The Washington times., 1906-08-28
Public Conference of
Railroad Officials and
Members of the
Commission.
MUST INTERPRET LAW
AS THEY SEE PROPER
If Any Mistakes Are Made
Then the Railroads Must
Take the COnSe-
quenCeS.

The railroad rate law becoming ense-
tive today. The event was signaIized by
a public conference Of the representa-
tives of New England and Central rail-
roads with those members OF the COM
mission now fE the clty-Messrs. Knapp.
Cockrell. Clements, and Lane.
II was the FIRST skirIuish I'm the bat
tie of wits which is now 70 eusue. In
terstate Commerce Commissioners are
determined that the railroads shall in
terPret the Law according 10 their own
uglts-cCmply with as much OF it as
they desire and take the sonseqUence
II d mistake IS made. The railroad rep
Tesentauves want an Interpretation OF
various mont questions by the commits
sion. 50 as 10 be guided and protected
Dy IT,. i differences should eHsue.
Alter uIty railroad men were present
when the Informal meeting vase called
by Chairman knapp. shortly before II
% clock this morning. b. II. Caldwell.
vice president Of The Delaware. I.acka-
wanna and Western, was the hrst
speaker. He asked for an extension OF
time for The nllng 0f schedules. asked
that present methods of posting tariffs
be permitted 10 continue. demanded reg
port aud import rates. and brougnt I'D
technical questions bearing on the CON
carence IN s0-calIyd joint rates. He ex-
pressed the hope that fuu opportunity
tor tree discussion AZ a formal hearing
would be gwen.
RumoIs Are Unfounded.
George = Massey. general solicitor OF
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company.
gave the assurance that reports that
lhe lines represented al the hearing are
antagOnistic 10 the law. are unf0unded- -
Amended and supplemental tariffs, as
far as possible. have already been filed
Uy some OF these lines. in direct COM
pliaHce with the ls=. The law may not
have been fully complied with, he said
but there were difficulties in the way
which could not be swept aside. Even
in the matter of switching charges, some
of the roads have already filed their
schedules. Whether or not it is an
ADEQUATE filing, within the puryiew OF
the act is a question which the railroads
cannot answer. and upon which they de-
size a ruling from the commission.
Chairman Knapp suggested that 1t
would doubtless be satisfactory 10 the
roads il the commission could intimate
that 10 proceedings would be instituted
against roads for failure Immediately.
To comply with these provisions, without
first giving them reasonable notice.
This was exactly what Mr.. Massey
wanted. and the chairman broadly inJi-
mated that this much might Doe granted.
Evils Of Present Practices.
G. V. Grammar, vice president Of the
New York Central system. discussed
some practical difficulties complying
with the requirements OF the law con-
cerusug private ear Lines, and then took
up The matter of making joint rates. He
urged especially that no company ought
90 be allowed 20 publish "a joint rate
without the concurrence of all lines
over whose rails the rate was advertis-
ed. and in support Of this pointed out
evils and WanipulatiOns resulting from
the present practice.
Mr.. Grammar by inference criticised
The Joint rate system which the South
eru roads make IH CIDER 10 cover Lh6
movement OF cotton for export he
wanted the commission 20 make class
incatiQn OF Industrial roads, so thaL just
compensation should be allowed. but no
more. for whatever services they rem
der IN specific cases
r p. Bentley, of Chicago, represent.
ing the American Shippers Association
spoke IlFcSAlklllk ALAr hAf-ffa va SlAAl'Al41t
He said they quite agreed with the rail-
roads that the actual posting Of a physi--
cal copy of the tariffs so the station
building would be useleS-f lhdt better
results would be secured By posting 2
notice saying that the tariffs were IA
the possession Of the agent and could
be consulted on application. The com
mission semed doubtful whether the law
would permit any ariance from tVhe 1T
eral requirement on this pOiQL
Mr.. Bentley proposed also, as the wish
OF the shippers that only one amend
ment. advance notice or supplement 10 a
tariff should be in fC-ce at time.
When No. ] was succeeded by No. 2 he
would require that No. 2 include All the
matter contained in No /. in order that
nothing might escape the attention Of
Cne consulting the tariffs
a switchig tarin, covering All switch
inc at competitive points, 10 be publish
ed by the roads and enforced strictly
was also favored by Mr.. Bentleys
clients
List of Those Present.
The following railway officials were