The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-10
rail ROADS Will
NORTHUMBERLAND
Henry T. Wickham Gives Inter
view on Portsmouth
Conference.
STATEMENT NJ FROM MOORE.
Southern Attorneys Take Active
Part in Discussion Of Rail
way Problems.
STATEMENT FROM MOORE.
Southern ATTORNEYS Take Active

Henry T.. Wickham, vice-prosident
and general counsel for the Chesa-s
peake and Ohio Railway, returned to
Richmond yesterday from Portsmouth,
N. H., where he had been in confer
ence with legal representatives of
many Of the big railroads or the3coun-l
try. In speaking of the conference,
Mr.. Wickham said:
"The object Of the meeting was ex-l
clusively for the purpose Of clear
understanding OF President Taft's new
railroad law. which Is to go into eff
feet next month.
Reports sent out that the railroads
were to get together to test tho con-
stitutionality of this law, were entire
ly erroneous. No single question
Of q constitutional nature was discuss
ed. Our sole object and purpose was
to have thorough understanding as
to what the law meant, and what we
should d. to obey it to The letter. Such
a thing as evasion. or testing, or fight
Ing the law in any way was never once
mentioned by any one in the meet
ing. The law Is one of such great
scope and so intricate, complicated and
voluminous that 1t requires great study
in order to abide by It's dictates. We
accomplished q fair understanding OF
the law We each left for our homes
for the purpose OF informing our re-
spective companies how to obey It"
For Liberal Interpretations.
The conference was composed of at
torneys representing practically all the
\ important railway systems in the
United States. 1t was called for the
purpose Of discussing the new rail-
road law, and broke up yesterday af-
ternoon. Another meeting will be
held in New York In December a
lstatement giving a general outline OF
the work of the conference was issued
by committee appointed for that pur-
pose. So far as could be CLEANED, there
| appeared to be q general sentiment
lamong those present in favoryof a lib
| eral Interpretation OF the amendments
| to the railroad law adopted by the last
Congress. This was particularly true
of the so-called long and short haul
clause, in the consideration OF which
much time was spent.
The lawyers who have been engaged
in the conference generally express
merce Commission will proceed con-
servatively, without making any rul-
| ings which will seriously disturb ex-
! listing conditions.
| The special committee appointed by
the conference to formulate a state
ment for publication was headed by
Hon. r. Walton Moore, of Fairfax
county and Washington. former pres
ident Of the Virginia State Bar Assoc
citation and an attorney for the South
ern Railway Company.
Il Official Statement.
Il The statement follows:
The conference has considered ques-
j lions arising under the act to regulate
commerce. as recently amended by
Il Congress- The sections to which the
amendments contained in the Mann
4 Elkins bill apply are Nos i, A., s and
10 Of the act. and besides the many
points relative to those sections which
We're discussed, there was some discus
sion Of the new section which estab-
llshed the commerce court. The sew
erai days Of the meeting were in the
main spent In u general interchange OF
views or those present Some Informal
votes We're taken, but this was NOT
with any thought of forestalling ind e.
! pendent action. but in order to obtain
more definite expression Of opinion.
tn man would otherwise have been pos.
slble on matters which were In the
main those of practical nature. on.
winch traffic officials wish to be adj
Vlsed before the effective date of the
amendments, which is August Is.
Inc conference resembled in its
OBJECTS and proceedings the one he Id
IN Atlantic City in 1896 to consider the
\ provisions Of the Hepburn bill amend
ments, and which was productive OF
5000 results IN arriving at proper un-
outstanding Of what was intended by
the now legislation, and which IN.
doubtedly tended to bring about better
relations between the carriers and the
pubic and to place the former in
closer touch with the Interstate Com
merce Commission. The spirit which.
marked the proceedings was one OF
hopefulness. and there was plain
indisposltion to take any action which
mlght create antagonism and strife.
II Is safe to say that this con-
ference was the largest Of the kind
ever held. II Il is understood that the
lawyers composing it5and others will
| come together again some time In tho
future. Meantime the Interstate tie Com.
)8merce Commission will doubtless bv
Its rulings clear up many of the doubts
which exist as to the construction 81
the various provisions Of the act as If
| now stands ~
Another Meeting to lie Held.
W. q. Kay, Of the Atlastic Coast
! Line, said last night: For three DAYS
the conference considered the long
asa snort maui clause. The questions
54 nv particularly with relation to
rates Where there Is water compctt-5
ton. We're referred to q committee
which was Instructed to report at a
conference to be held In New York
IN December There arc many, cues
tiohs as TO which the attorneys are in
doubt including those Of the con-
stltutionalonality Of certain provisions
OF the new law. the extent OF the m
! terstate Commerce COMMISSIONS au-
thortty, and whether the rulings OF
the commission can be carried to the
United States Supreme Court