Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-06-07

Washington, June Ga complete
agreement between the government
and the recently enjoined railroads OF
the Western Trunk Line Association
was reached at White House con-
ference, which lasted for more than
four hours today.
The railroads represented agreed to
Withdraw all rate increases filed to be
effective on or after June l. and agreed
to file no more increases until the bill
in Congress which gives the Interstate
Commerce Commission power to in
VeStigate and suspend Increases which
are not justified, becomes a law and
goes into effect.
President Taft thereupOn said that
the administration purpose in bring
lnS the injunction suit had been ac-
tomrlished and the suit would be dis
continued. The discontinuance will not
be entered. however, until after the
new railroad law is signed The be-
lief was expressed tonight that all OF
the other railroads of the country will
abide by the agreement reached today.
Every one connected with tpday's
conference seemed gratited over the
outcome All that President Taft has
desired is that the IntrrStat" Com
mercr Commission shall have authority
to investigate increases III rates to de
termine whether or not they are juSti-
fled by prevailing conditions and are
just to the shippers This power is to
be conferred under the new law The
railroads on the other hand it is point
ed out. are to be relieved of embarrass-
q Ii ,., a f1f ,t,.,
deal when their case is presented to
the Interstate Commerce Commission
and are free to resume the contracts
for improvements and extensions which
they threatened to concel had the crurt
proceedings continued The new rail-
road bill contains a clause which gives
it effect GO days after being signed by
the President. 1t will be necessary to
max" the provision as to the supervis-
ion of rates by the Interstate Com
merce Commission Immediately cffcc-
tive and for this reason as Prnsida nt
Tart indicated tonight, it Will be nee
essary 10 send the bill! to conference.
The following statement was given
out tonight:
~. +. Ripley. president. and Walker
ID. Kinds, acting chairman o! the eX-
ccutive committee OF the Atchison. To-
pcka and Santa Re Railroad Co.:
Frederick +. Drlano. president Of tie
Wabash Railroad and 5. NJ. FELTON,,
president OF the Chicago, Great West
ern Railroad Co, a committee repre-
senting the "a railroad companies de-
PENDANT in a suit brought by the gCV-
erEmcnt in Missouri, in which Judge
,i,,,r
increases in rates. met the President
and the attorney general today. pursu-
ant to a request sent to the President
a few days since
THE President stated to these gen
tlemen at the outset that the purp ,sc
of the suit was to prevent the proposed
rate increases (Which, under the OK
listing law could not be investigated al
all until after they had become effec-
tive) so as to preserve the status until
the new statute could be passed and
the commission should have the pow
er to investigate rate advances as soon
as announced and before becoming rf-
fectiVe.
He stated further that he thought
the railroad companies must withdraw
the tariffs enjoined and all other tar
ifs filed 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 laws
should be passed. assuming that II
would be passed at the present session
of Congress.
After conference the railroad com
panies announced that they would
adopt the view expressed by the Pres
ident and thereupon the Presiue mt
stated that if they did so his purpose
in bringing the suit would be accom-
pishcd, and. such result being accom-
plishcd, he saw no occasion for press
ing the suit and the same would be
withdrawn"
The rate increase specified in the in
junction suit against the railroads in
the Western Association did not Gov
or all of the increases that had been
filed with the commission. The rail-
roads today however. agreed to with
drawing all the increase that had
been planned for June |, or after There
have been number of increases put
into effect during the last few months.
These will not come in under the agree
ment.