The Washington times., 1910-06-02

Chicago, acting as representative Of the
twenty-five railroads concerned
Government officials have been ex-
Fccting something like a general IL
crease in freight rates They are not
sGrp--Sed az the schedules Of increased
rates beng niea-E5th the commission
But they are surprised tEar, following
close on the Injunction proceedings Sf
Tuesday, tho Central Freight AsSocia-
ton territory roads should act IN con-
Invite Drastic legislation
Il is well understood that the roads
are hurrying 70 get their rates advanced
before the new railroad law goes into
efec- Bat in doing this they are, IN
the opinion or many officials and mem
bers Il Congress. exposing themselves
20 more drastic legislation and more
drastic Government action than they
would incur otherwise
Attacks Traffic Association.
Attorney General WIckershan in the
proceedings against the Western roads
Is not merely enjoining the proposed in
crease IN rates but is seeking 70 dissolve
the agreement among the roads In
other words he Is trying 70 dissolve an
alleged traffic agreement.
Having attacked this traffic agree
uent. many believe that the Department
OF Justice will proceed 10 assau other
traffic agreements Of the railroads. L
Is generally supposed that various such
agreements exist. In fact, IL was open
" admitted in the Senate debate on the
railroad bill
So fsr as the proceedings against the
Western roads are concerned. there is
nothing about them 10 prevent the rail
arately- This is admitted BY the De-
partment Of Justice. In fact. il was
pointed out in the conference between
the Attorney General and the shippers
last Monday
Law Effective 80 Days Hence
A most important fact in connection
with the increases in rates is that the
new railroad law viii not so into effect.
as il now stands, until thirty days from
passage al the earliest, unless modified
The House bill in its original form pre-
scrlbes sixty days Il is likely a strong
effort viii be made 10 have the law 90
the Interstate Commerce Com mission 10
suspend the increases pending eXamina-
ton
Unless the law goes into effect on pas
sage. shippers will have no immediate
relief except as they get Il through the
I courts.
The increased Communication rates Of
| the Central OF New Jersey have been
I filed with the commission
Ask Further Injunctions.
A number Of kilograms were re-
/ ceived by Attorney General Wicker
( sham today from Western shipping in
terests asking that the injunction filed
at Hannibal. No, on Tuesday against
( the twenty-five railroads forming the
| Western Traffic Association, be sup
1 plemented by another injunction IN
order that the Government action may
/ contemplate a stay against advances
! in other rates which the association
has made
Replies stated that il was now too
late TO file further proceedings and
that the Governments case would
have to be based on the injunction
fled before Judge Dyer
1t was learned that the action Of
the Government could easily be nulil-
fed by the roads should they file sep
arate tariffs Of increased rates and
that no action could be taken by the
Attorney General 10 prevent them
from going into effect.
II was pointed out. however that
should any OF the roads take such ac-
ton they would have 70 do so in
/ hurry, as vote on the Administra-
tion'S railroad bill IS expected today.
Senate Viii Act Today.
Senator EIlzins Of West Virginia
called on the Attorney General today
10 assure him that some definite ac-
ton win be taken on the bill by the
Senate today.