The Washington herald., 1907-05-06
ROADS JOINED ISSUES
Government Gets More EYi-
dence Against Hartman.
CLOSED OFF ALL COMPETITION
Interstate Commerce Commission
Obtains Additional Information
Showing Union PRciAc and san
Pedro Maintained Like Hates-For-
mer Senator Clark Implicated.

Great interest has been excited In the
announcement, which Is practically semi
official, that Il was the intention Of the
government TO proceed against E. H. Har
riman. of New York, and former Senator
W A. Clark, of Montana. as violators Of
the Sherman antitrust law.
The announcement in question was
based upon the fact that the Interstate
Commerce Commission has collected eyi-
dence tending TO show that the Southern
Pacific Company and the San Pedro, Los
Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad Com
pany, from June IS. 1903. until April Is.
1907. operated under an agreement where
by both roads guaranteed to maintain the
same rates. charges. classlhcations. and
tariff on traffic which might have been
made the subject Of competition between
them.
Additional Information has been OBJ
tanned which shows conclusively that the
Union Pacific. a Hartman line. as we'll
as the SoutheTa Pacific, worked hand in
hand with the San Pedro TO the prejudice
of the shipper and the public interest
Whereas the Southern Pacific and the
san Pedro maintained like rates in order
to sti1e competition. the Union Pacific
or the Oregon Short Line. the keystone
of the Hartman consolidation. worked
under a contract. the first article Of
which reads as follows:
said san Pedro Company hereby cove
nants and agrees 10 and with said Short
Line Company, that Il viii not, hereafter,
during the term of its agreement. extend
its said main line of railroad, or any of
its branch lines of railroad, nor construct
or build any lines of railroad. nor assist
or advise la the building or construction
of any other railroad than the said lines
Of railroad northward from Salt Lake
city, or which may run into the territory
northward of the parallel of Salt Lake
City, Utah"
Clark Enters Field.
BY the making Of this contract. out OF
which grow the traffic agreement be-
tween the Southern Pacific and the San
Pedro, Hartman hoped 10 stop for all
time competition for business from the
latter system. Clark and Hartman first
fell out over rates exacted by the Harri-
man lines on ore shipped from the Clark
mines. Becoming incensed over the hold
up" rates that he was forced 10 pay.
Clark made up his mind 10 build a road
of his own He started IN, and was max
ing progress when he came 20 a pass In
the mountains. Ever alert and onto the
job, Hartman had secured control OF the
pass. II was then up to Clark 10 either
enter into iHterminable litigation with
Hartman. make terms with him, or &c
go TO tremendous expense in the tunnelng
the mountains, He made terms IN the
form of contracts and agreements
mutually satisfactory 10 both.
Neither Mr Hartman nor Mr.. Clark
/ has been put upon the stand as witnesses
so far as the relations OF the Southern
Pacific. the Union Pacific. or the oregon
Short Line with the san Pedro are con
/ cerned. Senator Clark himself has no;
( appeared in the Hartman case at all up
I TO date. In the hearings Of the Pacific
[ case. relating TO the traffic phase of the
Hartman inquiry, the san Pedro was
I represented by ]. Ross Clark. brother OF
/ w A. Clark. J. Ross Clark did not ap-
/ pear % know much about the San Pedro
/ agreements with the Southern Pacific or
the oregon Short Line His recollection
/ as TO several features of the transaction
/ was vague and hazy
Government officials Reticent.
/ Government officials are reluctant to
discuss the plans of the government as
/ % the individual prosecution Of HarTi-
man and Clark that is said to be under
/ consideration. The record in the Harri-
( man case is still in the possession Of The
Interstate Commerce Commission. II
probably viii not be forwarded 20 the
/ Department Of Justice until decision has
/ been rendered by the United States Court,
( sitting in New York. on the motion 10 be
/ filed in behalf Of the commission praying
/ for the issuance of an order requiring
I 1Ir Hartman to answer certain questions
as to the stock transfer that he declined
/ TO answer when he appeared as a witness
/ before the Federal body some months
ago. This proceeding viii be instituted
| In the very near future.