The Mena weekly star., 1910-06-09
A RATE AGREEMENT
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE RE. SUITS IN A COMPROMISE
 WITH RAILROADS.
10 DISMISS INJUNCTION SUI
The Roads on TheIr Part VIII With draw All Recent Advances in Freight Rates Until Congress Passes the Railroad Bill.

Washington, June 8.-President Taft has forced the complete surrender of the big railroad chiefs of the West.
 At the end of four hours confer. ence with the president in the execu. tive offices. the representatives of the Western trunk line committee consent. ed to the announcement that they would withdraw the proposed increase In freight rates which the administra. ton had enjoined by the federal court in Missouri early fnss week. They further coyenated to make no further effort to increase rates until the pend ing railroad bill has become a law This means that all future increases in rates proposed by these railroads must be reviewed by the Interstate Commerce commission before such new rates become effective. A lati tude of II months Is allowed the com mission in which to Investigate the proposed rate increase, under the bIl as 1t is passed the senats. so that there Is practically full year ahead under which the old rites must bs matntath sd, ia consequences of the ngrsemaal whtoh the administration forced from the railway men. So far this arrange ment binds only the western roads But at the White house this afternoon .dr. Taft will have before him Presi dent Brown. of the New York Centra lines; McRae. of the Pennsylvania road. and other Eastern railway chiefs as they desire to bring with them fol 8 conference along lines similar to those of yesterdays conference Thess Eastern roads have also filed notice Of increases fin rates. There is every req son 10 believe that the president will make similar proposition to his call CTS and that 1t will be accepted. where by all possibility of increase in rates for the present will be averted.
 Dismiss Injunction Suit.
 In return for the withdrawal of the proposed increased rates the president agreed to discontinue the injunction proceedings instituted against the western traffic committee. But it Is expressly understood that this action will not be discontinued until the com Seted railroad bill, as agreed tc finally by the two houses of congress has received the signature of the prest dent.
 The agreement is a distinct triumph for the administration. By def use of the Sherman antitrust lsw. in. gnked <as. ' .Slpb pt the hst aan4S nhreatnssA 4Itcfeass In Grsasft ss<ek has beeo prevented and fit faiiroad held in check until congress finally puts into the presidents hand the means whereby the Interstate Com merce commission will have at al times the full means of regulating all freight charges
 Parties to the Agreement.
 E. P. Ripley, president Of the Atehi son, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad com pany. Walker D. Hines, acting chair man executive committee of the Santa Fe railroad Frederick A. Delano president of the Wabash railroad com psny and s. M Felton, president oi the Chicago Great Western railroad. a committee representing the 24 rail road companies defendant in suit brought by the government in Missouri fin which Judge Dyer granted an in. junction restraining increases in rates, represented the railroads
 Participating in tho conference in addition to the president and those al ready named were Attorney General Wickersham. Secretary of State Knox and Secretary of Commerce and Labor Nagel On toward the end Interstate Commerce Commissioners Knapp and Lans were also called in.