The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-02-11
WANT PLAT'T EXPELLED
Petition Filed in United States
Senate Against New Yorker.
CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY

As President Of United States Express
Company, He Is Said to Be Violating
Antitrust Laws BY Monopolizing
Express Business and Fixing Rates.
Washington. Feb &C. w. Post Of
Battle Greek. Mich, who has Interested
himself largely in the establishment
Of a parcels postal system, filed with
President prcs TEN. Frye. OF the senate
petition fOt the expulsion OF Senator
Thomas c. Platt. OF New York. from
the senate. The petition is based on
the assertion that Mr. Platt, as the
executive officer of the United States
Express company. is a party to con
spiracy 10 maintain identical rates
among express companies for articles
shipped over their lines, and he asserts
that Plat has told representatives Of
his that he will oppose all legislation
injuriously affecting the company's in
terests
In his petition Mr. Post charges the
six express cOmanies OF the United
States with conspiring to violate the
antitrust act by monopolizing the ex-
press business OF the country and fix
ing the rates. lie alleges that by rea-
son Of this unlawful combination the
express companies have maintained
charges for all the different kinds OF
business far in excess OF reasonable
rates. and they have been collecting
and are now annually collecting from
the people of the United States and
from the banks, trust companies and
other financial institutions and from
publishers Of books and others having
frequent occasion to require the SER
vice OF express companies hundreds OF
thousands OF dollars over and above
inst compensation for the service which
they render"
He then mentions the Post check
currency bills which are and have for
several years been before congress,
and SAYS that by the plans proposed in
them much OF the business OF sending
small sums OF money through the malls
which is now transacted by the ex-
press companies would be taken from
them. to their injury, but to the bene-
ft OF the people OF the United states.
which itself now pays many thousands
OF dollars every year TO the press
companies for services, which IL is one
Of the objects Of such bills to render
unnece ssary."
Mr.. Post charges that in his capacity
as president OF the United States Ex-
press company Senator Plat IS par
ticipating in the conspiracy charged.
and proceeding. says.
lie is daily engaged in performing
overt acts in pursuance thereof. and
that in the senate he has used and Is
continuing 10 use his influence AZ a
senator to prevent the passage OF bills
referred to or any OF them on the
ground that II passed they would af-
feet injuriously the business OF said
express companies and reduce the
amount which said companies, by rea-
son OF said combination and cOnspir-
acy. are obtaining from the people OF
the United States and from the gov
eminent thereof, over and above just
compensation for the services which
they render"
He therefore. asks the senate to in
stitute an examination into the case,
and that il the charges are proven the
senator shall be expelled.
In support of his statement Mr.. Post
filed an affidavit from Z. S. Dawson
TO the effect that Senator Plat had
told him that he was against the Post
check bills because the plan, II adopted.
would interfere with his business. and
that he would use his position as
senator to defeat them.