The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1907-06-14
THE PRESIDENTS STRUGGLE
WITH MAGNATE HARTMAN

I IN willing 90 embaffass the magnate per
sonally just rs much NJ he can, nj.
though checked in this crusade by
fears lest he proceed 10 vigorously
against the big Hartman properties
and stimulate business unrest.
There is good reason for believing
, that one Of the Commissioners let out
the pamphlet and that he was in.
spired to do il because of his silent
dissent from the Presidents policy in
such matters. This Commissioner is
credited with the opinion that the
body of which he is n member should
reach its conclusions and promulgate
them in dignifed manner, just as
court would do. For the Interstate
Commerce Commission now regards it
self as a court and hands down its
decisions in much the same fashion
that court does.
The report against Hartman, as
drawn by Attorneys Severance and
Kellogg is drastic document. 1t
puts the great magnate forward in
anything but a desirable light, shows
that he and those leagued with him
control the railroads in about one
third of the area of the United States,
chiefly in the West, where, according
to the attorneys, it is impossible to
build or operate an Independent line
of road. Language could hardly be
more condemnatory, Notwithstanding
reports in some newspapers that Inter
state Commerce Commissioner Lane,
the President IS right hand man, is now
going over it carefully for the pur-
pose of Quitting some teeth" into it.
1t shows that Hartman and his lieut.
enants control the Union and South
ern Pacific, the Chicago and Alton, the
Illinois Central, the Rock Island, the
Santa Fe, the San Pedro and Los An
geles, and certain lines along the
north coast of California.
Their methods in acquiring this con-
troll are scored. Ex-senator Clark, the
copper king, who started to build the
great line from Salt Lake City to Los
Angeles was held up as though he had
been in the hands of highwaymen. Har-
riman is crediting with threats to
parallel every mile of his road. Finally
traffic agreement with the Clark line
was secured, but the Union Pacific first
purchased half of the stock in the
Clark line and now, according to the
report, owns all the stock.
HARTMAN AND SANTA FE.
Hartman started in with forceful
methods to secure control of the Santa
Fe, which also runs through far south
western territory. He and those oper-
ating with him secured by purchase a
sufficient share of the Santa Fe stock
Pacific directors on the Santa Fe board.
Then the Southern Pacific and the San
TIA Fe began to develop the Northwest
ern Pacific new line to be built in
part and to consist in part of lines
already built. The two interests were
to alternate in the control of this prop
erty. The handed manipulation of
the Alton property, by which the
capitalization was increased $4,000 per
Ia lu,it 1nllnr Of .npsi1arn.
tion,' is detailed. The Union Pacific
and the Rock Island operated together
in putting through that grand robbery
scheme.
The frenzied manipulation by which
Hartman secured absolute control of
the Illinois Central is likewise told
in this report.
THE RECOMMENDATIO
An important feature of this highly
interesting document is its recommen-
dations for litigation and also for leg
islation. These are claimed by some
critics to entrench upon the Presidents
prerogatives and upon the prerogatives
of the Department of Justice. AS for
litigation the report recommends that
a suit be instituted to compel the Union
Pacific to dispose of the majority of the
Southern Pacific stock, that a contract
by which the Union Pacific and the
Rock Island are guaranteed control in
alternate years of the Chicago and AL
ton be dissolved, this control suppress
ing competition with the Illinois Cen
trial, and that several other suits of
like character be begun. 1t is claimed
that the part of the Interstate Com
merce Commission was only to compile
the evidence and turn 1t over to the
Department OF Justice where the At
torney General would decide what
should be done. On the other hand
there Is warrant for the Interstate
Commerce Commission making such
recommendations, although 1t Is not
customary for such recommendations
TO be made public before the Attorney
General has received them. II is worth
while remembering that Attorney GEN
eral Kellogg was recently In consulta-
ton much with President Roosevelt at
the White House and that the Pres-
den knew something or what he ana
Mr., Severance were going 10 write,