The Sentinel=record., 1911-03-07
ROADS MUST
 OBEY ORDERS
INTERSTATE COMMERCE COM MISSION DENIES PETITIo
 OF ROADS FOR EXTENSION.
Railway Managers Will Hold Meeting tc Formulate Reply to Action of Commisslon--Will More Than
 Likely Accept.

Washington, March 6.-iDenial of the request of the railroads of official classification territory that they be permitted voluntarily to suspend pro- posed advances in class freight rates from March 15 until November 1 next, was made by the Interstate Com cerce Commission today.
 In the decisions announced in the great rate cases three days ago the commission directed that the pro posed tariffs advancing rates De an nulled on or before March 10. If lnis direction re not followed, the com mission on that date would issue an order cancelling the rates and put ting into effect for at least two years the existing rates.
 After a conference in New York City last Friday an arrangement was made tor conference in this city be- tween Eastern railroad officials and the members of the commission.
 Participating in the conference to- day were President W. c. Brown and General Solicitor Clyde Brown, of the New York Central; President James McCrea and General Counsel F. I. Gowen, of the Pennsylvania: Fresi dent Daniel Ward and General Coun- sel Hugh c. Bond, of the Baltimore and Ohio; President Frederick Un- derwood and General Counsel Geo. Brownell, of the Erie, and Walker D. Hines. representing the Delaware. Lackawanna and Western
 It was suggested to the commission that the carriers in official classifca- ton territory be permitted to suspend voluntarily the tariffs proposing ad vances from March IS until Novem- Der 1 next. in order that they might have opportunity to ascertain the gen. erai results of this fiscal years busi- ness. Their contention was that this years business might show falling off of the revenues of 1910, which would afford them an opportunity slider an advance in rates, perhaps some time late next autumn. when they wou4d be enabled to make a bet ter showing in support of the request than they made in the recent cases
 They desired also to ascertain the record made in the recent cssrs would be available in any future pro ceedings they might institute.
 Denial of the request for furtber, postponement of the tariffs was made in the following letter to President Brown, of the New York Central, writ ten by Commissioner Prouty, on be half of the commission.
 The committee of which you are ehairmans requests that defendant carriers in the Eastern rate advance case. No o,40O, be allowed to post pone their tariffs of advanced rates until November 1 next, instead of canceiiing the same as now required by the commission.
 After considering the question ad- duced in support of this request those members of the commission who are in Washington are unanimously of tre opinion that it must be denied and that We must adhere to the report which clearly states the attitude of this body.
 With respect to the suggestion chat in any future proceedings the present record will not be available if these tariffs are cknceiied. 1t is prop CT to observe that this proceeding was instituted by the commission it. self and that the record is entirely subject to it's control either with re spect to further proceedings nnon the same record or with respect to new proceedings involving the same is- sues
 Tomorrow at the New York Central offices in New York. a general meet Ing of Eastern railway officials MI be held at which the participants in today's conference will make their report 1t Is probable that a decision will be reached to cancel the pro- posed advances in accordance with the decision of the commission and in the light of developments let the utwe take care of itself