The San Francisco call., 1910-06-01
court ENJOINS
PLAN TO BOOST
Freight RATES
twenty-five Railroads Sued by
Government for Violating
Antitrust Act
Members of Western Trunk
Lines Committee Are Ac=
cused of Conspiracy
Restraining Order issued to
Prevent Grave Injury to
People of Nation

n TANNIBAL. Mo, May 31--Twenty-
i've western railroads were tenn
= porarily restrained tonight by
United states District Judge Dyer from
enforcing or making a general advance
in interstate freight rates.
The Injunction was granted on a pc
tition filed by the government on the
allegation that the advances in rates
were arrived at by the defendants by
agreement in violation Of the Sherman
antitrust act.
The petition said that unless such a
restraining order were issued the rate
advances would become effective at
midnight tonight to the grave injury
Of the people Of the United States.
Wickersham Signs Petition
The petition upon which the in
junction was issued was presented to
Judge Dyer by Edward P. Grosvenor
Of Washington. special assistant to the
attorney general. and by Frederick N.
Judson Of ST. Louis, acting as special
counsel. It was signed by George w.
Wickersham. attorney general; Will
liam s. Kenyon, assistant to the at
torney general, and Charles A Houts,
United States district attorney.
The roads restrained from increasing
their freight rates tomorrow are:
Missouri Pacific, Chicago and North
Western; Chicago, Burlington and
Quincy; Chicago, Rock Island and Pa-
c.ae; Wabash; Chicago. Milwaukee and
StzPaul; Illinois Central. Chicago and
Alton. Atchison. Topeka and Santa Fe;
Cf-f gc Great Western; Nisgeari- kan
sas and Texas; st. Louis and san Fran
cisco: Quincy, Omaha and Kansas City;
St Paul' and Des Moines: Minneapolis
and St Louis; Iowa Central; Fort
Dodge. Des Moines and Southern; Chi
cage. St Paul. Minneapolis and Omaha;
Peoria and ST. Louis; Elgin, Joliet and
Eastern; Chicago, Milwaukee and Gary;
Minneapolis. St. Paul and Saulte Ste.
Marie; Kansas City Southern; Chicago,
Indiana and Southern; the western
trunk line committee.
Speedy Hearing Planned
The restraining order declared that
II was issued upon the statement Of the
counsel for the government that they
would Immediately file an expediting
certificate under the act of February
II. 1903, providing for a speedy termi-
nation of the issue in contention.
The petition says that the railroads
generally speaking are the only ones
for the transportation of freight and
passenger traffic for the states Of Mis-
souri,. Kansas. Nebraska, South Dakota,
North Dakota. Wyoming and parts of
Montana. Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois
and Tennessee.
Charge of Conspiracy
Referring TO the unlawful combina-
tions and conspiracy alleged, the peti-
tion says that the construction and
maintenance Of the lines Of railroad had
been encouraged and assisted by the
United States of America and by the
states and territories for the purposes
of securing TO the public competitive
lines Of transportation and communica-
tion- The petition said:
But for the unlawful combination,
conspiracy, agreements and understand
ings between the defendant railroads
the defsndants would have continued
in the said interstate transportation
trade and commerce in competition
with each other as to rates and charges
TO be collected for the interstate trans
portation OF freight and passengers,
and as to the facilities and advantages
TO be offered to the travelling public
and TO shippers of commodities in in
terstate commerce. and would now be
competing in said interstate transporta-
ton. trade and commerce"
Formal Compact Alleged
The second part Of the petition states
that December 6. 1906. the defendants,
with the exception of five roads, which
subsequently joined the movement. not
content with the usual rates and
charges for which they were accus-
toned to carry freight, but intending
to monopolize the transportation, traf-
&c. trade and commerce between the
different states. did combine. conspire,
confederate and unlawfully agree to
organize and become members in the
western trunk line committee. with the !
object Of using said western trunk lire
committee as 2 means for suppressing |
all competition between said defend
ants ia the said interstate transporta-
ton. trade and commerce"
Rate Fixing Method
Continuing, the. petition says since |
she date mentioned the western trunk |
line committee, unincorporated. with |
headquarters in Chicago. is the instru-
ment by means Of which freight rates /
have been fixed and that the charges
now being imposed are the same by all l
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