Vashon Island news. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1907-19??, 1907-06-14
HAD IMMUNITY BATH
HARRIMAk'S TESTIMONY WILL
PREVENT INDICTMENT.
important Conference on Several
Matters at White House-Fear
of Possible Panic May Prevent
Some Prosecutions.--Big Stick
for Coal Roads.

Washington, June S.-That II. II.
Hartman. the railroad magnato, is
immune from criminal prosecution as
the result Of the testimony before the
interstate commerce commission In
New York recently; that the question
Of prosecution of the bituminous coal
carrying railroads should be left in
the hands of the attorney general, and
that prosecution of the anthracite coal
roads shall begin in Philadelphia,
probably next week. were the conclos-
ions reached at notable conference
held at the White House last night
No decision was reached to prose-
cute Hartman for violation OF the
Sherman antitrust law, In merging
the Southern Pacific and Union Pacific
railroads.
While Roosevelt would like to pros
ecute Hartman, he fears that II would
have q depressing effect on business
and might produce panic.
There was rather acrimonious
discussion on the subject. the confer
epce ending at midnight.
Secretary Loeb's Statement
Shortly after midnight Secretary
Loeb made public this statement:
1.-The conference was held for the
purpose of affording ample discussion
concerning the matters which have
been under investigation by the inter-
state commerce commission.
The interstate commerce commits
sion has not yet formulated its report,
and all the discussion was Of purely
preliminary kind. After report has
been made the attorney general will,
of course, carefully consider it,"
The statement is without meaning
and was purposely made so.
Those present at the conference
were the president, Secretaries Root,
Cortelyou, Taft, Garfield, Attorney
General Bonaparte, Chairman Knapp
of the interstate commerce commits
sion Commissioner Lane and F. b. Kel-
logg, the attorney who has charge of
the case against Hartman.
Coal Cases Discussed
This conference followed one held
during tie day at thu White qouse.
When Milton D.. Purify, wbo had
charge of the coal cases before Bona
lparte took charge of the department
of justice, discussed the practical
phases of the case with the president.
Federal Attorney r. S. Sims, of
Chicago, also talked with the presi-
dent during the day, and it is said
with special reference to violations
of the law By the harvester trust and
the express companies.
incidentally Sims reported also on
the John +. Walsh case in Chicago
and the progress of the proceedings
against the Standard Oil Company.
All of the precedent facts, however,
pointed to discussion in the chief
case against the Hartman roads and
the coal roads. The last named case
has been hanging fire fof four or Eve
years and the interstate commerce
commission is better prepared on this
lease than on any other that was dis
lcussed last night.
| President Ia Committed
! The conference last night, although
no definite statement was made, was
really clearinghouse of the big cases
in which the president has committed
himself to action. The president took
over the Hartman case to himself
when he left here on his trip to Pine
Knot, he having with him the special
reports.of Messrs. kellogg and Severance
who have been pursuing the inquiry
by themselves and with the assistance
Of the commission, and notably that
of Commissioner Lane, of San Fran
cisco.
The length Of the conference, the
Issues and the people represented in
Dictated plainly that action was taken
ON the mere important matters and
that the president will have them out
of the way before he begins his rest
~ Ovctpr Paw