The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-03-12
EARRIMAN'S OFFENSE.

Mr.. Edward II. Hartman seems to
be on trial at Washington Not only
are his railway combinations under
the scrutiny of the Interstate Com
merce commission; but beyond the tri-
bunals which usually consider in spe-
cific way personal and corporate in
fringements upon the law, Mr.. uarri
man is on special trial
IT appears that this misguided gen
tleman, in his testimony, frankly ac-
knowledged to the Interstate Com
merce commission and the country that
If the law did not restrain him-he
would continue, as long as he lived,
his project of consolidation of railway
interests. He went further In his
zeal to reveal his purpose, he admitted
with some degree. of pride that in this
consolidation he would have the pub
lie as partners, if the law would per
nit him to effect his desired objects
and at the same time retain diversified
stockholding in his companies.
The confession of this Napoleonic
the administration, and Mr.. Hartman
is now undergoing a preliminary trial
"a kind of grand jury Investigation
at the White House, in order that de-
termination shall be reached whether
he Is to he criminally prosecuted for
offcDses seen and unseen.
Some of Mr.. Hartman s transac-
tious have been peculiar to say the
least; the issue of the Chicago g. Al.
ton bonds has not been explained: a
judicial inquiry into his methods with
prospect Of prosecution if he shall
have been found to be criminal in his
tinances-all these are quite within the
righteous expectations of the people.
and altogether desirable from the view.
point of equal Justice for all But
these things have long existed. Ii they
be without sin, the Nation has prop
! erly approved them by its scquiescence.
| II they be criminal, the judicial autho-
ority has strangely neglected them II
does not appear that these particular
practices constitute the moving cause of
governmental activity against Mr.. Har-
riman; but that this man has aroused
the wrath of government by acknowl-
cdging an ambition in country where
ambition to be all in all has already
been absorbed by one individuality.
Mr.. Hartman should have added some
saving clause. Mr.. Hartman should
have stated that he would like TO do
thnEp tbipnS ~ ho conI1 r.
proval Of President Roosevelt. Mr
Hartman should have acknowledged
that, while consolidation Of railroads
with the public as partners in the own
ership, was a most desirable thing
from the viewpoint of greatest service,
lowest rates, and highest profits, none
of these virtues would be found to ex.
ist except under the consent of the Ex.
ecutive. Wanting this, Mr. Hartman
| should have been quick to say that he
would abandon his vast project even
If the law permitted him to continue;
and that with this, he would proceed
as a kind of manual executor-merely
doing as subordinate what his great
chief permitted him and authorized him
to do. In such way the builder, the
organizer, the consolidator of RAILWAYS,
might at least have escaped this prclim-
mary trial, which goes on behind closed
doors and in which the stupendous
charge of les majestic is being consid.
cred against him-with the certainty
that, If there shall be found reasonable
cause TO suppose him guilty of this of
fense, he is to be placed on public trial