Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-12
THE POSTING OF RATES
CONFERENCE WITH THE INTER
STATE COMMISSION.
Expression Of Views by Representa-
tives Of the Leading Roads
of the Country.

About forty prominent railroad men were
present at a conference this morning at the
offices of the interstate commerce COM
mission before Commissioner E. E. Clark.
A special committee representing the DIFF
ferent railroads waited upon the commits
sioner in regard to the construction, prep
aration. contents. fling and posting of tar
fl or rate schedules. according to the laws
enacted by the last Congress. governing
the railroad tariffs.
Commissioner Clark opened the confer
ence. which lasted until 1 o'clock. when a
recess was taken He suggested to those
present that it would be better IN order
to expedite matters, to refer the questions
before the committee to various members.
each one of whom should take care Of the
question assigned him for discussion.
L. Green. representing southern lines,
presented the question to the commissioner
railroads should do in connection with the
printing OF tariffs and posting them in
conspicuous places at all the offices OF the
railroads issuing them. Mr.. Green de-
clared that he thought the posting was
unnecessary, and he believed that instead
II would be better to file with each station
agent a copy of the tariff, which should at
all times be accessible to the public. He
declared that the posting of tariffs Is in
many cases useless, and to eliminate this
wasted effort he suggested the other plan.
In reply, Commissioner Clark wanted
to know how the public could know Of
the existence of these tariffs unless they
= were conspfcuously posted. He added
that this is now the one main point to
consider, and asked that the members try
to find way out of the difficulty. The
commissioner stated further that unless
the public knew of the rates and could
avail itself of them the law would not
be obeyed; He added that personally he
believed the laws on the subject allowed
the commission certain powers of mod
ffcation. although the commissioners had
mot yet concluded how far these
that the publication and posting Of tariffs
at every railroad office would prove q
waste of money as well as of labor, with
out doing much good.
He asked for further discussion on the
subject. and the question. was taken I'M
der consideration, to be passed upon later
by the commission.
Some attention was devoted as to how
far the responsibility of one carrier ex-
another carrier whose business was in a
measure carried upon the lines OF the
other. George ID. Dixon, representing the
Pennsylvania railroad, stated that so long
as the commission or the railroads got
away from the principle that initial rail-
road lines should publish their rates and
there will always be trouble about tariff
Commissioner Clark, In reply. declared
the commission cannot tamper In any man
ner with the movement Congress had In
mind In passing the new railroad law. 1t de-
sire instead, is to lay down rule which
could be enforced, respected and liked by
all, so that misunderstanding should
arise on the question of traffic from any
station.
The conference will continue several days.
Among those present this morning were
F.. c. Donald of Central Passenger Asso-
ISOLATION; C. F. DAILY. New York Central
lines; Y. P. Jones, western lines: w. j.
Cannon, western lines: B. H Payne. west
ern lines; Joseph Richardson, representing
southeastern passenger interests; c. M.
Burt. general passenger agent Boston and
Maine railroad; l.. H. Kentfeid. New York,
New Haven and Hartford railway: Eben
f. Mcleod, western lines: w. G. Gardiner.
Southern Pacific Company; c. A. Cairns
Chicago and Northwestern railway: I.
Bell. Grand Trunk railway system; G. ].
Buster, member of advisory committee,
Central Feight Association lines; Hudson
Fitch, New York Central Freight Associa-
ton: w. 8. Kallmam, West Shore rail-
road: II. G. Smith, Baltimore and Ohio
railroad: Geo. D. Ogden. Pennsylvania rail-
road: Geo. o. Somers Chicago. Burlington
and Quincy railroad; e. c. Cameron. Illinois
Central: Jno. Webster. representing Central
Freight Association: Geo. d. Dixon, Penn
sylvania railroad; Jas. p. Orr Central
Freight Associations; d. NJ. Goodwin.
Louisville and Nashville railroad; N. A.
Leland. western lines; j. M Jones. South
ern railway; l.. Green. Southern railway,
representing lines south of Ohio and Po-
tomac rivers.