The sun., 1910-05-31

WAsHINGToV. MAY D. Attorney Gen
eral MIckersham was asked to-day hy d
delegation 90 shippers from the middle
West. supported by about twenty mrm.
ners ~ Congress, so invoke the sherman
antitrust law against twenty tive rail-
roads operating hstSrsu the Mississippi
and Missouri rivers which have sub
scrihed % Tho d-ysiou " the Western
trunk line committee his is the first
move m a ighi that shippers of the middle
West intend Ia wage against tha general
increase from IN 10 - per cent IN freigh,
rates The shippers charge that the rail.
roads oi the middle West have combined
through the Western trunk line com
mittee and illegally advanced their rates
Mr. Nlckersham. after listening tu the
complaints ~ the delegation. made mo-
announcement of his intention He SAID
that the Department Of Justice had had
such short notice that IL would be prac-
ticaly impossible 10 ask for an Injunction
against the railroads before June /. the
date on which the new rates go into effect
he promised however. 10 consider care
fully the arguments made hy The ship
pers and the brief left by their legal repre-
sentative
The Attorney-General 30 j. under
stood Is inclined TO sympaihiSe with the
shippers from the middletWs.t and -
accept their contention that thc railroads
have sought 60 avoid obstacles that
will be contained in the ueN railroad
Nct by making substantial increases
before the Administration bill II put
upon the statute books Whether or not
the railroads can be- held under the Sher-
man antitrust act - something. however.
that the Attorney General has vet 10
decide. but it j. certain thar ha will move
AGainst them Il he can lind tha slightest
ground for such action Members "
Congress who attended the hearing are
confident that Mr. MickerSham will
Oee h.s way clear % proceed against
the car rierS
The feeling against the railroads in
the middle West A. a result oT the IN
creases, is very bitter and the Attorney
General ami other advisers % the Ad-
mihistration believe that the present
agitation will az least result in the in
corporation into the pending railroad
bill Of a radical amendment providing
for Government approval ~ increased
freight and Passenger rates. The senate
already has adopted an amendment
giving the Interstate Commerce Com.
mission authority ~ suspend anv pro
posed increase for p ght months pending
an investigation into its reasonabIeneas.
II ~ tho end II that period however.
the commission fails q act. the rate
IL to 90 intn e1ect u is believed nov
that the present agitation and tha pressure
that b. being brought to bear on Congress
will result IN the adoption ~ an amend
ment similar - thar proposed BY senator
Cummrnz. which requires the Interstate
Commerce COMMISSION o. pass upon
every increase before b. shall become
operative
The presentation II the shippers case
~ tho Department u Justic,. took only
about halt an hour The Attorney Zen
eraleyDres-ed regret once or vice that the
shipper~ had not brought the case 70 hi.
notice sooner. Among the members of
ConKre-s az the hearing wero senators |
Cullom of Illinois. Clapp u Minnesota,
Brown ~ Nebraska and Warner " Ms
souri,. and Representative Lloyd Alex- .
ander. Morgan and Dixon ~ Missouri.
Morris and Hitchrpc. ~ Nehra. ka Miller 7
Nye and Lindhorgh ~ Minnesota. kendall /
Pickett. Good and Hubbard ui Iowa. and ]
SnApp ami Graf ol Illinois.
william DH7 Hainsy Il ChIcaEo repra- I
Eenfing fhe iilinui- NauufaruIrars. Nas1rt4- .
tion rrs-s,,..,t ,E.. t,,,..y 80. I...t..tg.f,t,'
- y.
eh'Pl-I-' H"'f'-'i' i'''lN" UH'Hafd 90
oIirra NAV 'h' rllirnPi- ha'' inspired .
10 defeat the ur1vi- ions Of f.a -rfIwav
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Without going .rr. I...a,I. za,d Mr.