The Washington times., 1907-08-04

lauon, by omission or OF commission. II
further provides that any person, or
any officer or director OF any corpora
tor Cf a cCmmon carrier. or any re-
ceiver, lessee, agent, trustee, or person
acting for or employed by q, convicted
OF Offering, granting, giving, soliciting,
accepting or resolving any rebate or
concession, may be imprisoned ln the
penitentIary for not to exceed two years.
in addition to the heavy fine, In the dis
cretion OF the court.
Hartman Controlled Alton.
The recent report of the Interstate
Commerce Commission OF it's investiga>
tiCn into the operation Of the Hartman
railroads, showed that during the period
covered By the Standard Oil case, Hdr-
riman was in absolute control OF the
Chicago and Alton.
1t is pointed out here, as Judge Lands
explained yesterday, that the Chicago
and Alton filed a false rate sheet with
the Interstate Commerce Commission
on oil Shipments from Whiting, Ind. TO
Chicago and other points. There can be-
no question under the law as 10 the
legality OF traffic arrangements, for Ii
is specifically stated that the rate as
filed with the commission shall be con-
clusiyely deemed TO be the legal rate in
any prosecution begun under the Elkins
act. and that any departure from such
rate, or any offer 10 depart therefrom,
shall be deemed an offen5e under the
act.
BY tesdfyings under oath. in obedience
to a subpoena Hartman secured i'm
munity from criminal prosecution under
the Sherman antitrust law. but he has
never been questioned as to the grant
ing OF rebates by the Chicago and Al
ton.
Bonaparte to Return Soon
II was learaed last night that Attorney
Geenral BOnapaTte, now al his summer
home at Lenox, Mass, who has under
personal consideration the Hartman
report Of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, has announced that he will be
at the Department Of Justice August
r. II is understood that he may send
Special Assistant Attorney General
Roadstrum, the trust buster, TO Chicago
to advise with District Attorney Sims
relative 20 the Chicago and Alton in
quiry.
IL is stated here that II the counsel
OF the Standard OIL Company is sincere
in its declarations that the monster fine
just imposed is unjust and unmerited,
and confiscaiory, a ready ruling can be
reached in the Supreme Court OF the
United States. The case can be carried
there at once on the constitutional
ground that the fine is ''cruel and un-
reasonable" It is believed. however.
that the Standard Oil officials will pre-
fer 10 carry the case on appeal TO the
circuit court of appeals. BY this
method the case could be kept from the
highest tribunal for several years.
In the absence of a special report
from District Attorney Sims, it is the
impression that Judge Lands has safe
guarded his position at every point.
Much to the Federal Governments cha
grin, he granted John d. Rockefeller
and his alleged fellow-conspirators i'm
munity from personal prosecution in
his desire to AFFORD them every oppor-
tunity 10 explain why a heavy fine
should not be imposed
Must Then Show It's Books.
Should the Standard Oil carry their
troubles to the Supreme Court of the
United States, It will thus be deprived
OF charging persecution, and Will be