Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-12-12
PACIFIC ROADS co CLEAR
Prosecution Under Antitrust Law is
to Be Abandoned.
FIGHT OVER OMAHA POSTMASTER
Department for Reappointment of
Palmer, but Both of Senators Are
for n. +. ThOmas---Gamble
and KittredEe Lock Horns.
(From a Staff Correspondent }

Pacific and Southern Pacific railroads,
growing out OF antitrust Jaws, are likely
to be stopped by the Department Of Justice,
according to a r1mor current tonight. The
combination between the Union Pacific and
Southern Pacific. alleged to be in restraint
of trade and which prompted the De-
! partment OF Justice to begin an action
against the Hartman interests, seems In
a fair way to be compromised, repreBen-
tstions having been made to Attorney Cen
eral Bonaparte by Mr.. Hartman OF by
those representing him that action will be
taken by the president of the Pacific rail-
roads looking to the termination of their
interests in order that they may become
independent OF one another within the
meaning of the antitrust law.
Attorney General Bonaparte believes that
II Mr.. Hartman should bring about
dissolution Of the close connections between
the Union Pacific and Southern Pacific and
become independent factors in the railroad
situation the prosecution would be mad
visable and that there would be nothing
to prosecute.
POstmastership BOthers Senators.
Senators Burkett and Brown of Nebraska
were advised yesterday that the commits
sion Of Postmaster II. L. Palmer of Omaha
would expire January % and that so far
as the Postofice department was concerned
and unless there were special reasons why
Captain Palmer should not be reappointed
the department will recommend his con-
tinuance in Office. This official notice from
the first assistant postmaster general COM
PEELED the senators to sit up and take
notice." After a conference they decided
ito beard the lion in his den, the Douglas
in his hail." and they moved down upon
Mr.. Frank Hitchcock with statement that
they were for B. r. Thomas who had the
support not only of the business interests
of Omaha, but that of the republican or
ganization as well. Then the first assistant
postmaster general unburdened himself to
the extent OF saying that the policy Of the
Postohice department had been settled in
favor of a man whose record was good and
against whom charges had not been made
Mr.. Hitchcock stated that Captain Pal
mer's record as postmaster was frst-class
and that SO far as the department was
concerned 1t saw no reason why he should
not be reappointed.
Then 1t was that the senators from Ne
braskA realized that unless they could bring
stronger pressure to bear than the sup
port Of the organization change would
be frowned upon by the Postoffice depart
ment. Realizing that they were against
proposition that has a kick" to It the
senators retired 10 take an account OF stock
and decide upon their future action. ,ff
Feel They Have Been Slighted.
So far as the senators are concerned they
do not know that Captain Palmer is a
candidate for reappontment except as he
has 30 stated to them individually, all his
testimonials being addressed to ''The presii
dent of the United States" instead of to
either Senator Brown or Senator Burkett or
both combined. While the senator's proba-
bly, would spurn the idea that they resent
the manner in which Captain Palmer has
proceeded in securing endorsements for his
reappointmeut there is senatorial cour-
tesy uppermost which cannot be disre-
garded, and IN consequence there is some
feeling on the part Of the senators over
the appeal to the president rather than
through themselves. with this condition
confronting them 1t is safe to assume that
the Nebraska senators will take much
more pronounced stand on the postmaster
ship for Omaha than they did IN their in
terview with Assistant Postmaster General
Hitchcock yesterday, and they may even
go so far as to say that Captain Palmer's
nomination will be tantamount to a re-
lection by the senate should his name be
sent in. Then again. the president may fan
to send in any name for postmaster at
Omaha, which will permit Captain Palmer
to continue in Office until his successor is
confirmed.
st. Louis is going through a somewhat
similar fight over its postmaster. In the
st. Louis case the present postmaster has
the Endorsement OF the postofice depart
ment but theer republican congressman
from that city and Senator Warner have
recommended another man for the place.
1t is understood that the president takes
the position that the appointment Of
another than the present postmaster would
be an admission that the postmaster is in
competent and would be a triumph for his
enemies. who include a well known pub
Usher in that city, and he is loath to take
that stand.
The Omaha and st. Louis cases are types
of difficulties presenting themselves to the
Postoffice department and show how the
legislative branch of the government is
becoming involved over methods OF pro-
oedure with the executive branch, In the
Omaha case all signs point 10 a long drawn
out contest unless the two senators can per-
suade the president that the order of the
Postofice department regarding reappoint-
ments is injudicous.
Senators Gamble and Kittridge locked
horns today in the senate committee on
public lands relative to the appointments
OF registers and receivers for land offices
in South Dakota. Senator Kittridge filed
a statement with the committee. accord
ing TO an interview he had tonight with
The Bee correspondent. that he had no
objection to the confirmation OF any land
officers appointed by the president and sent
p TO thu senate for confirmation.
Senator Gamble asked that the nomina-
, tions go over for time upon the theory
: that II one set Of officers was TO be con
hrmed other officers OF the federal gov
, ernment should also be included In the
general confirmation, hoping thereby to
secure the confirmation Of Mr Waggoncr,
present United States district attorney,
who Is being bitterly fought by ittridge.
Complicated as the South Dakota situation
was before, II Is still more complicated
/ now and the chances are that there will
be no combinations of any OF these nom
inatiea for some time to come. those In
--S<ce holding onto their jobs indefinitely.
Senator Gamble has an advantage over
Senator Kittridge, being a member OF the
public lands committee OF the senate. and
under that vague thing known as "sena-
torial courtesy" he can command the land
ofhces But Senator Kittridge ha salsO