the rate on merchandise so per
cent
minutes before 10 O'clock this morning by
Mr. Charles 5. Hamlin. vice president ow-
ing to the absence of President ]. J. Sulli-
van. A few moments later Mr.. Sullivan
appeared and took his place as presiding
officer. Under the can of committees for
reports Mr.. William NJ. Coates of PhiladeI-
amendments
to the Interstate commerce laws submitted
majority report of that body setting
forth that the national board of trade
Is opposed to unjust Determinations
by railroads in any form and that the
interstate commerce commission performs
a useful function as an investigating and
prosecuting medium but it should not be
invested In any degree with the legiSla-
TIVE, judicial and business functions of rate
making that to Empower it to declare what
is reasonable in disputed rate and make
that rate operative until reviewed by the
courts as proposed in the pending Cooper
Quarles bills is inexpedent; that if exist
ing courts are not sufficient to give speedy
decisions upon interstate commerce cues
lions additional courts should be provided
Further That the national board of trade
earnestly advocates legislation by Congress
to amend the interstate commerce law so
as to permit reasonable traffic agreements
by railroads, under the supervision and
control of the interstate commerce commits
son to the end that unjust discrimination
may be prevented and reasonable uniform
and stable rates be esta blished; and
That the act to regulate interstate COM
merce be amended, to wit: That private
car lines and terminal railroads engaged in
interstate commerce be considered as COM
mon carriers and subject to the interstate
commerce act. r~
Opposed to Pooling.
MIR. James T. McHugh of the Cincinnati
chamber of commerce opposed any PROPOSE
ton which would permit pooling by rail-
roads. Pooling, he said, would mean
that the railroads would divide their terri
tory and wipe out competition He de-
clared his opposition to any sort of railroad
pooling, and stated that President Roose-
Welt Is also opposed to the scheme.
Mr.. Coates spoke in favor of the resolu-
ton which permits reasonable traffic
agreements by railroads. which was OPP
posed by the first speaker. Mr. Coates
quoted the law, and stated that such agree
ments as were proposed We're necessary for
the proper conduct of the vast freight traf-
tic of this country.
Another delegate. in favoring the resolli-
ton, said if the railroad interests of this
country were not given the right to legalize
trahc agreements between the several
roads these railroad companies may form a
community of interest plan which will
make conditions far worse for the public.
Reasonable Traffic Agreements.
Mr.. James F. Parker of the New York
produce exchange heartily favored the res
olntion proposing the legalizing of reason
able traffic agreements by railroads. He
believed the public engaged in bringing
products from one point to another would
De greatly benefited by the adoption of
law such as has been proposed
MT James L. McHugh of the Cincinnati
chahper OF commerce submitted minority
report from the committee on Amendment
10 the interstate commerce laws 1t re-
so.seu mat the National Board of Trade
encourages The passage of an amendment
10 the interstate commerce law which will
invest the interstate commerce Commission
with authority to determine what chappaa
shali DE made In the rates, regulations or
practice found, upon full hearing, to be dis
crimlnauve as between localities or differ
ent descriptions of traffic or unreasonabIe
IN themselves, such determination to be i'm
medlately operative and so continue until
overruled by the courts; that in view of
the great development of public sentiment
In favor of this legislation 1t is the sense of
the National Board of Trade that action
should be taken without further delay. and
the National Board of Trade desires to i'm
press upon Congress the urgent necessity
or amending the act during the present SEES.
sion of the Fifty-eighth Congress"
Not Packed Jury.
THE Interstate commerce commission"
said Mr. McHugh. rs not policeman nor
packed jury. 1t is made up of honorable
men The transportation companies make
their rates. 1t is the duty of the interstate
commerce commission to come In where nm
Just discrimination is complained Of Then
1t must sit in judgment and decide what is
just and equitable rate"