The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-08-20
MOODY MADE
THE PROMISE
On Him is Placed the Blame
for Immunity Enjoyed
by Alton Road.

~ 4A4SS1l 1Noous
A staff special to the New Orleans
T1mes-Democrat from Washington
says:
Attorney General Bonaparte has ad-
united that immunity was promised
to the Chicago and Alton if it would
help the government make case
against the Standard. He was in
formed OF the agreement after Judge
Lands imposed that $29,240,O0O fine
on the Standard in letter written
him by Special Counsel Morrison,
who, as district attorney, initiated the
proceedings against the Standard. 1t
was approved by Attorney General
Moody, Mr.. honaparte believes, al
though he is not positively informed
OF that point. He assumes that his
information is correct. Judge Lands
was informed of the state of affairs
by Mr. Bonaparte as soon as the at
torney-general could communicate
with him, and copy of Mr.. Morri-
sons letter was incloSed to him
So far as Mr.. Bonaparte can now
see the only question for him to de-
eide is as to whether the railroad COM
pany carried out its part of the agree
ment in good faith and gave the gov
ernment such assistance as it had a
right to expect District Attorney
Sims and Special Attorneys Morrison
and Wilkinson and probably the at
torney for the Chicago and Alton will
be here Monday to talk the matter
over with Mr.. Bonaparte, who will
then write to Judge Lands giving
his views of the matter. Immunity
hac hnaV1 rtnd NV tat, M To
railroad men who gave testimony. The
Morrison promise can not affect thsir
rights one way or another. The Oily
question is as to the railroad corpora
ton, and there is not much question
about that either. because courts rule
very generously on questions of that
kind, holding prosecuting officers to
close account in agreements of that
kind
Will Make No Promises.
Mr. Bonaparte said he would not
make promises of immunity while he
is attorney general, but agreements
made by his predecessor are binding
upon him. Immunity to the Chicago
and Alton, however, does not mean
necessarily immunity to Mr.. Harri-
man, chairman Of the board, unless
by the terms of the agreement all
officers and servants Of the corpora
ton are included.
That the financial world is extreme
ly nervous about the attorney-general's
talk about Imprisonment for some real
ly responsible trust magnates is evil
dent from the fact that Senator Elk
ms of West Virginia called on him
yesterday, probably as a friend of
some trust magnates, to ascertain
what Mr.. Bonaparte really believes
about the matter. Inasmuch as Mr..
Bonaparte spoke in a rather racetious
about having a covey of trust
under his guns, some of the
financial giants have imagined that he
was merely testing. The fact is he
was never more serious. He reiter-
ated his position on this subject yes
terday, and did it in all soberness.
There is no question that he is about
10 try the Imprisonment plan ON some
body, but whether it is Hartman,
Rockefeller, Rogers, ATchihold or
some other man it is impossible to |
say.
When Mr.. Bonaparte's attention was
,ailed to the fact that some financiers
n New York at a meeting had come |
20 the conclusion that it would be
better for the business of the country
o have some responsible man impris- |
,ned than TO nave the agitation con
lnued' MT Bonaparte. with twinkle
n his eye, inquired: HAS Mr. Rookie
eller or Mr.. Hartman agreed to inn
1risonment on bread and water in one
II the rooms of this building?"
Is Pennsylvania Immune?
A promise Of immunity if it would |
urn states evidence, it is believed, ac-
counts FOR Tie absence of the Pennsyl- |
1anla Railroad from the petition |
Nhlch Attorney General Bonaparte |
lied some time ago for the dissoIr- |
ion of the hard coal trust. For some |
ime there have been rumors that the
Chicago and Alton had been promised |
immunity for turning against the |
standard there has not been the least |
bit or information as to what has been |
going on in the Department of Ius-
ice on which to Justify the puhIica-
ion of these TumOrs. At the time of |
he petition was filed against the coal |
rust everybody was amazed to dis |
cover that the Pennsylvania was not |
Included Investigations by the In !
erStatn Commerce Commission adj. !
eated that the Pennsylvania was the !
chief offender in the formation of the |
as well as the leader in |
ening the soft coal business in Ohio, |
and West Virginia.
1t now appears that the general gov !
has at least been dickerins /
With view to getting corporations I
10 turn on each other. If immunity /
was promised to the Chicago and AL /.
on and the Pennsylvania it looks as
f the good will of the government /,
officials is directed toward the most +
powerful of the offenders instead of
,oward some of the smaller ones who /
night appreciate an offer to get in +
out of the wet. IF there is such a
1romise to the Pennsylvania It is he /
ieved to be the result of many talks (
between the President and the late
4. J. Cassatt. /
Went Against the Grain.
The young woman in the grand /