Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-05-14
70 PROSECUTE ROADS
Revelations in Standard Oil
Hearing May Result in
Railway Suits
MoNETTE GIVES HIS OPINION
Special Counsel fer the Interstate
Commerce Commission Say Evicence
Against the Railroads Sufficient to
Secure indictments - Shows Viola
ton Of Laws.

Chicago. May 14.--AAs a result of tes-
timony heard by this interstate COM
merce commission In the course of the
investigation OF the Standard Oil Com
pany and its relations with railroads
slXty-three railroads, members of the
Central Freight Traffic association,
tiles for violations OF sections or tae
Sherman antitrust law. Altho the
members of the commission have not
officially signiiicd their intentions Of
asking the federal authorities to take
such drastic action, General Monnett
and J. L. Marchand. special counsel for
the commission. who conducted the ex-
animation Of witnesses here, have ex-
pressed themselves as satisfied that
the evidence showed that the railroads
connected with the Central Freight
Traffic association have been dlsobey-
ing the law by meeting and comblHln6
to make rates. Before leaving Chi "a
go Mr.. Monnett ordered special copy
NJ the testimony of Joseph +. Tue ger
of the association sent him in order to
submit detailed report to the COM
missoners.
Evidence Shows Violation.
Il want TO look the evidence up again
before prepare my report" said MI.
Monnett, but from my notes and my
recollection of the evidence the tes,l-
mony of Tucker, supported by osaer
hS, hn inv . ri
shows conclusively that these railroads
have laid themselves open under the
Sherman act II the commissioners
think that my conclusions are correct
and supported by the evidence the
course would be to notify District at
torney Morrison Of the infraction OF the
law as shown to us and have him pro-
ceed against the companies. / can rot
say that such action will be taken. but
nv recommendation certainly will be
that 1t be taken at once"
The assertions Of Attorney IMonnett
are based upon the testimony of Jo-
seph u. Tucker, manager OF the traffic
association, regarding the fixing OF the
rates published by him. Mr.. Tucker
under close examination by Attorney
Marchand and Commissioner Prouty
refused to admit that the roads had
agreed on one rate, but persisted that
Individual action was taken and that
he merely published the consensus of
opinion.
Officials Fix Rates.
He was first questioned regarding the
procedure by the railroads to determine
the rates he published He said that
all the officials of roads belonging to
the association discussed conditions
and that rates We're then decided.
$50, after the roads have met a1ud
talked 1t over, they decide what the
rate is to be?" asked Commissioner
Prouty.
MIR. Tucker FASTENED to answer the
question In the negative and to assert
that the action taken was individual.
Il simply express the ideas OF the
railroad men. take the lowest rate
decided upon by the different roads and
publish it," said Mr.. Tucker. IF
road doesn't wish to conform to that
rate it doesn't have to-"
But that proposition is merely the
oretical, isn't it?" asked Commissioner
Clements.
MOI uL all, Eepilel uCheI.
Il wish you would find and file with
this commission single instance where
a member Of your association has fall
ed to comply with the rate published
by you when it was decided upon at
the meeting. Do you think you can do
it?" asked Commissioner Prouty.
Il am sure l can" replied Tucker.
well. do it," said the commissioner.
1T will be novelty, think"
Attorney Firmly Convinced.
Attorney lMonnett after the witness
had been excused and the railroad men
examined was firm in his conclusions
that the evidence is strong enough to
support action against the railroads. He
asserted that the fact Of the meetings
would not be denied. but that if any
action was taken by the federal author
tiles the roads would take the stand
that they all acted individually" at
the meeting.
GRNw pEppERMINT IN MARSH