The representative., 1895-10-23
CHANDLER ON TRUSTS
LETTERS TO THE PRESIDENT
AND INTERSTATE CON-
MERGE COMMISSION.
The New Combination is Declared
a Conspiracy of the Worst
Kind.

| Washington, D. c., Oct Ex-senator
Chandler, of New Hampshire, has writ
ten additional letters to the president and
! to the Interstate commerce commission
urging Immediate action to prevent the
execution of the newly formed railroad
trunk line agreement signed by the pres
idents of nine roads running from the
seaboard to the West. He asserts that
the agreement is a gigantic trust and
plainly contrary to the law. He vigor-
ously attacks Interstate Commissioner
Knapp for a statement that the matter
was not one of which the commission
could take cognizance and says he should
be removed. Following is the letter
forwarded by Senator Chandler to the
president:
Concord, N. H., Oct. IL, 1S95.-To the
President:-S.r: The New York Times
OF yesterday states clearly what the nine
railroad governors and Mr. j. Pierpont
Morgan are doing. The proposed crime
| against the antitrust and anti-pooling
| laws is public fact as distinct and eyi-
dent as the Cuban rebellion, which your
attorney general eagerly labors to sup
press.
"First-All the competing railrads,
with their So 200 100000 capitalization are
to agree that no one road shall reduce its
rates to the public without the consent
or the nine governors of all the roads
| This is conspiracy in restraint of trade
and commerce; and a crime according to
the act of July 2, 1890.
Second-Each company agrees to de-
poslt IN the beginning and from time to
time, portions OF its earnings with the
nine governors. These earnings are to go
back to the company if it continues to
commit crime; but if it obeys law it IS to
| lose the earnings and they go to the other
roads which continue steadfast in crime.
| This is division of earnings forbidden
| by section of the Interstate commerce
| law.
"Third-Of course, like all great wrongs,
| these have their subterfuge and false pre-
| tensions The fraudulent deed in
Twyne's case was carefully made to recite
that 1t was done in good faith; we invad-
| ed and dlsp0lled neighboring nation.
| falsely declaring that war existed by the
act of Mexico; England attacks Venezuela
| to maintain the integrity of boundary
lines; France conquers Madagascar, and
Spain subjugates Cuba to give peace and
| liberty to the people of those islands. The
American railroad conspirators expressly
say their only motive is to detect and
punish violators Of the interstate COM
merce law, to protect small shippers frons
determinations and to act in harmony
| with the Interstate commerce commits
| son! According to the present appear
ances, they have swallowed that COM
mission, and will soon devour unhindered
the substance OF the people. The lambs
will soon be inside the wolves. who lean
| forward as their kind and helpful guar
| dians.
But Mr.. President, these stupendous
| crimes can by virtue of express statutes
| OF the United States, be suppressed in ad-
vance by national officials subject to your
| orders. Indeed a single word from YOU
to Mr.. }. Pierpont Morgan will cause these
| cOn1ederateS to deSiSt. Will you act, or
| Will you take the responsibility of consent
-ng as you will by inaction to a conspiracy
against law which is within few weeks.
as soon as the elections are over. to raise
the prices of food and fuel to all your be-
! loved people. He shall take care that the
laws be faithfully executed. Thou art
the man. Very respectfully,
VIM. E. CHANDLER.
Senator Chambers letter to the inter-
state commerce commission follows:
Concord, N. H, Oct. 8, 1895.-Hon
| VIM. r. Morrison, Chairman of the In
terstate Commerce Commission-Sir: In
response to my letter of inquiry of the
30th ult, received your letter of the Sd
inst, and also letter from Mr. Commits
sioner Knapp dated on the 5th inst
stating that the interview with him pub
lished in the Syracuse Post of Aug. 20
| q n 2
he then said, for which he is solely re-
sponsible.
An interview like that of Mr.. Knapp
goes to the world, if uncontradicted as
the views of the whole commission and
| has substantially the same effect as if
| formally issued by the chairman. This
| interview is most surprising pronuuci-
| amenatO. 1t contains only two points.
and no single word not confined to one
or the other point.
| The two points are:
First-That, if the new trunk line
agreement is violation of the anti-pool-
ing law, it is criminal misdemeanor
with which the interstate commerce com
mission has nothing to do; and. further.
that nothing has been done by the Trunk
| Line Association which calls for the ac-
tlon by the commission of would furnish
it with pretext even for investigation.
Second-That the trunk line presidents
are only making n agreement to adhere
to their published rates and refuse to
! give. favored shippers lower rates than
| they give other shippers; and are to be
commended for making it.
| To the first point it is to be replied
that, if it is true, the public and the rail
roads had better join Immediately in
aholiShinp the useless and worthless com
| mission 1t will be a mere supernumer-
ary statistical bureau; or worse than
that, a superservceable tool of the rail-
press the people
But it is not true. The interstate COM
| merce statue provides that any act by
a common carrier or its officers or agents
dcne or permitted or omitted contrary to
| the law shall be a crime. 1t also pro-
vdes that upon complaint of any per-
J son or corporation, or Of the railroad
| commissioners Of any state or territory,
| the interstate commerce commission
shall investigate any violation Of the law,
| and make an order compelling the Grim
| inal to desist; and if the order is not
obeyed the commission is to obtain de-
| cree of United States court compelling
| obedience Section 13 also provides as to
such Investigations as follows: Said
| commmissnion ** may institute
any inquiry on its own motion in the
same manner and to the same effect as
| though complaint had been made"
This was very plain talk. Either Com
missioner Knapp knew or did not know
| these provisions of law. If he did not, he
| ought to be removed for ignorance. If
| he did, he ought to be removed for wilful