Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-06-08
President Roosevelt Decides He
is Immune From Prosecution,
After Conference
BREWERS RULING KILLS HOPE
Harriman's Appearance at Former
Government Hearing Blocks Prose-
cution's Plans Talked onee and
Can Not Be Summoned Again =
Loeb Issues a Statement.
ance at Former

Washington, June S.-After long
discussion Of the undesirable" Har-
riman on the part of President Roose-
welt and his administration advisers,
which ended at midnight, it is stated on
good authority that the federal govern
Hartman criminally or in any other
way.
as applied at this late day after the
long. agitation, to the chief railroad
wrecker and manipulation of the age.
The president has been advised that
Hartman has committed no crime
within the category OF federal anti
trust or traffic rate laws, and that
there is no substantial basis upon
which his prosecution could rest.
Brewer Ruling Jars Plans.
Justice Brewers ruling was cited, 1t
is said, when he pointed out that there
was nothing In the federal laws to
prevent one railroad from purchasing
the control Of another road. Testimony
which Hartman was forced to give in
hearings held by federal authority also
mitigates against his prosecution, 1t is
contended. on the ground that he
gained immunity by statements he has
made
1t is probable that Hartman may be
proceeded against to ascertain If the
government can compel him to answer
the questions to which he declined to
reply in certain hearings in New York
Such action, it Is understood, would
be rather to test the power Of the gov
eminent in that direction than to be
used in any further attempt to pun
ish Hartman.
BY invitation Of the president there
assembled at the White House last
night Attorney General Bonaparte
Secretary Cortelyou Of the treasury
Secretary Root of the state. depart
ment, Secretary Taft. Chairman Knapp
of the interstate commerce commits
sion, Commissioner Lane, also OF that
body and Mr.. Kellogg, special coun-
sci to Chairman Knapp, and his COM
mission associates.
There was wide divergence of osin-
ion, it is understood. as they talked, as
to what could be done and what could
not be undertaken successfully against
Hartman While no formal action was
announced covering the Hartman case
it was agreed that there was not ample
jurisdiction for the government to pro-
coed.
Administration advisers in whose
departments the pending case against
various trusts and railroads for alleged
violation of the antitrust interstate
commerce and the traffic rate laws lie
have had a long day of conference with
the president.
1t is understood that the purpose of
the president was to have agreement
reached on the general policy ito be
adopted in each and every one of these
cases, that the individual departments
might proceed along definite and har-
monious lines.
The consideration, of these questions
began in the cabinet meeting, which
was much longer than usual. Then
came Assistant Attorney General Pur-
dy. District Attorney Sims of Chicago,
Attorney General Bonaparte, and other
law officers, to consider the legal as
poets of number of propositions.
Mr.. Purdy then went to Philadelphia
and consulted with the United States
district attorney there in regard to
filing the governments case against
the Anthracite coal roads, these in
GLIDING, it is said, the Philadelphia &.
Reading, Delaware, LackaWanna q
Western, Central Railroad of New Jer-
sey, Erie, Lehigh Valley, and the New
York, Susquehanna & Western.
Alleged rebates and determinations
in rates will form the basis of the
government prosecution in these cases.
Action against the bituminous coal
roads of the west and number of re-
bate cases in which western railroads
are involved also will be presented
actively.
Action, which in the opinion Of the
administration, rate makers also viii
prove successful, will be undertaken
against the alleged harvester combine,
powder combine grain and lumber
combine, and possibly the fertilizer,
and the tobacco combines of the south.
The following statement was given
out by Secretary Loeb at the conclu-
sion Of the conference: "The confer
ence was held for the purpose of af-
fording ample discussion concerning
the matters which have been under
investigation by the interstate COM
merce commission. The interstate COM
merce commission has not yet formu-
lated it's report, and all of the discus
sion was of a purely preliminary kind.
After report has been made the at
torney general will of course carefully
consider it.