The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-06-07

"sounro deal when their case Is
presented to the interstate commerce
commission and are frce 10 resume
the contracts for improvements and
extensions which they threatened TO
cancel had the court proceedings con-
tinucd
The new railroad bill contains a
clause lhat gives it eficct sixty days
after being signed by the president
IL viii be necessary To make the pro-
vision as TO the supervision of rates
by the Interstate commerce commits
sion Immediately effective and for this
reason the president Indicated tonight
back tO conference.
President Taft summoned three
members of the cabinet 10 sit with
him in conference with the four rall
road officials who reached the White
House at D. m. Attorney General
Wickersham had all along been in
cluded
There was some surprise. however.
when the president sent for Secretary
Knox and Secretary Nagel Later
Chairman Knapp and Mr.. Lane Of the
Interstate commerce commission were
summoned It was 7:05 p. m when
the conference adjourned Then the
following statement was prepared and
given out:
"E. p. Ripley. president of the At
Gibson. Topeka and Santa Fe railroad.
Walter y. Hines, acting chairman OF
the executive committee, Atchison, To
peka and santa Fc railroad company.
Frederick A. Delano. president of the
Wabash Railroad company and S. NJ.
FELTON,. president Of the Chicago.
Great Western Railroad company.
committee representing the twenty
four railroad companies defendant In
n suit brought b. the government In
Missouri In which Judge Dyer granted
an Injunction restraining increases in
rates met the president and the at
torney general today. pursuant to a
request sent to tho PRESIDENT a few
days ago.
The president stated to these gen
tlemen. at the outset that the purpose
OF the suit was TO prevent the propos-
cd rate increases (Which, under the
existing law. could not he Investigated
al all until after they had become ef-
fective), so aB to preserve the statue
until tho new statute could be passed
and the commission could have the
power to investigate rate advances as
soon as announced and before bccom-
ing effective,
He stated further that he thought
the railroad companies must with
draw the tariffs enjoined and all other
tariffs filed by them, effective on or
after Juno /, 1919. and that none Of
them ought to Ale new tariffs involv-
ing rate advances until the new law
should he passed. assuming that II
would be passed al the present ses-
sion of congress.
After conferences the railroad com
panies announced that they would
adopt the views expressed by the
president and thereon the president
stated that II they did so his purpose
in bringing the suit would he accom-
plished and such result being ac-
compllsbed, 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
I'm the western association did not Gov
mission Tho railroads today. how
ever. agreed TO withdraw all the in
creases planned for June ! or after.
A number of increases put into effect
during the last few months will not
come under the agreement For In
stance, the increased rate on live
stock, effective last March. Will not
be affected. The important increases.
however. and the ones OF which the
shippers chiefly complained. were
those scheduled for June | and after.
The railroad presidents In confer
ence with Mr. Taft put up lengthy
argument. They claimed they had
been misrepresented as TO their hav-
ing been anything clandestine about
their agreeing upon or filing the new
rates Tney 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 that the Increased rates had
been filed In the same manner as the
interstate commerce had approved of
the last ten years.
The presidents told President Taft
incidentally that they had been ad-
vised by counsel that the govern
ment's injunction suits could not be
sustained The president replied he
was willing to chance that and that
he thought the best way for the rail-
roads was to withdraw their in
crease. 1t was then that the settle
ment was reached