The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-08-15
PREP airing FOR
GREAT CHANGE
Railroad Lawyers in Session at
Atlantic City to Discuss
the Rate Bill.
GOES INTO EFFECT AUG. 20
STATEMENT OF JUDGE BAXTER
OF NASHVILLE.
GOES INTO EFFECT AUG. 29

Atlantic City, n. J., Aug. 14.-More
than sixty lawyers. representing ali
the larger railroads east of the Missis-
sippi river. particularly those travers-
ing the territory south of the Ohio river
and the New England states, assembled
here today to make a detailed study of
the provisions of the railroad rate BILL
which will go into effect on Wednesday,
Aug. 20. The members Of the assem-
blage consist of the chief counsels. gen.
eral solicitors and other members of
the legal departments of the railroad
corporations.
Object of the Meeting.
Former Judge Edward Baxter of
Nashville, Tenn, special counsel to sew
eral of the leading southern railroad
companies, the presiding officer. said:
This meeting of attorneys was called
by the executive and traffic officers of
the railroads east of the Mississippi
river and south of the Ohio river.
Counsel of all the eastern trunk lines
were also invited TO participate in the
meeting. although we afterward learned
that the Pennsylvania. the Baltimore %
Ohio and the New York Central roads,
with sCme other companies. were hold
ing meeting of their own.
Questions Presented.
A series of printed questions. ask
ing opinions as TO the meaning Of vari-
Gus provisions of the interstate COM
merce act as amended on June % last.
were presented TO us for answer. I an
sWered them, and my answers are be-
ing taken up one by one for discussion.
Already some have been approved.
some rejected, and others laid over for
further discussion. They involve many
important subjects and cannot be dis
Cussed i'm one or two days.
We have not met here to find any
way to evade or avoid the new law.
We are here solely to consult among
ourselves and decide just what our cli-
ents will be compelled to do in order to
carry out the provisions of the new
measure. The questions are not secret.
but they are lengthy. We would not
object to making them public. if the
daily press would give the space to
print them in full, together with their
answers.
Mission Is Peaceful.
There are questions which, if print
ed alone with their answers. would be
misunderstood by the public, so it has
been decided to keep the questions to
ourselves. 1t cannot be made too en-
phatic. however. that we are here on a
peaceful mission, and we do not ex-
pect to even communicate with the
interstate commerce commission"
\ large corps of stenographers is
present to take in detail the arguments
over the many points of difference
among the legal representatives. A
guard is stationed at the entrance to
the committee room and strangers are
not permitted to get within earshot
Some of Those Present.
Among those present at the confer
ence are J, VI. Culp, third vice presi-
dent; Fl. B. Spencer, general manager;
T. Green, freight traffic manager: {. H.
Hardwick, passenger traffic manager:
Alfred 2. Thorn. general counsel. all of
Washington; Alexander p Humphrey.
general counsel, Louisville: Hamilton
McWhOrler, assistant general counsel,
Athens. Ga, representing the Southern
Railway; E. L. Russell. general coun-
sell Mobile & Ohio railroad, Mobile
Ala; John l. Hall. general counsel,
Georgia Southern & Florida railroad
Macon. Ga; Edward CostOn. general
counsel Queen & Crescent road. Gin
Cinnati; II. L. Stone, general counsel.
Louisville & Nashville road, Louisville.
w q. Elliott. general counsel. Atlxntic
Coast Line; L. a. Watts. general coun-
sci. SeabOard Air Line Charles L.
Hamlin, Boston & Maine railroad, and
others.
.