The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-04-13

Senator La Toilette. OF Wisconsin, made
his contribution to the discussion Of the
railroad bill yesterday.
His speech was about four hours long |
and was devoted almost entirely 70 an |
attack on Attorney General Wickersham
Tor dismissing the suits instituted under /
the Roosevelt administration against the
New York, New Haven and Hartford
Railroad under the Sherman antitrust
law. because Of its acquisition OF the
trolley line and It's attempted acquisition
OF the Boston and Maine Railroad.
Much Of the Senator's recital was an
Gent history. He reviewed the growth
and extension OF the New York. New
Haven and Hartford and went into the
history OF the legislation in Massachu-
sets relating 10 the attempted merger.
reviewed the action OF the Massachu-
sets Supreme Judicial Court in the case
in which the court held the New York,
New Haven and Hartford could not law
fully acquire the electrical roads. and
then traced the progress Of the Federal
suit In the courts up 20 the point where
II was dismissed by Attorney General
Wickersham.
Denounced I'm Entirety.
The speech was directed against the
feature Of the railroad bill. which pro-
poses 20 give the Attorney General con-
troll Of suits brought by the Interstate
Commerce Commission in the Commerce
Court But he denounced the bin In its
entirety as 1.-THE boIdest raid upon public
rights in the form Of legislation upon
this great subject that the system has
ever forced upon the serious considera-
ton Of Congress"
But the feature Of the speech was
the attack upon the Attorney General
for having dismissed the Federal suit.
The Senator from Wisconsin made the
following comment on Mr.. Wickershams
Chicago speech.
Mr. President men who have grown
gray lighting the battles Of the Republic
can party are not obliged 20 have their
Republicanlsm certified by an Attorney
General who until recently was known
20 the public chiefly as attorney for big
business and financial interests in New
York Nor Will they be inundated or his
kind In their efforts 10 bring the Repub-
lcan party IN Congress and in conven-
ton as 1t still is among the people. back
to the Republicanism OF Lincoln-to the
service Of public interest, and Of public
interest alone.
Under False Prctenses.
THE bill Is before the country under
false preteuses. under false title The
Court Of Commerce provision was little
more than a mask. behind which Turk
unknown and unnumbered villanies o.
proposed legislation
He frequently referred 20 the president
OF the New York. New Haven and Hart
ford Railroad as 'NIorgan's man Mellen.'
He attached much significance 20 the
visits made 10 washington by President
Mellen and other officers OF the railroad
and their conferences with the Prcsi
dent and the Attorney General. Senator
La Toilette thought he detected some
thing sinister in tho going 10 and fro by
the railroad officials between Washing
ton and Boston. He charged that infor
nation as TO tho governments plans fo
dismissing the suit was given TO tn,
railroad before # was given 70 the public
As ;ending 10 prove this. he quoted from
testimony and statements given befor
a committee OF the Massachusetts legis
lators OF the action Of the Attorne,
General in dismisslng the suit, the Senate
said.
"a railroad company engaged in inter
state commerce violates the common lay
against monopoly, violates the State lax
against acquiring other corporate prop
erty, violates the Federal law agains
combination and monopoly TO suppress
competition IN interstate commerce.
sued in the Massachusetts Supreme CoU
and delays the case until the adminstra
ton which brings the suit goes out @
office and new administration is IN
stalled. seeks and obtains State legisla
ton which pretends to authorize 1t {
combine common carriers engaged in in
terstate commerce In violation Of III
Federal law. and then secures dismissS
OF the Federal suit which the Feders
court sustained at every point in a rur
ming fight OF thirteen months.
Crime Against People.
In other words. a State legislature {
the behest Of an interstate railroad col
poration presumes C repeal a FEEDER;
law and license an act which Congress. 1
the exercise Of its constitutional authOrit
70 regulate interstate commerce. has d,
clared 20 be a crime against the peopl
and the Attorney General. the highest la
officer Of the Federal government. swor
10 preserve, protect. and defend the Coz
stitution and enforce the laws Of Coz
gress. gives his official approval Of tn
legislative compact
Mr. President IL the FaderaI ant
trust law can be repealed by a sta
legislature, II the Department OF Justi
will hold conferences with and lend cou
tenance 10 the agent OF lawbreskil
corporations. while they are engaged
lobbying through State legislatures a pr
tended sanction OF their violation OF d
criminal statutes Of the Federal go
eminent, and they by official edict ma