The Washington herald., 1910-01-11
TAFT MAY end SUIT
White House Conference Over
Union Pacific Merger.
SETTLEMENT OUT OF COURT
Favored by SOme-WOuId Save I'm
necessary Expense of Litigation.
Kellogg and Judge Lovett Among
Those Present - Former Senator
sDOOncr Represents the Lines.

The administration is considering Sc
riously the abandonment of the suit
brought many months ago under the
Sherman antitrust law TO Dissolve the
merger Of the Union Pacific and South
ern Pacific railroads. as an unlawful
combination in restraint of trade.
Both the President and Attorney Gen
eral Wickersham have thought about the
case for some time. and late yesterday
afternoon there was an important con-
ference at the White House.
In addition to the President and Attor-
ney General Wickersham were Frank b.
Kellogg, the governments principal trust
buster. and one of the men who was
concerned in the first part OF the pro
ceedings against the merger; Robert 5.
Lovett president of the Hartman lines:
Maxwell Evarts. general counsel for the
Hartman lines, and former United
states Senator John c. Spooner, who has
acted as counsel for the Hartman lines
IN this suit, The consultation lasted al
most four hours.
Suit was brought under the administra-
ton Of President Roosevelt.
Settlement Out of Court.
It was the idea Of the conference that
the case be settled out Of court before
the middle Of March. thus saving unnec-
essary expense and litigation.
Some Of the Presidents advisers. It
was made known. are in favor OF the
dissolution Of the suit. Il has been sug-
gested that about the biggest objection
10 such action Is that the administration
might be misunderstood.
On the other hand, some Of the Presi-
dents advisers believe that It would
really be better for the country II the
railroads were permitted TO combine.
There is some doubt in the minds Of
Presidential cOunselors as 10 the useful
ness OF the Sherman law in railroad
cases. Railroads. 1t was pointed out, do
not fan In the same categorSss do other
trusts In the case OF the tobacco trust
for instance, the government had ALSO
lutely no power TO fix the price Of to
bacco. but with the common carriers
Il has the power to fix rates
Two Dinner Invitations.
President Taft received Two Invitations
70 dinner the first from the American
Peace and Arbitration League and the
second TO the annual affair OF the Univer-
sity Club, OF Washington.
The dinner OF the peace organization
is to be held in New York City probably
March q The President intends TO 90
20 New Haven on the gst, and said
that he would likely stop of on his re-
turn for the dinner.
Former Senator McCreery. Of Ken
lucky; Senator Taylor. Of Tennessee. the
Rev. John Wesley Hid, Of New York;
Henry Clews. the banker. and several
other officers and directors Of the league
extended the invitation TO the President.
Senator EIkins asked Mr.. Taft TO 90 70
the University Club dinner. which is 20
be held on February 8.
Col. Gordon Calls.
One Of the Presidents first callers was
Col. James Gordon. Of Okolona, Miss. the
successor OF the late Senator AicLaurln.
who reminds old Washingtonians OF the
days before the war.
Col. Gordon brought Mr. Taft q book OF
HIS own production. which bears the title
The Plantation and Other Poems"
Secretary BallngeT and Secretary Of
Agriculture Wilson had conferences with
the President on conservation and the
changes which have occurred recently
through Executive decapitation.
Secretary Rallinger said that both the
Presidents conservation message and his
own five conservation bills are ready.
Secretary Wilson conferred with Mr.
Taft about the Forest Service. and said
afterward that for the present there
would be no changes in the personnel.