The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-26
ALL TO GET PRIZES
In the Handing Out of IntNnctions
by the l. c. c.
No N. W. LINES WILL ESCAPE
SO Say Railroad Ien-InjunctisV.
Method Is Expected to Prove
Effective.

Northwestern railroad men say that it
is but question Of time until injunc-
lions will be placed upon all of the roads
which have the twin cities as their terml-
nal point. Nothing has been heard here
to indicate just when the interstate COM
merce commission will proceed against
the remaining northwestern lines, but the
legal departments would not be surprised
If the commissions attorneys invade this
territory very sOon
The commission now has injunctions on
the Milwaukee, North Western and Bur-
evidences of cut rates on packing house
products which were secured at the recent
hearing before the commission in Chicago.
The Minneapolis e st. Louis and the
Omaha are the only remaining roads en-
tering inneapolis which are interested
in this traffic. 1t is believed that the
other lines will insist that the commits
sion place an injunction on these two
roads, in order that all may be served
alike. While the commission is doing
this it may clean up it's work with all Of
the northwestern lines. If the present
policy of the commission is successful the
injunction is likely to be used as a per-
manent means of forcing the railroads to
maintain tariff rates. :.
The TranscontinentaI Lines.
So far none of the transcontinental
lines have been included in the injunc-
ton proceedings with the exception of the
Santa Fe. But it is believed that the
commission intends to proceed against the
rest or the transcontinental systems If it
can get the necessary evidence. COnse-
quently the Union Pacific, Northern Paci-
nc, Great Northern and 500, will be made
members or the same injunction family.
A tra1hc of1cial OF one of the northwest
efn lines says that the commission is at
last on the right tack to make the inter-
state commerce law effective. He saws:
Inc OBJECT OF all this is to make obedience
10 the law more certain in the future, and
also to make conviction and punishment un-
DER the statute easier. To restrain the roads
by process of injunction means to place them
at once in the hands Of the federal court
and it is a much more serious matter tt
| trife with that tribunal than to engage il
| litigation IN the ordinary courts of law ]
| cited to answer for disobeying an injunction
| OF this character, the railroad or railroad
officials must purge themselves of the alleged
| contempt and establish their Innocence bJ
! unqualified proof bubbles and equivocatior
! will be of no avail This enables the com
| mission to occupy much stronger position
| than it has done so far The necessary pro
| ceedings to force the proper observance of tn
! law are very much abbreviated by the in
| junction In the event of a complaint it will
| be necessary to allege dsobedience only, an,
| the defendant carrier or official must Prov
| that the charge is without foundation. TIL
! railroads will be constantly on the defensive
| Therefore, CONCESSIONS . shippers will be les
| likely and the shippers will be less bold il
| negotiating for cut rates.