The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-05-31
Western Shippers and Mer-
chants Ask Government TO
EniOin Railroads.
CASE is PUT F0RCIBLY
TO ATTORNEY GENERAL
PurDOsed Raise Announced for
June Leaves Little Time
for Action.

WASHINGTON, May 3o.-Vigorous
representations were made TO Attorney
General Wickersham by interests repre-
seutlng territory on western traffic lines
| today. asking that the government en-
join the railroads from putting Into effect
Il general increase in freight rates on
June l, notice OF which was given by the
Ia allroads Il month ago.
II was argued the proposed increases
were unwarranted and unjust, and the
opinion was expressed that they were
the results of a combination or agreement
among the railroads in contravention oil
law. The attorney general told his callers
lie would do the best he could Tor them.
Further than that he declined to outline
what his course might be,
The hearing was held In the office OF
the attorney general. where "A delegation
OF about forty persons called 10 take
action protesting against the advance,
The committee was accompanied by sena-
tors and members of congress in the ter
iitory affected
Speaks for Protestants.
In 2 general way the case OF the pro-
testants was first presented by William
y. HaynIe. counsel for the Illinois Manu-
facturers' association, who presented q
memorial prepared at the recent meeting
OF shippers at Omaha. II asked that
suit be brought to enJoin the increased
rates from becoming operative until such
time as the courts could determine wheth-
er an Illegal combination existed.
The general burden imposed by the pro-
posed rates on manufacturers. produc-
ers and consumers was too great. the
ed. old methods wore too slow TO stop
their becoming effective and the interests
affected suggested that the intcrposition
OF the Sherman antitrust law be In
volsed.
Tho mcmoralists took the ground that
the action Of the railroads In seeking to
increase rates at this time was TO fore
stall legislation giving the interstate com
merce commission authority TO set aside
rates In advance OF complaint Of a
shipper-it being admitted In response TO
IL would be easier to drop from higher
than 10 increase lower rate.
Delay Bad Handicap.
At this point the attorney general told
his hearers he would give the matter care
CuI attention. The suggestion that the
sherman law be invoked. he said. WAS a
novel one Mr.. Wickcrsham pointed out
that the delay in preseting the request
| for action by the government WAS Seri-
Gus m handicap. SO many steps were nee
nssary I'm bringing suit to cnJoin that he
seemed doubtful If anything could be ac-
! complished before midnight tomorrow,
act Immediately
| i'm a word in behalf OF the protcstants,
and Representative Hubbard said il was
| the duty of the department OF Justice
| To- move against this conspiracy"
| After Mr. IIaynie had presented the
| memorial most OF the callers withdrew,
! but at the suggestion of Mr.. Wicker
| sham half a dozen representatives OF
| commercial clubs and Of traffic bureaus
| familiar with the technical features of
| tho rate situation remained Tor further
| consultation
| The opinion WAS expressed that tho In
| creased rates announced In western terri
| iorv WAS the forcrunncr OF a general ad-
| vance although the declaration was made
| an the authority of tho vice president In
| charge of the traffic bureaus of n western
railroad that the proposed increase waa
| entirely uncalled for. Ono member said
| n was his opinion that while the avowcd
| nurpose was 10 raise n hundred million
| dollars for certain expenditures, In reality
| live hundred millions would be realized,
| Complaint was made of lack OF la =
| cilIty In obtaining the tariff sheets show
| Ing tho proposed ratos and OF an ap-
| narcnt disposition on the part or the rail-
ronds to keep them from general circu-
| lation,