The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-07
ROADS BACK Down
Western Trunk Lines Agree to
Withdraw Rate Increase.
Pending the Passage of the
Railway Bill.
SUIT TO BE STOPPED
As Soon as the Measure Shall
Become a Law.
Harmony Is Restored and Every.
body Seems Satisfied.

| Washington, June IA complete
| agreement between the government and
| the recently enjoined railroads of the
| Western Trunk Lines association, was
| reached at the White House conference
which lasted more than four hours.
! The railroads represented agreed to
withdraw all rate increases filed to be
| effective on Or after June 1 and agreed
| to file no more increases until the bill
| in congress- which gives the interstate
| commerce commission power to investi-
| gate and suspend increases that are not
| justified, becomes a law and goes into
| effect
President Taft, thereupon, stated that
| the administrators purpose in bring
ing the injunction suit had been ac-
complished and the suit would be dis
continued. The discontinuance will not
| be entered however, until after the
new railroad law is signed.
The belief was expressed that all of
the other railroads of the country
which have filed increased rates or
have had such a plan under considera-
ton, Will abide by the agreement
| reached with the "a railroads named as
defendants in the Hannibal suit.
Everyone connected with the con-
ference seemed gratified over the out
come. All that President Taft has de-
sired is that the interstate commerce.
commission should have authority TO
investigate increases IN rates 10 de-
termine whether or not they are JUS
titled by conditions and are just 70
the shippers. This power is to be con-
ferred under the new law.
The railroads, on the other hand, are
to be relieved of embarrassing litigation
are assured of a square DEAF when
their case is presented to the interstate
commerce commission and are free to
resume the contracts for improvements
and extensions which they threa tened
IL
continued.
The new railroad bill contains a
clause which gives it effect 60 days
after being signed by the president. 1t
will be necessary to make the provision
as to the supervision of rates by the
interstate commerce commission imme-
diately affective and for this reason as
President Taft indicated, it will be
necessary to send the bill to confer
ence.
bers of his cabinet to sit with him IN
conference with the railroads officials.
Attorney General Wickersham had all
along been included. There was some
surprise, however, when the president
sent for Secretary of State Knox and
Secretary of Commerce and Labor
Nagel. Later Chairman Knapp and Mr..
Lane of the interstate. commerce COM
mission were summoned. 1t was 7:O5
p. m. when the conference adjourned.
pared and given out:
Official Statement.
"E. P. Ripley, president of the Atch-
ison. Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad
company; Walker D. Hines. acting
chairman of the legislative committee
of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
Railroad company; Frederick A. De-
lano, president of the Wabash com
pany, and S. NJ. FELTON,. president of
the Chicago Great Western Railroad
company, a committee representing
the "a railroad companies defendant
in a suit brought by the government
in Missouri. in which Judge Dyer
granted an injunction restraining in
creases IN rates, met the president and
the attorney general, pursuant to a
request sent to the president few
days ago.
1.-THE president stated to these gen.
tlemen at the outset that the purpose
of the suit was to prevent the pro-
posed rate increases which, under the
existing law, could not be investigated
at all until after they had become eff
fectiVe so as to preserve the status
until the new statute could be passed
and the commission should have the
power to investigate rate advances as
soon as announced and before becom-
ing effective. as
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 1, 1910, and that none of them
ought to file any new tariffs involving
rate advances until the new law should
be passed, assuming that it would be
passed at the present session of con-
gress.
after conference, the railroad COM
panies announced that they would
adopt the view expressed by the presi-
1nN h. -&4 go
they did so his purpose in bringing the
suit would be accomplished, and such
result being accomplished, he saw no
occasion for pressing the suit and the
same would be withdrawn
The rate increases specified in the
injunction suit against the railroads in
the Western association did not cover
all of the increases filed with the COM
mission. The railroads. however.
agreed to withdraw all the increases
planned for June 1 or after.
A number of increases put into eff
feet during the last few months will
not come under the agreement. For
instance the increased rates on live
affected. The important increases
however and the ones of which the
shippers chiefly complained were
those scheduled for June 1 and after
The railroad presidents in confer
ence with Mr.. Taft put up a lengthy
argument. They claimed they had
been misrepresented as to there hav-
ing been anything clandestine about
their agreeing upon or filing the new
rates. They claimed they had sent
written notices to the shippers and
even had the receipts of certain of the
| shippers who had denied ever having
received such notices. Finally. they
declared the increased rates had been
| filed in the same manner as the inter-
state commerce commission had ap-
proved for the past ten years.
The railroad presidents told Presi-
| dent Taft incidentally that they had
been advised by their counsel that the
| governments injunction suits could not
| be sustained. The president replied
! ne was willing to take a chance as to
that and that he thought the best way
| out for the railroads was for them to