New-York tribune., 1907-06-08
{. II. HARTMAN IMMUNE
NO CRIMINAL ACTION.
Decision Reached at White House
Conference on Trust Question.

Washington. June THAT f. H Hartman IS
immune from criminal prosecution as the result
Of his testimony before the Interstate Commerce
Commission in New York recently: that the ques-
non Of prosecution Of bituminous coal carrying
railroads should be left in the hands OF the At
.orncv General. and that prosecution of the an
thracite coal roads Will begin in Philadelphia,
probably next week. were conclusions reached
al a notable conference held at the White House
tonight The Hartman case and the cases Of
the coal carving roads were discussed for three
hours by President Roosevelt, five members OF
the Cabinet two members of the Interstate Com
rnerce Commission and special counsel for the
government.
Following the general conference. Attorney
General Bonaparte remained with the President
% discuss the so-called Harvester Trust. 1t is
thought not unlikely that the question of prose
cptjon of that organization was left in the Attor-
pey Generals hands,
Much Of the time was given to the Alton deal.
Fverv phase Of that transaction was thorough
" gone over and the President Mr.. Kellogg.
Attorney General Bonaparte and Commission
ers Knapp and Lane took part in the discussion.
Those who took part In the conference We're
President Roosevelt. Secretary Root. Secretary
Taft Secretary Corteyou. Secretary Garfield
Attorney General Bonaparte Interstate Com
raeerce Commissioners Knapp and Lane. and
Frank B. Kellogg, of Minnesota. special coun-
sci for the government. The conference began
soon after O'Clock. Secretary Loeb was pres
ent-
Features Of the Hartman railroad merger
case the charges relating TO the coal carrying
railroads, the so-called Harvester Trust etc,
we're ali on the programme for consideration.
The purpose was TO formulate definite plans on
the whole subject preliminary to the Presidents
departure on his summer vacation.
The conference adjourned a few minutes be-
fore midnight Secretary Taft. on leaving. an
nounced that Secretary Loeb would issue
statement on the subject. Special Counsel KeI-
logg. who walked from the White House TO his
hotel. declined 10 state what had inspired
the meeting and referred all his ,luestioners 10
gate.
Secretary Loeb az midnight issued this state
ment.
The conference was held for the purpose Of
sfording an ample discussion concerning the
matters which have been under investigation
by tho Interstate Commerce Commission, The
Interstate Commerce Commission has not yet
formulated :ts report. and all of the discussion
was Of purely preliminary kind. After
forf has 5een made the Attorney General will.
Of course, carefully consider 1T
Co-1a.jzstocpr Knapp explained that he had
not competed his investigation and therefore
was not prepared 70 give 4 definite opinion as to
the sliiciency # the evidence to warrant the
government n ;nstituting at this time suit TO
n1,lify the Alton deal As soon as the Inter
state Commerce Commission has completed its
hearing in the case A report T!ll he made to the
Attorney General Who viii at that time take
charge Of the matter and determine what If
any, action shall be taken. II Is not expected.
therefore, that any proceedings will actually be
begun for some time
The question of the prosecution Of the btu
rninous coal carrying railroads was discussed at
some length. but the matter finally left in
the hands Of the Attorney General for such ac-
ton as he might see fl to take. No instructions
10 bring suit were given TO him, and there ap-
pears 10 be some question as to whether any
action viii be taken in the immediate future.
The prosecution of the anthracite coal carrying
roads VIII. in all probability. be begun in Phila-
delphia within the next week
The roads involved include the Della
ware susquehanna & schuylkH the Philadel-
phia Reading, the Lehigh Valley the Della
ware & Hudson, the New York Susquehanna .&
Western, the Delaware. Lackawanna & West
ern, the Central Of New Jersey and the Erie.
The Pennsylvania and one or two other roads
may become involved as the suit proceeds, but
At this time no formal complaint will be filed
against them.