The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-06-15
HARRIMAN's TESTIMONY WILL
PREVENT INDICTMENT.
Important Conference on Several
Matters at White House-Fear
of Possible Panic May Prevent
Some Prosecutions---Big Stick
for Coal Roads.

immune from criminal prosecution as
the result of the testimony before the
int estate commerce commission In
New York recently; that the question
of prosecution of the bituminous coal
carr wing railroads should be left in
the hands of the attorney general, and
that prosecution of the anthracite coal
roads shall begin in Philadelphia,
probably next week, we're the conclus-
ions reached at a notable conference
held at the White House last night.
No decision was reached to prose-
cute Hartman for violation of the
Sherman antitrust law, in merging
the Southern Pacific and Union Pacific
railroads.
While Roosevelt would like to pros
ecute Hartman, he fears that it would
have depressing effect on business
and might produce panic.
There was rather acrimonious
discussion on the subject, the confer
ence ending at midnight.
Secretary Loeb's Statement
Shortly after midnight Secretary
Loeb made public this statement:
"The conference was held for the
purpose of affording ample discussion
concerning the matters which have
been under investigation by the inter-
state commerce commission.
The Interstate commerce commits
sion has not yet formulated it's report,
and all the discussion was of a purely
preliminary kind. After a report has
been made the attorney general will,
of course, carefully consider it.
The statement is without meaning
and was purposely made so.
Those present at the conference
we're the president, Secretaries Root,
Cortelyou, Taft, Garfield, Attorney
General Bonaparte, Chairman Knapp
of the Interstate commerce commits
sionCommissioner Lane and F. B. Kel-
logg, the attorney who has charge of
the case against Hartman.
Coal Cases Discussed
This conference followed one held
during the day at the White House.
when Milton D. Purdy, who had
charge of tie coal cases before Bona
parte took charge of the department
of justice, discussed the practical
phases of the case with the president.
Federal Attorney R. s. Sims, of
Chicago, also talked with the presi-
dent during the day, and it is said
with special reference to violations
of the law by the harvester trust and
the express companies.
Incidentally Sims reported also on
the John R. Walsh case in Chicago
and the progress of the proceedings
against the Standard Oil Company.
All of the precedent facts, however,
pointed to discussion in the chief
case against the Hartman roads and
the coal roads. The last named case
has been hanging fire for four or Eve
years and the interstate CONNER ce
commission is better prepared on this
case than on any other that was dis
cussed last night.
President Il Committed
The conference last night, although
no definite statement was made, was
really clearinghouse of the big cases
in which the president has committed
himself to action. The president took
over the Hartman case to himself
when he left here on his trip to Pine
Knot, he having with him the special
reports of Messrs. kellogg and Severance
who have been pursuing the inquiry
| by themselves and with the assistance
of the commission, and notably that
of Commissioner Lane, of San Fran
cisco.
The length of the conference, aud
issues and the people represented the
Dictated plainly that action was takin-
on the more important matters anet
that the president will have them oud
of the way before he begins his "rest''
at Oyster Bay.