New-York tribune., 1905-12-29
RAILROAD AGREEMENT.
PLEDGE AGAINST REBATES
Traffic Managers Promise hid to
Interstate Commerce Commission.

Washington. Deo 8.-Representatives of the lead
ing transmississippi railroads were in conference
with the Interstate Commerce Commission uo-uaS
concerning rebates and the efforts OF the comHls
sion to do away with determinations by the FaA-
roads in favor of large shippers After the con-
ference the following official statement was lSue0
by the commission:
The conference to-day with Western railway ON
ciais was not sought by the commission, as ceI-
tain paDers have incorrectly stated, but its pur-
pose was legitimate and cOnmendable and war
rants the expectation of beneficial results: Al
pTaotioay ali the lines west of that city from
the Canadian border to the Gulf adopted tne loi-
That q Joint committee representative of lines
missouri freight bureau, southwestern tariff com
mittee and the transcontinental freight rate @ Co.I
the Interstate Commerce Commission. declare tne
desire and purpose OF the TesPeccoe With the
commission in the enforcement of the law TO Inc inc
the commission any specific information that adis may
come to their knowledge which will lead to effective
The object of the committee was to present tns
resolution and tie 9 hs lines 81
to conform to the law in good faith and in every
Ispt Piedges to this effect were given by all
present, with the further promise TO report @ SoSt
edge or of which they may have well grouhoeo S"S-
While this visit was unsolicited. above stated
It was not unwelcone, and the commission mas no no
its nTaoticaI value That it win result in the com
piete discontinuance Of wrongful pracuces ~ pet
the degree of its usefulness but marked i'm
fairly anticipated. II the promised cooperation
is actually and continuously afforded the peyment n5
OF rebates and the granting OF secret auVAhsosS0
will, it is hoped, be reduced to a MINIMUM
T C. stubbs, vice-president and trafic director
Of the Harrima1f1ines. the spokesman Tor the rall
road men, held a conference with MS aSsocla'eS
before they appeared before the coniil,ssion:
Chairman Knapp and Commissioners Cockren ana
mix men
commissioners being out Of the city. The rallroao
men who attended the conference were G l.
Nicholson, vice-president of the Atchison, IopeKa
and Santa Fe; H. r. Mccullough, vice-president OF
the Chicago and Northwestern; ]. H Hhand, vice
nresident of the Chicago. Milwaukee and, St Paul;
] NJ Johnson, assistant to the vice-president or
the Gould lines; J. F. Holden, freight traffic man
ager of the Rock Island; j. w. Biaoon, freight
traffic manager of the Chicago and Alton; Howard
Norris vice-presdent and general counsel of the
Wisconsin Central; c. L wellington general raf1c
manager of the Colorado Southern: C. Hole traffic
manager Of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas; W.
L. Martin vice-president Of the 500 lnes J. C.
stubbs and E. E. smythe general freight agent OF
the Kansas City Southern
The conference lasted more than two hours The
representatives Of the railroads referred all in
quiries concerning the meeting to Chairman Knapp
Of the commission who said the committee desired
bates. Through Mr.. Stubbs and practically all the
ress ere represented as being anxious to have
the commission assist the committee in looking into
expressed Willingness to have such committee
headed by outside Of railroad interests to act
as the go between IN all conferences between the
COMMITTEES and the commission.
Several OF the railroad men told the commission
that the public conscience had been aroused by re-
bate disclosures and that many prominent Shippers
have announced they will accept no concessions OF
any sort which may cause them to be classed With
corporations which have prohted by special rates.
This sentiment 1t urged by the railroad men,
viii assist materially in the movement to abolish
rebates. -. a. -.
,niasion who attended the conference assured the
rajITosd men that the commission would gladly
oo-operate with the railroad interests IN stopping
rehafes and investigating any grievances In re
t,- for activity among the railroads In trying 70
sboiEh determinations, Chairman Knapp said the
Toroif+ee did not ask concessions Of any sort from
tSa commission, but merely desired cooperation