The San Francisco call., 1907-06-08
HARTMAN CAN'T
&c PROSECUTED
AS A CRIMINAL
Magnate Immune Because
He Testified Before the
Commission
ROOSEVELT DECIDES
Notable Conference Is Held
by the President and
His Advisers
BoNAPARTE TO ACT
VIII Proceed Civilly in
the Alton Case if
Possible

WASHlNG1 ON, June L.
That E. H. Hartman, the railroad
magnate, is immune from criminal
prosecution as the result of his
testimony before the interstate
commerce commission in New
York recently; that the question
of prosecution of bituIninous coal
carrying railroads should be left
in the hands of the attorney gen
eral. and that prosecution of the
anthracite coal roads shall begin
in Philadelphia, probably next
week. were conclusions reached
at a notable conference held at the
White House. The Hartman case and
the cases OF the coal carrying roads
We're discussed for three hours by Pres
cabinet two members of the interstate
commerce commission and special coun-
sci for the government
Following the general conference At
torney General Bonsparte remained
with the president to discuss the So
called harvester trust 1t is thought
not improbable that the question OF
prosecution Of that organization will
be left in the attorney generals hands.
The roads involved include the Della
ware. susouehanna and schuyikiH. the
Philadelphia and Reading. the Lehigh
Valley. the Delaware and Hudson, the
New York, Susquehsnna and Western,
the Delaware, Lackawanna and West
ern, the Central railroad OF New Jer-
sey. and the Erie. The Pennsylvania
and one or two others may become in
volved as the suit progresses. but at
this time no formal complaint will be
fled against them.
Those who participated in the con-
ference were President Roosevelt, Sec
retary OF state Root. Secretary of War
TAFT, Secretary OF the Treasury Cortel-
YOU. Interstate Commerce Commits
sioners Knapp and Lane and Frank B.
kellogg OF Minnesota, special counsel
for the government
The discussion took on a wide range.
Much OF the time was given to the
Harriman-Alton deal. Every phase/of
that transaction was thoroughly gone
over and the discussion was partici-
pated in especially, by the president.
kellogg, Attorney General Bonaparte
and Commissioners Knapp and Lane.
The conclusion was promptly reached
that however damaging the evidence
might be against Hartman, the testi-
mcny that he had given in the inter-
state commerce investigation had
gained him complete immunity from
criminal prosecution
Knapp explained that he did not COM
pfete his investigation and therefore
was not prepared to give a definite
opinion as TO the suficiency of the
evidence 10 warrant the government in
fnstituting at this time suit to nuIlify
the Alton deal
AS soon as the interstate commerce
commission has completed its hearing
in the case a report will be made TO
the attorney general, who viii at that
time take charge or the matter and
determine what. il any. action shall be
taken. 1t is not expected, therefore.
that any suit will actually be begun
for some time.
The question Of prosecution of the
bitunainous coal carrying roads was dis
cussed at length, but the matter was
left in the hands of the attorney gen.
eraI for such action as he might see
nt TO take. There appears TO be some
question as to whether any action will
be taken in the immediate future. The
prosecution Of the anthracite coal
carrying roads viii in all probability
be begun in Pennsylvania within the
next week.