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Show CONFER ON RAILROAD LAW PORTSMOUTH, N. H.. Aug. 0 The conference of attorneys representing repre-senting all the important railway systems sys-tems of the United Btats, called for the purpose of discussing the new railroad law, and which has been In progress for xeveral days, broke up this evening Another meeting will be held in New York In December. A statement giving a general out-lino out-lino of the work of the conference was lsBued. As far as could be lsarned there appeared to be a general sentiment senti-ment among those present In favor of a liberal Interpretation of the amendments amend-ments u the railroad law adopted by the last congress. This was partlcu- I liifly true of the so-called long and short haul clause, in the consideration of which much time was spent. The lawyers who have Iteen engaged in the conference express confidence that the Interstate Commerce commission com-mission will proceed conservatively, without making any rulings that will disturb existing conditions. "There has been no disposition j whatever on the part of any one to j suggest means of evading the act," said Edgar J, Rich, general solicitor of tho Boston & Maine railroad. The statement given out follows: "The conference has considered questions arising under the act to regulate commerce as recently amended amend-ed by congress. Tho several days of meeting were In the main spent in a general Interchange of views of those I present Some Informal votes wero taken, but this was not with any 1 thought of forestalling Independent action, but in order to obtain a more definite expression of opinion than would otherwise have been possible on matters which were In the main those of a practical nature, of which traffic Officials with to be advised." W. ' E. Kay of tho Atlantic Coast Line today said: 1 "For three days the conference considered con-sidered the long and short haul clause. The questions involved, particularly par-ticularly with relation to rates where there is water competition, were re- erred to a committee which was In- 1 stnicte.l to report at a conference early in December. There are many 1 questions ap. to which the attorneys are in doubt, including those of the constitutionality of certain proisionsJ of the new law, the extent of the Interstate In-terstate Commerce commission's authority, au-thority, and whether the rulings of the commission can be carried to the United States supreme court." |