The Washington herald., 1907-01-10

jefferson City. Mo. Jan. 9-The biggest
custer suit ever filed in Missouri is that
brought by Attorney General Hadley to-
day in which he seeks to oust the Mis-
souri, Pacific, the St Louis and Iron
Mountain, and the Wabash railways ~the
Pacific Express Company, the Missouri
and Kansas Elevator Company, the West
ern Coal and Mining Company. the Rich
Hill Coal anc Mining Company. and the
American Refrigerator and Transit Com
pany from doing business in Missouri.
1t is alleged in the petitions that the
stock of all the companies named is
owned by Gould interests in violation of
the constitution end laws Of the State
Believe Ramsey gave Tips.
1t is reported i'm railroad circles that
Joseph Ramsey, jr.. former president of
the Wabash, had supplied a good many
Of the hints upon which Attorney Gen
erai Hadley has picked up evidence in
support of his suit 70 oust the Missouri
Pacific, Wabash and Iron Mountain roads
and their subsidiaries from the State.
1T will be remembered that the Goulds
unceremoniously threw Ramsey out Of
the Wabash at the annual meeting early
last year after "a night for proxies. Ram
sey refused 10 enter into certain deals
for the Goulds and then tried to wrest
control from them. The matter was
taken into the courts. but the Goulds
won, and Ramsey was succeeded by f. a
Delano.
Ramsey has been bitter against the
Goulds since. He @as in a position 10
know about the affairs Of the roads that
Hadley alleges are contrary to the Mis-
souTi laws
Five Concerns Under One Head.
Two suits were filed. In one the Mis-
souri, Pacific. the 81. Louis. Iron Noun
tain and Southern. and the Wabash are
alleged to be practically under one con-
troll, and are managed by boards com
posed OF practically the same set of Of
licers. These three companies in turn
own the Pacific Express Company and
the American Refrigerator Transit Com
pany. IL is alleged. and those VINO con-
troll the Missouri Pacific thus control two
other railway companies and two COM
mon carrier shipping companies
In each case the method of combining
Is alleged 10 be the same The Missouri
Pacific acquired the stock OF the Iron
Mountain and made its officers those Of
that road. These TWO roa4 then bought
the stock Of the Wabash and dictated
its officers. The three then tool, over
the stock Of the Pacific Express Company
and the American Refrigerator and
Transit Company, and dictated the poll
cicS Of these organizations an OF which
destroys competition. alleges the attsr-
ney general and is contrary 90 law. The
custer Of the two lstter companies is
asked TO be absolute upon the first order
Of the court
Four Antitrust Bills Onered.
In the second suit the Missouri Pacific
is alleged to have Illegally obtained con-
troll Of the coal and elevator companies.
In this case the attorney general prays
that the companies bc ouSted Of all rights
and privileges. including the right TO 90
business iH Missouri
The four bills revising the antitrust
laws OF the State prepared by Attorney
General Herbert :. Hadley and Senator
Gilmore. were introduced in the senate by
Senator Gilmore to-day.
The first makes jail penalty for vio-
lating the antitrust law
The second requires the affidavits Of
stock ownership showing that the concern
Is independent Of any trust. and makes il
perjury % make a false affidavit.
The third provides that no trust or Off
Ger can refuse to produce books or answer
questions
The fourth gives the attorney general
and prosecuting attorneys a sort Of in
quisitoTiai power similar 10 that allowed
in Kansas. II allows them to call wit
neSses and make them testify before
bringing suits for violation of the anti
trust laws.