Arizona republican., 1909-07-09
PRESSURE FOR A THROUGH
 LINE

The agitation for a through line Is a healthful sign, and we believe that it stands for the early fact that Phoenix will be a main line town. But unless that comes about be- cause the railroads believe that the building of it will be to their advantage, it can only be brought about by convincing proof to the proper government authorities that it is the bounden duty of the railroads, perhaps not to build, but not to ob- struct its building. Such proof must consist not of perfunctory complaint but by a ceaseless showing by busi- ness men, shippers, shipping and commercial organizations and the ter ritorial railway commission that the failure to complete the line is a vio- lation of the law.
 Of course the federal government cannot compel the construction of railroad, but it can prevent the ob- struction of it's building. if such ob- struction is a part of a plan to main- tain a monopoly.
 This matter, we understand. has already been brought before the In terstate Commerce commission which, however is without authority to act beyond the making of recommenda- tions to the department of justice. It is true that there is an anti monopoly clause in the interstate commerce act, but it is believed to be invalid. Senator Foraker said it was when the bill was pending, and the government is evidently of the same belief, since it has never been invoked, but all proceedings against mergers have been prosecuted under the old Elkins law.
 There has been injected into the Hartman merger case the charge that the failure of the Southern Pa cific to complete the Phoenix & Eastern constitutes a violation of the law Some evidence in the shape of a history of the transfer of the P. & F. has been offered, but so far as we know there has been no evidence put into the possession of the gov ernment to show that the Southern Pacifics failure to complete the line | has left a condition of monopoly here. ! That there is such a condition has | been merely complained of.
 A gathering from all possible | sources, of testimony on this subject | and it's presentation to the depart | ment of justice would be the pressure | which The Republican has advised l the merchants and shippers of the | valley to exert. We must act, if any | results are to follow, without jealousy | and in concert We believe that | when the Southern Pacific took over the Phoenix & Eastern it honestly | intended to complete it as soon as possible in conjunction with the work of the Santa Fe on the Arizona & California. But it has not been com pleted and we have been unable to secure any definite assurance that it will be completed.
 The object of such pressure as we have suggested would be either to obtain usch assurance or to obtain from the government an annullment of the agreement between the South ern Pacific and the Santa Fe, so that the line would return to the latter.
 It is immaterial to the people of this valley who builds the through line, the Santa Fe or the Southern Pacific. But of one thing we are sure, the former has the greatest interest in it's early construction, and was pushing it as rapidly as possi- ble at the time of the transfer, which was understood at the time to be more or less forced by the South ern Pacific.
 While the through line would be a