The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-06-07
MAKING PEACE
WITH THE ROADS
Government and the Recently
Enjeined Lines Agree After
Long Conference.
ALL RATE INCREASES
WILL BE WITHDRAWN
In Return Injunction Suit Will
Be Dismissed After New
Law Takes Effect.

WASHINGTON June 6.-A complete
agreement between the government and
the recently enjoincd railroads of the
| Western Trunk Line association was
reached at White House conference,
which lasted more than four hours, this
| afternoon. The railroads agree 10 with
| draw all rate increases filed 20 be el-
fcctive on or after June /, and agreed
to file no more increases until tho bill
| In congress that gives the interstate
commerce commission power to investl-
gate and suspend increases becomes a
| law and is In operation.
President Taft thereon stated that the
administration purpose In bringing the
injunction suit had been accomplished
and that the suit would be discontinued.
The discontnuance Will not be entered,
however. until after the new railroad law
is signed
Effect on Other Roads.
The belief was expressed tonight that
all the other railroads OF the country
that have lied Increased rates or have
had such a plan under consideration,
will abide by the agreement reached to-
day with the twcnty-three railroads
named as defendants in the Hannibal
sui.
At conference at the White House
tomorrow. President Brown OF the New
York Central. President McCTca OF the
GcnDSylNauta, and Otner OI1ClelS repre-
senting roads in the eastern and central
territory, VIII participate. That they
viii hold up the proposed Increases until
after the new law becomes effective is
taken FOR granted here tonight
Everyone connected with today's con-
ference seemed gratiiled over the out
come.
All that President Taft has desired is
that the Interstate Commerce commission
have authority TO investigate increases in
rates to determine whether they are JUS
tlhed by conditions and are Just 10 the
shippers. This power is TO be conferred
under the new law.
Attitude Of Roads.
The railroads. on the other hand, 1t is
pointed out, are to be relieved of en-
barrassing litigation. arc assured OF a
square DEAL when their casc Is pre-
sented 10 the Interstate Commerce com
mission, and are free TO resume the con-
tracts for improvements and extensions
which they threatened TO cancel had the
court proceedings continued.
The new railroad bill contains n clause
that gives II effect sixty days after be-
ing signed by the president. 1t will be
necessary to make the provision as to the
supervision OF rates by the Interstate
Commerce commission Immediately ef-
fectiVe and for this reason the president
indicated tonight II would be necessary
TO send the bill back to conference
Presidcnt TAFT summoned three mem
hers Of the cabinet 10 sit with him in
who reached the White House at y. N
Attorney-General Wickersham had ali
along been included,
Prolonged Conference.
There was some surprise. however.
whom the president sent for Secretary
man Knapp and Mr.. Lane of the inter
state commerce commission were sum-
fa mfoned, IL was 7;oo p; nj, when the con
terence adjourned. Then the following
prp
'E. =, Ripley, president of tho Atchi-
son, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad com
pany; Walker D. Hines, acting chairman
OF the executive committee. Atchson,
topeka & Santa Fo Railroad company;
Frederick a. Delano, president of the
Fcton DlSsaenG Of SoTRany TEs and NJ
western Railroad company. a committee
representing the twenty -four railroad
companies defendant in suit brought
Judge Dyer granted an injunction re-
straining increases in rates, met the
president and the attorney general to-
president few DAYS ago.
THE president stated TO these gentle
men men at the outset that the, purpose OF
ratio increases (Which under the existing
law, could not be investigated ae ali
untn after they had become effective),
so as 10 preserve the status until tho new
statute could be passed and the com
mission could have tho power TO in
vrstigate rate advances as soon as an
hounccd and before becoming effective.
New Tariffs Barred.
lie stated further that he thought tho
tariIfs eDJolncd and all other tariffs fled
by them, effective on or after June /
1910. and that none OF them ought TO file
any new tariffs involving rate advances
until the new law should be passed. as
Stunning that II would be passed at tho
present session OF congress.
= nf..,-1
nics announced that they would adopt the
view expressed by the president and
thereon the president stated that II
they did so his purpose in bringing the
suit would be accomplished, and such
result being accomplished he saw no oc-
casion for pressing tho suit and the same
would hG withdrawn"
The rate increases specified in the IN
junction suit against the railroads in the
Western association did not cover all
the increases filed with the commission.
Tho railroads today, however. agreed to
withdraw all tho Increases planned for
June ] or after.
Some Exceptions.
a number OF increases put into effect
during the last few months will not come
under the agreement. For instance. the
Increased rates on livestock, effective last
March. will not be affected The i'm
portnnt increases. however and the ones
OF which the shippers chiefly complained
were those scheduled for June / and
after.
The railroad presidents in conference
with Mr.. Taft put up lengthy argu-
ment, They claimed they had been mis-
represented as 10 there having been any
Thing clandestine about their agreeing
upon or fiIipg the new rates, They
claimed they had sent written notices to
the shippers and even had tho receipts OF
certain OF the shippers who had denied
ever having received such notices. FL
nalIy, they declared that the Increased
rates had been filed in the Same manner
AS the Interstate commerce commission
had approved of tho last ten years.
Tho presidents told President Taft in
cidentally that they had been advised by
counsel that the governments injunction
suits could not be sustained. The presi-
dent replied he was willing TO chance