Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-04
INVESTIGATION OF
HARTMAN LINES.
Commerce Commission Begins
Its Probe in New York.
CHIEF WITNESS is ABSENT
Counsel Asks That He Be Examined
at His Residence.
PRESIDENT OF FOUR COMPANIES
Alexander Millar, Secretary of the
Union Pacific, Called as the
First Witness.
CHIEF WITNESS is ABSENT
Counsel Asks That He Be Examined
at His Residence.
PRESIDENT OF FOUR COMPANIES

The interstate commerce CONF
mission began today an inquiry in
New York into the affairs of the
Southern Pacific and Union Pacific
railway systems, the underlying pur-
pose of the investigation being to
discover whether or not the two
railway lines are natural competi-
tors or whether there is an agree
ment between them that may be
construed as in restraint of trade
under the Sherman antitrust act.
The inquiry, it is said, will last
many weeks, and the commission
will sit in a number of cases, going
west from here
Special Dispatch to The Star,
NEW YORK, January 4.-The interstate
commerce commission began its investiga-
ton into the Hartman railroads at 1890
o'clock this morning in room G6 of the
Federal building. The official title of the
inquiry is In the Matter of Consultations
and Combinations of Carriers Relations
Between Said Carriers and Community Of
Interests Therein, Rates, Facilities and
Prices.
Chairman Martin A. Knapp and Commits
sioners Franklin X. Lane and James 5.
Harlan represented the interstate COM
merce commission. c. A. Severance and
Frank B. Kellogg of St. Paul acted as the
commissioners attorneys.
OF the Union Pacifcs officers, three were
present when the inquiry started-William
B. Cornish, vice president; w V. S. Thorne,
director of purchases; Alexander Millar
secretary, and Robert S. Lovett, general
counsel.
The inquiry was called to order by Chair
man Knapp John G. Milburn announced
that he appeared for the Southern and
and Union Pacific. He said that Mr.. Har-
riman could not be present today.
Two weeks ago" he said, Mr. Harris
man was obliged to go through a slight
surgical operation. He had expected TO
be fully recovered by this time. But such
to leave his own house. He does not want
to shirk the necessity of testifying, but 1t
would be most imprudent for him to come
here l would suggest that Mr.. Harriman's
testimony should be taken at his own home.
1t could be given just as much publicity
as if it had been taken here.
MI. Harriman's Regrets.
Mr.. Hartman much regrets that he cam
not come here today in person. He must
necessarily be an important witness. He is
intimately connected with the roads which
are to be investigated. If you cannot ac-
cede to my suggestion l would ask for a.
postponement of Mr.. Harriman's examina-
ton He will be at the commissions COM
mands, when he is fully recovered, either
here or at Washington"
THE commission replied Chairman
Knapp, considers it manifestly improper
to conduct this examination at anyone's
private residence. But if Mr.. Hartman is
physically unfit to appear, of course that is
sufficient grounds for postponing the taking
of his testimony.
When will Mr.. Hartman be able to ap-
pear?'
Il can't tell exactly; probably within a
week ten days" He would not be able
out that hope-no." well, we must then
excuse Mr.. Hartman from testifying at the
present time" ruled Mr.. Knapp. I'VE shall
take Mr.. Harrimans testimony after the
Chicago hearing"
Alexander Millar, secretary of the Union
Pacific, called the first witness. Mr..
Kellogg conducted the examination.
Q.-You the secretary of the Union
Pacific, the Southern Pacific and the Ore
gon Short Line, are you not? A.-No. am
only the assistant secretary of the Oregon
Short Line.
Q.-Is the Oregon Railway and Navigation
Company owned by the Oregon Short Line?
A.-No; it is a different corporation.
Q.--Does the Union Pacific own any
steamship line? A.-No, sir.
Q.-Does it own any stock In any steam
ship line? A.-No, sir; not to my knowl-
edge. Is
Q-Does it own any stock in the Occiden-
tai and Oriental Steamship Company?
Southern Pacific Interested.
Ayes, sir; it does
Q.-How much?
Al don't know, offhand.
Q-Is the Occidental and Oriental owned
by joint ownership or how?
Alt is owned by individual stockholders
as well as corpora tons
O.-What corporations own stock in the
Oriental and Occidental Steamship Com
pany?
Al think the Southern Pacific.
Q.-You are also secretary of the South
ern Pacsfc?.
Ayes.
Q-And of its subsidiary corporations?
Avery few, sir
Q.-You are secretary of the Southern Pa
cific Company of Kentucky?
Ayes.
O.-Your articles of Incorporation provide
for Kentucky branch, don't they?
Ayes; at Beachmont near Louisville.
Q--Are you secretary of the Morgans
Texas and Louisiana Railroad and Steam
ship Company?
A-No; the assistant secretary.
Q.-The Southern Pacific controls q line