The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-18
CARRIER SHIPPER
 AGREEMENT ENDS
 AGE-LONG FIGHT
Without Publicity, Two Sides Agree to Work in Harmony and as Team in the
 Future
By HARDEN CoLFAx

ICOpyright, 1921. by The AEe-Hernld)
 Washington, December 17.-While the interstate commerce commission is trying to find out whether rail road rates should be reduced or not and is conducting general inquiry into the transportation situation on its own account, the railroads and the shippers, which have fought each other for a generation, have quietly and without publicity gotten together and agreed to bury the hatchet. Hereafter instead of aptagonizing each other, they will work in har- mony and as a team.
 A solemn agreement to that effect was entered into at a meeting here on December 9-news of which was withheld by both sides alike-be- tween q special committee of the As sociation of Railway Executives. rep resenting the carriers Of the entire country. and selected delegation of the biggest of America's big indus tries. Important in It's novelty. the meeting was still more important from another standpoint-the farmer. through his delegates. sat down and worked with the manufacturer, the coal operator, the lumberman and other big business interests which he had for many years considered the oppressors.
 Big Committee Named
 As the upshot of the meeting transportation committee for agricul- ture and industry was appointed. It is 8 big committed, and on It's roster are the names of representatives of almost every industry whose output flows in any volume over American rails today. In fact, it was too big to be workable, so an executive commit tee of seven was appointed from its roster, the function of the executive committee being to represent the main body in dealings with the roads and to work in harmony with the carriers in seeking to bring about better economic conditions in the field of transportation."
 The executive committee consists of:
 Executive Committee
 J. R. Howard of Chicago. president of the American Farm Bureau Fed eration; S. J. Lowell of Fredonia, N. Y, master of the national grange; J. A. Campbell of Youngstown. O.. pTCSiuSHb Ol tAt IOutiBEloWH oHCtl and Tube company; Ernest T. Trigg of Philadelphia. president of the National Federation of Construction Industries: Charles Hill of New York, Southern Pine association; J. D. Nor row of Washington, vice president of the National Coal association: F. R. Todd of Moline, H., vice president of Deere & Go.
 The executive committee appointed as It's counsel James A. Emery of this city, who Is also counsel for the Ma tional Association of Manufacturers.
 Shippers Promised Benefits
 In speaking of the conference, Mir. Emery says:
 "The railroad representatives evil denced their intention to give the benefit of further reduction in op- erating expenses to the shippers as rapidly as operating costs, especially those principally represented in la bor and material, are adjusted to the economic level of wages and costs prevailing generally in industry. The shipping public is to receive in re- duced rates benefits concurrent with cost adjustments.
 "The committee is endeavoring to examine the whole question of trans portation from the viewpoint of the public interest to be served. It will do so with the hope of settling eco homie differences of opinion between shippers and carriers with justice to every element involved. It hopes to reach sound, economic conclusions not only upon the rate question but upon pending issues relating to the control of our national system of transportation in order that the ship ping public may be beneficiaries of an economic remedy for the transpor- tation situation, without the engage ment of any interested group in po- litical competition to secure political benefit for itself. or resist necessary