Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-06-08
EASTERN ROADS
MAKETERMS, TOO
Agree, After Conference With
Taft, to Withdraw In
creases in Rates.
WILL AWAIT THE NEW LAW
Opinions Vary as to the Effect but
General Opinion Is Advance
Will Come Later.

Washington, June S.-The recent
furry as to the railroad situation De-
came a thing of the past yesterday.
Following the agreement with the
western railroads, the eastern and CEN
tral roads, at a conference with the
president yesterday afternoon, agreed
to withhold all proposed freight rate
increases until the new railroad law
becomes effective. After that the rea-
condolences of the increases are to be
submitted to the interstate commerce
commission. The railroads interested
in the southern territory declared they
had not as yet filed notices OF increase,
but that if they did they would be
ready to abide by the decision of the
commission.
Associations Not Threatened.
The presidents conference yester-
day was with President James Nc
Crea of the Pennsylvania. President
W. c. Brown of the New York Central
and President w. w. Finley of the
Southern railroad. These men repre-
sented all of the trunk lines frim Chi
cago eastward. .-....--
In none of his negotiations with the
railroad presidents has President Taft
suggested that there was any purpose
on the part of the administration to
apply for a dissolution of the various
trunk line associations. At the same
time there has been no intimation that
any of the railroads would be granted
immunity from the operations of the
Sherman antitrust law. Tho admin
istration used the antitrust law in
bringing the injunction to stop the in
creased rates simply because there
was no other avenue open to it.
Taft Reviews Agreement.
The statement issued by the White
house at the conclusion of the confer
ence was as follows:
At the invitation of the presi-
dent, James McCrea, president Of
the Pennsylvania company, with
Judge Massey, general counsel;
w. c. Brown, president of the New
York central lines, and w. w Fin
ley of the Southern railway met
the president at his Office for a
conference with respect to the
proposed advance of rates which
had already been filed by the trunk
lines and central freight lines
with the interstate commerce COM
mission. TO be effective July / and
thereafter.
At the conference il was agreed
that if the amendment recon-
mended in the message of the
president this morning to the
pending railroad bill was adopted,
and if the bill became a law on or
before July l, no agreement was
necessary to bring the rates in
question before the interstate
commerce commission for investi-
cation and decision before they
became effective. But IL was fur
ther agreed that if the enactment
of the railroad law was deferred,
or it should otherwise become
necessary. the railroad companies
would submit the proposed ad-
vance in rates to the interstate
commerce commission in accord
ance with the provisions of the
new law.
Mr. Finley, the president of the
Southern railway. stated that as
to southern territory, his company,
while recognizing the necessity for
some increase in some of the
rates, had taken no action as yet,
so that there was no need Of any
stipulation by his company.
Ripley Pessimist.
New York, June S.-Edward Payson
Ripley, president of the Atchison, To
peka and Santa Fe. discussing the con-
ference with President Taft, said last
night:
IF every increase thus far filed at
were allowed to go into
effect in full they would not justify |
he railroads in going ahead with tho
they have planned. The
Increases enjoined were but drop in
he bucket The raises asked for the
"a western roads were almost imper-
septible. They must be followed by
much larger increases if railroading
S to be profitable.
The conference with the president
has not cleared matters up, although
lCoptfo,tad m pa Rive