The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-04-17
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FIGHT R.R. TRUST
Joseph H. Call Tells Why Govern
ment Should Establish Line OF
Steamers On Pacific.
BY JOSEPH II. CALL.

bin was introduced late In the last
session OF congress and renewed Ia
the present session by Congressman
McI.achlan. OF California. providing
for the establishment by the United
States government OF a steamship ins
OF Ave vessels OF 5000 tons each 10
ply between the Isthmus OF Panama
and Pacific coast ports In the uniteu
states. the steamship line 10 connect
with the government owned Panama
railroad and thus with New York city
and other Atlantic coast ports.
The deep significance OF TINS OIL
is understood in California, but the
general public throughout the United
States has little realization OF its i'm
port and necessity.
There exists In this country TO-DAY
an absolute monopoly in transporta-
ton. controlled by the transcont+
mental railroads. under the suidine
genius OF the Rockefeller. Rogers ana
Hartman syndicate. generally known
as the STANDARD oil crowd" which
for several years has, and still does
from time 10 time. advance rates oy
rail and maintain such rates py
wholly suppressing water competition
The monopoly in transportation In
the United States was partly disclosed
by the report OF the interstate COM
merce commission In 1907. in the
matter OF consultations and combina'
tons OF carriers, etc." relating main
" TO the Union Pacific, Southern Pa
cific and other roads controlled gen
orally by Z. H. Hartman. or ire
Standard Oil Co.
In 1907 the directorate OF the Union
Pacific Railroad Co. contained the
names common to the great insurance
companies having headquarters IN
New York city, and. among them we
fnd the following: E. II. Hartman,
Wm G. Rockefeller, r. s. Lovett. X
A. Valentine, Henry c. Frick. II. H.
Rogers. w. d. Cornish, James Still
man. Charles A. Peabody.
That report OF the commerce com
mission shows that in 1907 the Union
Pacific Railroad Co, then comprising
something less than 5000 miles OF
road. owned or controlled he follow
ing lines OF railroad and steamships
First-The Southern Pacific 90. In
Guiding the Central Pacific railroad.
and the Oregon-California railroad.
embracing altogether about 5000
miles OF road.
Second-Every regular American
line OF trans Pacific steamships oper-
ated out OF Pacific coast ports south
OF Puget Sound.
Third-The Pacific Mail Steamship
Co. plying between San Francisco
and Panama.
Fourth-The Morgan line OF freight
and passenger carriers. operating be-
tween New York city. Havana. New
Orleans and Galveston.
Fifth-The Illinois Central sysem,
comprising about 5000 miles OF road
Sixth-The San Pedro, Los Angeles
a Salt Lake road known IA the Clark
road comprising about LOO miles
Seventh-The Chicago Alton
road: 1000 miles.
The report referred TO also shows
that in 1897 the Hartman syndicate
had acquired very large interests In
the following systems. which public
proceedings and reports show have
been extended to controlling In.
terest:
Eighth-The Baltimore & Ohio; A..
900 miles.
Ninth-The New York Central &
Hudson River system.
Tenth-The Oregon Short line.
Eleventh-The Chicago. Milwaukee
& st. Paul; 1000 miles.
Twelfth-The Chicago & Northwest
ern railway. about 1000 miles.
In addition 10 the railroads and sy3
TENS above named. the stock holdings
and influence OF the Hartman syndi
cate extends into many other lines
and systems, so that II may be fair
| y said that the Hartman system
dominates the commerce between tho
Atlantic and Pacific and between the
great lakes and the gulf
It is absolutely necessary to adopt
measures to fight the railroad mon
opoly which violates the law while
congress is inactive in this respect