Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-11-20
FORMER WISCONSIN SENATOR.
ARGUES AGAINST INTERSTATE
COMMERCE COMMISSION.
DECLARES TRAFFIC TRIBUNAL
HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH
STOCK DEALS.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING 70 DO
ABOUT IT." ASKS MAGNATE,s
LAWYER.

NNNH ~SAhs AF0he <AAlGA oGNGA
hours and half of argument on
both sides Of the question, Judge
nough OF the United States circuit
court announced last night that he
oouid not be ready to render a de-
ctsion. on the petition of the inter-
state commerce commission to COM
pea u. III. Hartman to answer certain
questions propounded to MIN last
spring in the course OF the commits
sions investigation into the So
called Hartman lines. until December
/. Opposing counsel were gwen the
privilege of fling additional briefs
during the next two weeks. The
arguments, which were not concluded
until 80, took wide range and
the privileges and powers OF the in.
terstate commerce commission were
thoroughly gone into.
Spooner Argues for Hartman.
Former Senator John c. Spooner
OF Wisconsin appeared for the first
time in the case and argued in de-
/ Tense of the position maintained by
Harrlmah--that he is not required to
tell the commission what individual
profit he made in selling the stocks
of other railroads held by him to
the Union Pacific or to detail the
manner in which the famous 10 per
cent. Union Pacific dividend was de-
ciared IN August of 1906, and its an
nouncement deferred two days.
Hartman has also declined to say
how much stock OF the Union Pacific.
II any, he bought just prior to the
announcement of the dividend.
John G. Milburn was also heard in
the defense of hartman and in op-
position to the petition filed by the
commission. On behalf of the gov
eminent, represented by the inter.
state commerce commission, the ar
guments were conducted oy United
States District Attorney Henry l.
Stimson and Frank b. Kellogg. spe-
cial counsel to the commission.
Approved by Stockholders.
Counsel for Hartman lated To
Judge Hough that the Stock pur-
chases of the Union Pac4ne, which
amounted To $1S2,000,00O in the az.
gfegaCe, we're made on the recommen-
dalton of the executive committee,
approved by the board OF directors
aud ratified by the stockholders All
that Hartman had done, MllDurn de-
clared, had met with the fullest app
proyal OF the stockholders OF the I'm
ion Pacific. He further stated that
aiowing for losses sustained in the
recent heavy slump OF prices, the
Union Pacific had prohted no less
than s32,000,000 by It's stock pur-
chases. Milburn said this fact
should silence the claim OF the COM
mission that tue stock purchases
tended to impair the effectiveness or
the railroads engaged in interstate
business.
Wattery Roads Without Great.
Kellogg, replying TO this, stated
that the so-ealied market value of
the stocks sold the Union PacInc was
nothing more or less tnan Wall
street operation, probably hxed by
the very pool OF men who ii is
GAINED were behind the stock deals.
AS to the impairment OF the useful
ness of the railroads, Kellogg asserted
that roads OF inflated vaaues we're
today unable to borrow money to
buIsd cars needed by them To carry
out their OIL cations to the public.
THE same thing is true Of roads
without inflated values" retorted
MIlburn.
None Of Commissions Business.
Mr.. Spooner declared that the
stock deals between Hartman aud
the Union Pacific were matters OF
concern only between the individual
ana the stockholders and had nothing
to do with the interstate commission.
Kellogg declared that the commits
sion had right TO inquire into the
uses to which the moneys Oh d rail-
road were put. 1t was necessary 10
inquire, ne nalatained la ro.4iJaon to
the fixing and adjustment OF rates
to be charged by common carriers.
! Judge Hough interrupted the attor-
neys on both sides with many point
ed questions, He said. among other
things, that he did not exactly see
what the deferred announcement OF
the Union Pacific dividend mad to do
with interstate traffic. He also
asked if, after al, the commission
was only seeking by the unanswered
questions to prove from whom Har-
r.man, the individual purchased the
stocks subsequently sold to the COM
pauy OF which he Is president. and
what profit he individually made by
the transaction.
Kellogg said the commission was
making an inquiry which involved
the question whether or not the
great western territory of the Unit
ed States shall be dependent upon
one man for it's deyelopment--wheth-
or or not there shall be railroad com
petition between the Missouri river
and the south Pacific coast
Kellogg, concluding his argument,
said the commission questioned the
proprlety OF Harriman's sitting upon
. committee to fix the price Of stock
he held and was about to sell to the
Union Pacific.
4