The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-03-22
Sherman Law, Interstate
Commerce Act, and
Criminal Count.
Sherman Law Relied On
Chiefly to Punish
Alton Deal.
Criminal Proceedings in
San Pedro-O Oregon
Short Line Deal.

The Government IS getting ready 10
hunt Mr. Hartman with a double-bar-
relied gun If It doesn't bring him down
with the barrel that is loaded for Alton
stock jobbery, it hopes to wing him
with the one loaded for sherman law
Violators-
It can be accepted as certain that
there will be a prosecution in connec-
ton with the Union Pacific combina-
ton, and that this prosecution viii take
the same general course as that of the
Northern Securities Company. The
Interstate Commerce Commissions re-
port viii be the basis of action by the
Department of Justice
It is believed that no Federal action
can be made effective I'm the Alton deal.
but the State Of Illinois is in position
10 make trouble both for Mr. Hartman
personally and for the Alton company,
il is believed. This is what the Prasi-
dent wants done, and it was to get 1t
that he summoned Governor peneen
here.
II has been said on high authority
that while Hartman conducted the big
deal for reorganization and watering Of
the Alton he was only the agent Of
others. and that Hartman was given
a fee. alleged TO have been Sl00 300, for
handling the deal II this proves true.
then The direct responsibility of Mr..
Hartman for the methods employed in
that transaction viii be shown
Governments Plan.
The Governments course in regard
To the Union Pacific combination is
pretty thoroughly determined. On April
attorneys for the Hartman system
win be here 10 present arguments to
the Interstate Commerce Commission
as to the general legality of things done
in combining the roads making up that
system. After that the commission viii
write its report, and the Department OF
Justice VIII take uD the evidence TO
decide what it can do.
Frank b Kellogg and Charles A. Sew
erance will become special attorneys for
the Department of Justice. and take
charge Of their report on the Hartman
system.
There is serious doubt whether a pros
ccution for violation of the act TO
regulate interstate commerce viii lie.
More likely, the prosecution viii be for
violation OF the Sherman act 1t is
pointed out that the procedure viii be
almost parallel that In the Northern
Securities case, when the Government
won. This is case of combining par
allel and competing roads. OF using a
holding cOmpany-thOugh IL Is true in
somewhat different form-and of abso-
lutely suppressing competition. Indeed
in the matter of suppressing cOmpeti-
ton the c0se is considered stronger than
was that against the Northern Securi-
ties.
This action viii determine whether the
Sherman act is finally to be held ap-
pliCable 10 railroads There has been
no satisfactory adjudication on this
point.
Criminal Prosecution.
There is plenty Of ground for criminal
prosecution by the Federal Government
in connection with The san Pedro-O oregon
Short Line contract. and this really
makes q third matter for the Govern
ment TO settle with Hartman.
Nearly all callers who visit the White
House nowadays come away with very
bloodlhirsty expressions about Harri-
man. They want him locked up or
otherwise subaitUed 10 cOntumeIy They
seem confident that something extreme
IS going 10 be done to him, and the rea-
son for their faith is that the Illinois
and Federal authorities are now look
ing into all these three grounds for pros
ecauon, and that in the opinion of good
lawyers Mr. Hartman viii be a lucky
man II he gets away from all Of them
with whole skin.