The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-01-12
Railroad News
UNION PACIFIC
PEACE SEEKERS
BEGINS NEGOTIATIONS LOOK
ING TO OUT OF COURT SET
ELEMENT OF pIssoLu.
TON SUIT.

Washington, Jan 12.-Negotiations
have begun cooking to settlement
'out of court of the governments
suit for the dissolution Of the merger
of the so-called Hartman lines.
brought under the Sherman anti-t trust
law. ~
Rumors of such negotiations have
been current for some time past To-
day they took concrete form at con-
ference at the White House granted
BY President Taft at the solicitation
OF the railroad officials. 1t can be
stated authoritatively that no deci-
sion Of any sort was reached.
It was said that today's conference
was the first of series of meetings
which are to be held for the purpose
OF determining upon what ground IL
any, the representatives of the Harri-
man lines and the government can
meet for an adjustment Of the situa-
ton.
Taft's Attitude Unknown.
President Taft has given no intima-
ton as to what his attitude will be.
and his final determination in the
matter, 1t is stated, will depend large
~ upon the proposition the railroads
have to make looking to the compli-
ance with the antitrust law.
The case win not be dropped, il is
said, except upon such terms as win
look to correction Of the evils COM
planned OF in tine government suit. or
unless the government can be shown
to be completely in. error.
Today's conference was attended by
Judge Robert III. Lovett, president of
the Union Pacific and allied lines; At
torney General Wickersham, Frank B.
kellogg, trust buster and special at
torney for the United States in the
case against the railroads, and for
mer Senator John C. Spooner and
Maxwell Evarts of New York, attor-
neys for the Hartman lines. The con-
ference lasted from shortly after 8
bers of the railroad party would dis
cuss the matter i'm any way.
Wiekershan's Position Indefinite.
Attorney General Wickersham has
taken no definite position in the mat
ter as yet He went into the confer
ence today open minded, for up to
this time he mas not been called upon
to deal with the suit in any way.
No time was fixed for resumption
of the conference, but it probably will
be within few days.
The suit against the Hartman lines.
which consist in chief of the Union
Pacific, the Southern Pacific, the Ore
gon Short Line and the Oregon Rail
road and Navigation Co, was begun
following an inquiry before the inter
state commerce commission. 1t was
during these hearings that the enor-
NOUS stockholdings of the Hartman
lines i'm other railroads first came to
general public attention. MIR. Harri-
man himself appeared before the COM
| mission and was on the witness stand
| for several days. Mr.. Hartman, it
will be remembered, declined to ans
wer a number of questions put to
| him and the matter mad to be taken
to the United States circuit court for
determination.
Kellogg and Severance Attorneys.
| Frank b. kellogg and C. A. Sever
ance of st. Paul represented the gov
eminent I'm the case. Judge Lovett.
now the head of the vast system MIR.
Hartman built up, was general coun-
sci for the railroads. Former Senator
| Spooner and John c. Milburn also APP
peared i'm benaK Of Mr.. Hartman.
/ The suit for the dissolution of the
1 combination of railroads was brought
| i'm Salt Lake City and is pending in
| the courts there. Thestimony has been
i taken in q number of cities already.