The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-25
EXPOSURE LISTED
FOR THE NEW YEAR
Railroads, Coal, Oil and Lumber
Business to Stand in
# Limelight.
Interstate Commerce Commission
Prepares for Hartman
Inquiry y
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal. >.,
Washington, Dec. 25--All indications
point that the year 1907 is to be one
OF big exposures of trusts and abuses
OF public condolences by quasi-public
corporations.
AS the schedule is now arranged the
interstate commerce commission will
start off at a whirlwind pace immedi-
ately after the holidays, the limelight
first being thrown on the Hartman
methods in connection with the opera
ton and agreements between the rail
roads in which he is interested. fol-
lowed in rapid succession by inquiries
into the methods of other allied rail
roads, the relations of coal companies
in middle western states to railroads
and the operation of the socalled lum-
Der trust in the northwest and south
west.
That interesting disclosures will be
made in the report of the Interstate
commerce commission bearing on the
relations of certain railroads with the
coal and oil industries seems certain.
This report will detail the results at
tanned up to date in the inquiry made
by the commission in accordance with
the Tillman- Gillespie resolution, which
passed congress last winter.
More Sensations Due.
in the eastern field, in certain parts of
the far west, in Tennessee and in Ken
lucky. Several important fields,
notably those of Indiana, Illinois, Ohio
and Wisconsin, have not been touched
Operation will be begun in these fields
some time in February, at dates that
will be fixed later.
During the progress Of the investi-
cation In the east it was brought out
that the Pennsylvania and other rail-
roads, or at least many Of their promi-
nent officials, held stock or controlled
coal companies that were doing business
along the lines Of the roads in opposi-
ton to the so-called Independent con-
Germs.
The hearings held in the northwest
brought out In a striking manner that
the Union Pacific, link in the Harri-
man system, had come into possession
Of valuable coal tracts in Wyoming
thru fraud practiced by railroad Off
Gals and Others The end of this case
is not yet. Steps are now being taken
by the secretary of the interior to bring
this land back into the possession Of
the government. Revelations equally as
interesting are expected when the COM
mission begins doing business in the
middle west.
Hearing for Hartman.
At a conference of the commission
held yesterday operations that will be
started in the new year were considered
at length: The itinerary Of the commits
sion for January was decided on, but
the conclusions will be withheld for the
present. /,
The first important case to be tried
will be that involving the Hartman
lines. The first public hearing in this
case will be held in New York on Jan.
4. E. H. Hartman and other promi-
nent men associated with him in the
management and conduct of the Har
riman concerns are expected to appear
on the stand.
Beginning in the middle Of January,
hearings will be started by the COM
mission on the Pacific coast. These will
be in relation to the question of car
shortage, alleged discrimination against
concerned companies and against indi-
viGual firms and corporations.