Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-12-13

viii be taken by the attorney general
Of the United States against the At
Gibson, Topeka 4 Santa Fe railway
company ond the other railroads con-
cerned in the rebate cases which We're
dismissed by Judge Philips in Kansas
City last Monday, This then will be-
the final chapter In this famous rebate
scandal.
Though by the decision Of Judge
Philips. one Of the most important
prosecutions recently undertaken by
the government falls to the ground,
II Is evident that no tears are being
shed over the result at the department
of justice. AS a matter OF fact,
f.iends OF Attorney General Moody
find in the opinion Of Judge Philips
Il vindication of the attorney general
for the course he pursued towards
Paul Morton. who at the time was a
member OF President Roosevelt's Cab.
met.
II will be remembered that Fred
crick N. Judson Of st. Louis. and
.ludson Harmon. Of Cincinnati, special
counsel employed by the attorney gen.
.eral to investigate the record In the
rebate ceases, recommended not only
trat proceedings be brought against
the Santa Fee corporation, but that
criminal action be begun against Pres
ident Ripley, of the Santa Fe and Paul
Morton, the latter having been vice
president and general manager OF the
Santa Fe when the rebates were
given. In the correspondence between
Mr.. Moody and Messrs. Harmon and
Judson 1t developed that the president
and the attorney general would not
act on the recommendations of the spe-
cial counsel.
At the time MI. Moody said: Il do
not find any testimony relating to
the conduct of any w minor Off
Gals, and MI. Biddle, who may claim
to have obtained immunity by testify.
ing fully before the commission. For
instance. there Is not a syllable Of tes-
timony that Mr.. Ripley. the president
OF the road, or MIR. Morton, then one
Of its vice presidents, had any connec-
ton whatever win the departure from
the published rates In favor OF the
Colorado Fuel and Iron company. or
that he knew or suspected that trans
portation was f~uynished~to thia COM
pany in any manner different from
that prescribed by the open and pub
lished rate"
Judge Philips took occasion to ex-
press the same view In his opinion.
Attorney General Moody Is known to
have taken to heart personally the
widespread hostile criticism OF his
course in so bluntly acquiting Morton
The position taken by Judge Philips
is consequently not unpleasant at all
in the departent Of justice.
AS to what the fate OF these Santa
Fe cases may argue upon the ineffi'
cheney Of government machinery to
cone with the present and future re
batting, that is a question upon which
the attorney general does not speak
lust now. It has been suggested that
in all above rebate cases, upon which
the statute of limitations does moi
run. and in all others concerning
which information may be in hand, dis
trict attorneys the country 9 be
instructed to bring original crimina
prosecutions, both against responsible
rs,lroad officials and against offend
'ug shippers.
Lawyers familiar with the govern
ent viewpoint find obstacles to this
plan. For one thing, they say tina
district attornys are usually politica
..ppointees, who might institute &C
tons for which the government woult
not care to be responsible. Then
again, they say that few district at
torneys have the ability to cope witt
such litigation.
For the present, accordingly, tn
question of handling rebating rail
roads and shippers is in allegiance. A
It stands, the department Of justice
seems to have thrown UP Its hand
and quit.
albuquerque Pullman Headquarters.
No longer will the tourist In thi
neck Of the woods with q complain
against the Pullman company, have 7
70 to Kansas City to register hi
grievance. for the management OF tn
George Pullman estate have seer Il
to establish a headquarters office q
the albuquerque station Of the SAINT
re. This took place several week
ago, but the news has been kept yer
quiet, probably because Of the M
.desty Of the superintendent placed !
charge, but the effects Of the chang
are already reflected by the me-
twelve section drawing room Pullman
which has replaced one Of the old tel
section "sidewheelers" OF the Der
ing division, and more changes Il
the better are under consideration.
r. H. Rhodes. formerly Of Chicag
Kansas City, Colorado Springs. an
one Of the oldest employees Of the PuI
y. q. JONI