Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-07
Interstate Commerce Commission
to Investigate.
MAGNATES TO TESTIFY At CHICAGO
Combine Of Northwestern Roads Will
Be Looked Into and Action May Be
E Taken Against New Company
Hearing Is Set for Wednesday.

Commerce commission has decided to
move against the Northern Securities
company and investigate the combine
of the Great Northern, Northern Pa
cific, and Burlington railways. The
first gun will be fired in Chicago next
Wednesday.
The Interstate Commerce commits.
sion will probe the entire matter of
Community of interest" between
great railway systems, but the specific
investigation will be aimed at the
Northwestern railways.
Hundreds of witnesses, among them
many of the leading railway promo
tiers and owners in the country have
been summoned to appear in Chicago
next Wednesday to testify before the
commission.
All the western railway magnates
have been summoned to appear, and,
after the investigation in Chicago, the
commission will resume it's hearings
in New York and call before it the
great promoters and financiers of Wall
street.
Determined Fight in Prospect.
1t is understood there is to be a
general and determined fight all along
the line. Evidently there is big con.
test ahead The commission has an
nounced it's intention of examining
every phase of railroad combination,
including the purchase of the Southern
Pacific by the Union Pacific, the I'm
ion Pacitic's control over the Burling-
ton, and every specific instance of
what they regard as violations of the
interstate commerce law.
Hold Conferences at Capital.
The decision of the Interstate Com
merce commission to begin its active
campaign was taken after a number
of conferences in Washington. Mem
bers of the commission have conferred
together and consulted with senators
and other government representatives.
The decision was reached that imme-
dlate action was necessary, and last
Saturday the commission sent out
hundreds of subpoenas to men directly
interested in combining railroads.
Text of the Order.
Less than a fortnight ago the in
terstate commerce commission issued
the following order. officially described
as: In the matter of consultations
and combinations of carriers subject
to the act to regulate commerce, in
Guiding the method of association
known as the community of interest
plan"
Whereas, The twelfth section of the
act to regulate commerce provides
that the commission shall have au-
thority to inquire into the manage
ment of the business of all common
carriers subject to the provisions of
the act, and shall keep itself informed
as to the manner and method in which
the same is conducted and requires
the commission to execute and en-
force the provisions of this act, and,
Sets Time for Hearing.
Whereas, 1t appears to the commits
combinations of carriers subject to the
act, including the method of associa-
ton known as the community of in
terest' plan, should be made the sub
ject of an investigation, to the end
that the commission may be informed
as to their formation, proposed pur-
chase. and modes of operation, togeth-
er with their efforts upon the move.
ment of interstate commerce. and the
rates received therefor, and to the
iui biSl Siiu tlttl IL llldy ne dSCCTldluSU
whether such consultations, combina-
tons, and methods of association are
unlawful under the act, or have the
effect of violating any of its provisions
Ordered, That a proceeding of in
vestigation and inquiry into and con-
corning the matters above recited be.
and the same is, hereby instituted and
that such proceedings be set for hear
i,,tr at ha Unit
Monadnock Block in the city of Chca-
go, Ill.,on January 8. 1902, at 10 O'Clock
a. m, the further hearing to be con-
tinued at such times and places as
may appear to be required"
Senator Foster in Fight.
Washington, d. c., Jan. 3.-Senator
Foster, of Washington, is determined
to prevent the consolidation of the
Northwestern railroad if possible, and
he will call the matter to the attention
of the President and the attorney gen
eral if some one else does not do so
before he has a chance.