of through rates, statistics, classifications, rules, regulations, and inspection, and to secure to the members the interchange and promulgation of authentic information in regard to the traffic and tariffs of rates of the respective parties, and to aid in securing compliance with the laws of the states, and of the United States relating to and regulating commerce.

The members, for the purposes aforesaid, agree:

(a) To submit all questions of common interest upon which action is desired to the association, to be considered promptly under its rules.

(b) To arbitrate all differences upon questions coming within the scope of this agreement which are not otherwise properly reconciled.

(c) Each member agrees that it will send to the chairman two copies of each local and joint state and interstate tariff of rates and of changes therein, also classification and rules at the time of making, issuing, or filing the same with the Interstate Commerce Commission; also of all agreements or arrangements with other common carriers in relation to the rates and divisions upon traffic coming in whole or in part under this agreement, when such arrangement or agreement is entered into.

Chairman. The executive officer of the association is the chairman. He presides at meetings of the association and represents it in all negotiations with other associations. All communications regarding division of rates between lines in other associations and this association are through the chairman. He compiles and issues the statements, statistics, and joint publications authorized by the association.

In case of disagreement in any committee on a subject upon which prompt action is required the question at issue is submitted to the chairman for decision. On objection by any member to this decision the matter is referred to the association.

Other Bureaus and Committees.-The association maintains the Central Freight Association Inspecting and Weighing Bureau and in coöperation with other associations maintains the Official Classification Committee.

The Chicago & Ohio River Committee, the Michigan Freight Committee, the St. Louis Eastbound Freight Committee, and the St. Louis-Cincinnati-Louisville Freight Committee are the large standing committees of the association. There are also committees at junction points to handle local matters, each with a chairman and secretary. The major committees maintain separate organizations under the supervision of officers as follows: Central Freight Association Inspection and Weighing Bureau, chief inspector.

Chicago and Ohio River Committee, secretary.
Michigan Freight Committee, chairman.

St. Louis Eastbound Freight Committee, chairman.

St. Louis-Cincinnati-Louisville Freight Committee, chairman. Standing Committees.-The titles of the committees of the association with an explanation of their functions will indicate the work covered by the association.

The membership on the various committees noted following is made up from the traffic officials of member lines. They are selected by the association in general meeting, due consideration being given to the interests of the various carriers. For instance a railroad operating in Michigan would not be accorded representation on the committee on relation with southern roads or a strictly Indiana line on the committee on relation with trunk lines for the reason that the traffic officials of such lines would not be in close touch with any of the matters which would ordinarily come up. Neither would a coal-carrying road be assigned to the lumber committee.

The rules and regulations committee considers and recommends for association action all rules and regulations governing traffic movement except rates-such as minimum weights, weighing cars and contents, estimated weights, milling-in-transit, fabrication, and extension of through billing arrangements and storage.

The lumber committee considers and recommends for association action rates on lumber and forest products; the salt committee on salt; the iron and steel committee on iron and steel and articles manufactured therefrom; the live stock, packinghouse products, grain and grain products committee establishes rates on these commodities; the brick committee on all clay products, sand, and gravel; the coal and coke committee has jurisdiction over rates on gas house coke or by-product coke-it has no jurisdiction over coal or furnace coke rates; the lime committee over rates on lime; the uniform basis of rates committee has jurisdiction over rates which are not subject to the jurisdiction of any of the foregoing committees.

The coal and coke committee considers and recommends for association action matters of all natures pertaining to coal and coke traffic. The large coal carrying roads have a general coal and ore agent who represents his line on this committee.

The committee on relations with western roads considers and recommends for association action the establishment of all through rates, rules, and matters on interchange traffic in both directions between Central Freight Association roads and their western connections.

The committee on relations with southern roads considers and recommends for association action such matters in both directions as to southern roads.

The committee on relations with trunk lines (Eastern Trunk

Lines) considers and recommends to the association for action such matters on eastbound rates only as to eastern lines.

The eastbound percentage committee has charge of the grouping of points in the percentage groups in Central Freight Association Territory whose eastbound rates are based on a percentage of the Chicago-New York rate.

The uniform basis for rates committee considers and recommends to the association for action all propositions involving an advance or reduction in rates. This is probably the most important of all the standing committees of the association.

These committees have jurisdiction over the divisions of rates between Central Freight Association and other territories but have none over division of rates between points both of which are situated in Central Freight Association Territory.

Office Organization.-The action of these several committees and of the association itself-termed for convenience "associa tion legislation"-is incorporated in the form of printed "Information Circulars" which are sent to the various officers of member railroads.

The association, for its member railroads, and in coöperation with other associations, compiles and publishes certain "agency" tariffs and it must in consequence maintain a very considerable tariff bureau. In addition, notices of meetings, dockets, and other matters relating to association and committee meetings and conferences necessitates a rather extensive organization for printing, mailing, and typing work.

Figure 24 shows the office organization required in performing the work mentioned:

The secretary is in effect a vice chairman of the association and presides over many of the association and committee meetings. In addition, he is chairman of the very important standing switching committee, of which all roads entering Chicago are members and for which he issues switching tariffs.

The accounting department reports to the chairman, the secretary, and the chief clerk on various matters of accounting. The chief clerk is responsible for the management of the office force and its discipline. He attends to a large part of the office correspondence, has general supervision of all of it, and in addition has charge of certain specified subjects. When the exigencies of the service require it, he acts as chairman of committee meetings.

The circular department has charge of the preparation of the "Information Circulars" advising members of association legislation.

The weighing and mailing of Information Circulars, notices of meetings, docket advices, proceedings of meetings, tariffs, supplements, and division sheets to members (and to a large list

of foreign roads and shippers as to tariffs) is in charge of the mailing department.

The printing department is provided with mimeographs, duplicators, and multigraphs and does practically all the association printing except tariffs and supplements. The chief of this department also has charge of the purchase and distribution of office and printing-room supplies.