The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-17
Conference of Rai|rOad Presii-
 dents Held In New York
DIFFERENCES OF OPINION
Some of the Officials Did Not Want To Increase Rates, While Others Clamored for Raise.
 Another Meeting.
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New York, July 16-A conference of railroad presidents extended through long morning and afternoon sessions today at here on the subject of the proposed rais- ing of freight rates.
 Considerable divergence of opinion ap peared in the discussion as to the policy of raising the scheduled rates at the present time, owing to the dullness of trade and the opposition that has been already displayed on the part of ship pers to the proposed increase. On the one hand, 1t was argued, the necessities of the railroads were urgent, and while strict economies are being practiced in working expenses, the reduction of wages on a large scale has not been resorted to. On the other hand the effect of raising the rates before any marked irn- provement in general freight traffic has set in, may be to retard the flow of rising business that is expected with the fall This consideration appeals more strongly to the eastern lines than to the western, which can rely on the usual shipments of fruit and grain.
 It was reported that officers of the Pennsylvania, who had hitherto advo- cated an early raising of the scheduled rates have now changed their opinion in the matter and together with the Lackawanna, Reading and Lehigh valley are opposed to an immediate advance, and In this attitude were decidedly at variance with the policy advocated by MT. Hartman and the lines allied with him. The discussion brought out very clearly the fact that a great difference of opinion exists among the railway au- thorities themselves on the question of whether rates shall be increased. The matter of reduction of wages was not discussed.
 At the close of the conference state- ment was given out by Mir. Mccain, the secretary of the association, as follows:
 ."The question of an advance in freight rates was discussed at length and re- ports from the committee having in charge the checking of rates were con sidered, but it was found this work had not progressed to such a point as to make definite action practicable at this time"
 No date was set for another meeting
 President Delano of the Wabash said tonight that the principal obstacles that stand in the way of a general and hor- izontal increase are state laws and local conditions.
 Asked if there was any possibility or the trunk lines abandoning their inten- tion of making rate increases, MT De- lano replied:
 ''No; increases will be made on many classes and commodities, and that be- fore very long"
 Among those present at the conference were James McCrea, president of the Pennsylvania; w. c. Brown, vice presi- dent of the New York Central; F. D. Underwood, president of the Erie; E. H. Hartman, representing the Union Pacific and Delaware and Hudson in- terests; William H. Truesdale president of the Lackawanna; George F. Baer, president of the Reading; l.. F. Loree, president of the Delaware and Hudson; Frederick Delano, president of the Wa bash, and Oscar G. Murray, president of the Baltimore and Ohio