The San Francisco call., 1910-06-07
PASSAGE OF NEW LAW
WILL BE WAITED FOR
Gives Commerce Com
mission Power to Pass
Quickly on Increases
RIPLEY ON COMMITTEE
FOR SIDE OF CARRIERS

wv A complete agreement be-
tween the government and
the recently eniouned railroads of the
Western trunk line association mas
reached at a White House confer
ence which lasted more than four
hours this morning. The railroads
agreed to DithdraD all rate Increases
fled to be effective on or after June
J.. and agreed to file no more m
credses until the bill IN congress. that
gives the Interstate commerce commits
sion pODer 10 investigate and suspend
increases. becomes lam and is in
operation.
President Taft hereupOn stated
that the administrator purpose IN
bringing the Injunction suit had been
accomplished and that the suit wouId
be discontinued. The discontnuance
nil not be entered. however. until
after the mem railroad lam is signed.
The belief was expressed here to-
night that all the other railroads of the
country that have fled increased rates
or have had such plan under con-
sideration will abide by the agree
ment reached today with the "a rail-
roads named as defendants in the
Hannibal case.
At the conference at the White
House tomorrow President Brown of
the New York Central, President Nc
Crea of the Pennsylvania and other
officials representing roads in the
eastern and central territory will par
ticipate. That they will hold up the
proposed increases until after the new
law becomes effective is taken for
granted here tonight.
Every one connected with today's
conference seemed gratified with the
outcome.
Taft With Commission
/ All that Prsident Taft has de-
sired is that the interstate commerce
commission have authority to inves-
tigate increases in rates to determine
whether they are justified by con-
ditions and are just to the shippers.
This power is to be conferred under
the new law.
The railroads, on the other hand, it
is pointed out, are to be relieved of
embarrassing litigation, are assured
of square DEAL when their case is
presented to the interstate commerce
contracts for improvements and ex-
! tensions. which they threatened to
cancel had the court proceedings con-
tinued.
The new railroad bill contains a
clause that gives it effect so days after
being signed by the president 1t will
be necessary to make the provision as
to the supervision of rates by the inter-
state commerce commission immediate
Iy effective and for this reason. as
President Taft indicated tonight. it
viii be necessary to send the bill back
to conference.
| NfickerSham Was There
President Taft summoned three men,
bers Of the cabinet to sit with him in
conference with the four railroad on
, cials. who reached the White House at
D. m. Attorney General Wickersham
had all along been included There
was some surprise. however. when the
president sent for Secretary Knox and
Secretary NageL Later Chairman
Knapp and Lane of the Interstate COM
merce commission were summoned. It
was .O5 D. m. when the conference ad-
journed- Then the following state
ment was prepared and given out:
E. P. Ripley. president OF the
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe
railroad company: Walker Z. Hines.
acting chairman ef the executive