Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-08-07
NO ALARM IS FELT BY
AMENDMENTS ADOPTED
Attorneys Representing All important
Lines In the Country Confer on
Statute in Order to be Able 20 Ad-
wise Clients of Proceedue-No Fault
is Yet Discovered.
(By Associated Press.)

;. PORTSMOUTH. n. H., Aug. 6-The
conference Of attorneys representing
all the important railway systems OF
the United States, called for the pur.
pose of discussing the new railroad
law and which has been in progress
here for several days, broke up this
afternoon. Another meeting will be
held in New York in December. A
statement 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 general senti-
ment among those present in favor
of a liberal Interpretation OF the
amendments to the railroad law adopt
ed by the last congress. This was
particularly true of the so-called long
and short haul clause. in the consid-
Grafton of which much time was spent.
Will be Conservative.
The lawyers who have been engag-
ed in the conference, express conf
dence that the Intrstat Commerce
Commission will proceed conservative
ly without making any rulings which
will resriously disturb existing condi-
tions.
There has been no disposition
whatever on the part of any one to
suggest means of evading the act.
said Edgar J. Rich, general solicitor
of the Boston & Maine Railroad.
The sole purpose he continued
has been to construe the act and 10
advise the railroad officials as to what
they must do in order TO comply with
1t in letter and spirit. =
The statement given OH by the con-
ference committee. OF which r. Wal
ton Moore, of Washington. d. c., rep
resenting the railroads of the South
generally, was chairman. follows:
The Statement.
THE conference has considered
questions arising under the act to reg
ulaie commerce recently amended by
congress. The sections to which the
amendments contained in the Mann
E'kins bill apply, are numbers I, 4, 8
and Is OF the act and besides the many
points relative to those sections which
were discussed. there was some dis
cusson of the new section which es-
tablished the commerce court. The
Sundays of the meeting were spent IN
interchange of views of those present
Some informal votes were taken, but
this was not with any thought of fore
stalling important aciion, but in order
to obtain a more definite expression
of opinion than would Otherwise hsve
been possible on matters which were
In the main. those of a practical ma
ture on which trafic officials wish to
be advised before the effective date oil
the amendments. which is August D.
Resembles Former Meeting
The conference resembled, in its
objects and proceedings, the one hello
at Atlantic City in 1906. to consider
the provisions Of the Hepburn Dill
amendments, and which was prodUc'
tive Of good results in arriving at
proper understanding OF what was IN
tended by the new legislation and
which undoubtedly intended to bring
about better relations between the car
riers and the public and to place the
former in closer touch with the Inter
state Commerce Commission.
The spirit what marked the pro-
cecdisgs, was one OF hopeiulness and
. there was a plain disposition not 20
take any scfion which might create
sntsgonisn and strife
1T Is understood that the lawyers
composing Il and others ~iil come to
sether sometime In the future.
In the meantime the Interstate
Commerce Commission viii clear ~
many Of the doubts which exists a.
TO ;he construction u the varioss pro
visions Of the &C; a. Il nov stands,
W. r. Kay. Of the Atlantic Coas'
Line. said tonight.
Many Questions 20 Consider.
For three days the conference con
sidered the long and short haul clscse
The questions involved particularly
dealing With rates. where there Is "a
ter competition. we're referred 70 =
committee which was In tructcd y
report a. a conference 10 be held N
New York IN December. There sF'