Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-06-01

rates have been fixed aud that the
charges now being imposed are the
same by all the defendants ana are so
made by agreement.
The following is the method BY
which the petition alleges rates are
fixed by the Western Trunk Line com
mittee,
Each of the defendants is mem
her OF the Western Trunk Line cum-
mittee. There is a freight commit
tee composed of the freight traffic
managers or general freight agents Of
each OF the defendants. This commit
tee meets once every month. When
ever any defendants contemplates "a
change in any of it's rates. rules or
regulation, the officer or officials rep
resenting such defendant on said com-
mittee suggests such change To the
chairman of the committee who then
dockets the same tor consideration and
discussion at the next meeting Of the
freight committee At that meeting,
the matter is brought up for consider
alton II All agree the proposed
change is made by all the roads. de-
PENDANTS herein. Unless there is un-
animous agreement, the suggestion Is
rejected. and no road adopts the pro-
posed ch hlnge of rates.
The petition says there is an agree
ment between the defendants to the
effect that no rates viii be advanc
ed or reduced except with the concur
renee of the entire body with a smul
taneous advance or reduction by all
the others agreed upon at meet
ing of the freight committee. Fur
thcr it is claimed by means OF mem
bership in the committee all compe-
tition between the defendants Is sup
pressed
The Western Trunk Line committee
is said to have succeeded another as
sociation of a similar character. tho
name Of which is unknown, but the
complaint AYERS that there are oth-
err associations Of similar character to
which portions Of the United States
have been assigned and in which
many of the defendants are members.
The complainant charges that the
committee was organized ana is main
tanned in violation of the sherman
antitrust law.
Part three OF the petition SAYS that
IN 1909 or early i'm 1910 the dofend-
ants conspired together to make
general advance in commodity rates to
prevail throughout the Western Trunk
Line territory using the same as
means to effcctuate the advance.
"The freight committee held u
meeting the dates OF which are un-
known" continues the petition, and
the commodity rate named in l. g. 9.
tariff \. lis and sometimes called
Ilosmer's tariff No. 1. D., We're gone
over and considered. The conference
resulted in an agreement as 60 new
to be made. After they
had been determined upon each Of the
defendants notified the chairman OF
w. II lGosmer. Chicago, who had
printed schedule Of the advances
called supplement No to freight ta-
ritf No. T. y.
"on April 27. 1910. Hosmer as
agent for each of the defendants fill /
ed separately on behalf OF them with 7
he interstate commerce commission |
he new schedule to BECOME effective |
June 10. 1910. nn the lines OF The de- !
defendants unless the enforcement /
hereof is restrained by this honorable /
,ourt
The petition charges that the adj /
,anced rates are the direct outcome Of
agreements in suppression of competl-
ion and of an unlawful combination i
n restraint OF interstate trade, arriV- |
I'll at and made effective through the /
tgency of the Western Trunk line
ana that the acts Of the !
in advancing rates are
he result of conspiracy.
The petition closes by saving that
luless the unreasonable schedule Of
'ates is enjoined 1t viii become effect
We June | and the citizens of the Uni-
ed States who ship commodities
brough the Western Trunk Line com
nttee territory will be compelled to
,ay arbitrary and excessive rates.