The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-02
STAFF men HERE
Largest Rock Island Official
Meeting in Years.
Car Service and Freight Men
Discuss New Rules.
RETURN ALL FOREIGN CARS
Railroads Must Keep Hands
Off Other Equipment.
An Attempted Solution of Car
Shortages in West.
RETURN ALL FOREIGN CARS

The largest staff meeting of freight
and traffic officers in the history of the
Second district of the Rock Island Lines
is scheduled in Topeka today. Repre-
sentatives from every important station
in the Second district are here for
discussion of the new car service rules.
The meetings are held at the Throop
Hotel with A. E. Sweet, general man
ager, Topeka, J. B. Smalley, assistant
general manager, Topeka, and ]. p.
Pickering, superintendent of car SER
vice, Chicago. presiding
The Rock Island men are gathering
In Topeka headquarters to discuss the
recent ruling of the American Railway
ASSOCIATION concerning the distribution
OF foreign cars. The ruling is the most
important in traffic circles in years and
dropped like a bomb among the operat-
ms; car service and freight departments
of the railroads. over the country.
Under the present arrangement which
has been in force for many years, a
railroad may use foreign cars to any
part OF the United States provided the
equipment is, within a reasonable
length Of time sent back to the com
p&ny owning it. In this way one rail-
road line Will actually use more equip
ment than it owns.
The New Ruling.
Under the new ruling effective Sep
tember 1 and under discussion at the
ROCK Island Topeka meeting today
ali foreign equipment musT be re-
turned to the owner and not used in
the territory. If the railroads refuse
to obey this order and insist on max
ing use of foreign equipment a COM
plant can be filed with the executive
committee of the American Railway
association by the owners. This COM
m1ttee have the power to inf1ict severe
penalties.
Each complaint is to be passed upon
by commission appointed by the ex-
ecutive committee of the association.
The committee will consist of three
members of the executive COMMITTEES.
On receipt of any complaint the presi-
dent will instruct the commission IL
proceed to make either directly or
through it's authorized representatives.
such Investigations as may be neCes-
sary, to take appropriate action and to
assess penalties.
The use of foreign equipment on
railroads of the United States. often is
the solution of many car shortages.
In heavy territory a railroad will con-
fscate another company's cars and
shortage will be averted. On the 9TH
liable to a like shortage. To evenly
distribute the cars throughout the
country and keep all equipment in its
rightful territory is the object of the
new ruling.
The Rock Island men here today in
clude division superintendents, train
masters, local agents, yard masters,
district and division car distributors
and other officers. The list includes:
D. r. Pickering, superintendent car
service, Chicago; E. L. O'Neil, general
agent, st. Louis; Fred Smith, assistant
general freight agent, Kansas City; A.
B. Ramsdell, division superintendent,
St. Louis; H. r. Saunders. superinten-
dent, Kansas City; G. w. Rourke, su-
perintendent, Herington; H. P. Green
ough, superintendent, Dalhart: A. w.
Kelso, superintendent, Fairbury.