The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-23
RAILROAD news.
Talk About Government Pro-
ceedings Against Santa Fc.
For Violations OF Interstate
Commerce Law.
MIR. PROUTY TALKS.
Says Company Has Violated Law
for Years.
TALKS.
MIR. PROUTY
Facts will Be Turned Over to
Attorney General.

Chicago, Jan. 23.-Walter Wellman'
te~legraphing from Washington to the
Chicago Record-Herald, says:
There is little doubt that the gov
eminent will prosecute the Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad company
for violation Of the interstate com
MERGE law in the granting of rebates
to favored shippers. There will be no
criminal prosecutions of officers of the
company. The fact that one of the
! former officers of the in ex-
eecutive authority for years while the
violations of the law were commit
ted, is now a member of President
Roosevelt's cabinet, will make no diff
ference in the attitude of the admin
istration. The usual course will be
followed, and the usual course Is to
prosecute the company to mulct 1t in
such fines as the court may impose
Unless the calculations of the MEM
bers of the interstate COM
mission are at fault, the Santa Fe is
likely to be compelled to cash in to
the extent of something like a half
million dollars in fines
HI commission has nearly com
pleted its review of the Santa Fe case.
The conclusion of the commission is
that the company has been guilty. 1t
will so find. 1t will then turn its
transcript of the evidence and it's re-
view and findings over to Attorney
A4OO4l @4A~ IN - FH6D
said today, in administrative circles,
will follow the usual course, which is
to instruct the district attorney to
bring suits against the company. Sec
rotary Morton has made no effort
whatever to influence the commission
or the attorney general in this mat
ter, and it is said by his friends that
he will make none.
''There is no doubt whatever that
the Atchison company has been guilty
of violations of the law during the last
five Years." said Commissioner Prouty
today These are not technical viO-
lations of the statutes, nor inadvertent
violations, nor accidental violations of
the statutes.
1T is the company that should be
punished. not individuals. The truth
IS that all during that period virtually
every railroad company in hat part of
the country was aging rebates or
cutting tariffs in favor of the big ship
pers. The railway who did
not d. likewise might as well resign.
1t vas a necessity of the business con-
ditions which prevailed Mr.. Morton
was no worse h the others. Be
sides, Mr.. Morton has FOR years. and I
believe with sincerity, opposed secret
rate cutting and rebates. 1t is the
irony of fate that a railroad official
who has openly and courageously ad-
Vocated reform of railroad methods,
should be the first conspicuous victim
caught in the net of the system which
he preached against"
Commissioner Prouty added that he
did not believe the commission would
recommend prosecution of the COM
pany in terms. The commission rare
" does that. he explained. 1t simply
presents the facts to the attorney gen
eral and the facts speak for them
selves. Having furnished the facts,
the commission has discharged its
duty. The rest remains with the at
torney general and the president. Mr..
Prouty said he could see no reason
why an exception should be made in
the case of the Santa Fe, and he
could see many reasons why those in
authority shoul refuse to ave an ex-
ception made. Therefore he expected
the law would take its course.