Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-06
Railway Men Oppose Federal
Injunction on Rates.
BELIEVED TO BE FUTILE
Impression Obtains That Admins
tration Will Not be Dissuaded.
LONG DISCUSSION EXPECTED
Careful Inquiry Into Statements of
Interested Parties Will be Re-
quired by the President.

Western railroad men are having
hearing this afternoon before President
Taft as TO the administrations attitude
In enjoining the increase of freight rates
ay the railway companies of that section
There is widespread feeling around
The White House that the conference will
result in TO change in the policy of the
administration and that the suits against
the roads TO prevent the increase of the
rates will be pushed with the utmost
speed, SO that the big interests involved
and the country generally may know
soon what to expect.
The roads are represented in the con-
ference by f. Z. Ripley of the Sante F'e
system, S. NJ. FELTON,. president of the
Chicago Great Western, and Fred A.
Delano of the Wabash. These men have
been accompanied to Washington by the
best railroad attorneys in the United
States. headed by ex-senator John G.
Spooner and Walker A. Hines. The rail-
road men have been in conference since
asst night with their attorneys and are
prepared to present their side of the
Ease in the fullest manner to the Presi-
lent and to Attorney General Wicker
nam, also present at the conference.
Long Conference Expected.
The probability is that the conference
oil last far into the afternoon or even
ng. President Tafts characteristic of
roing into great detail in important
matters will cause a most careful in
luiry by him as to every fact connected
with the side of the railroads, the ship
pers, the public and the government.
The Department of Justice has on file
The statements that presented nv
western shippers opposing the increased
freight rates, and these facts are be-
ing used during the hearing. Among
Other things, the allegation is made di
rect that the western railroads formally
met and voted upon the increase In
rates.
The railroads are prepared to make the
most of the attitude of both eX-President
Roosevelt and President Taft that traffic
agreements should he lega1iZed, and they
Rill claim that if they are unable to make
such agreements the railroad business will
I.-eive blow from which 1t will not re-
tpver in years. The railroads also make
denial of alleged collusion or combination
by them in the raising Of rates, saying
that this is done without any formal
gathering.
Depew Thinks Companies Erred.
White House. was asked about the visit
~ De itiduS uuIIHS tue oAtcA HooH bs thS
raiiroad presidents. Il am not in SYM
pathy with the railroad men in this con-
ference" he said Il do not see what
hey can accomplish just at this time.
They went about this matter of fixing
their rates in the wrong way. What they
should have done was TO have submitted
lhe proposed increase of rates to the in
lerstate commerce commission and there
would have been no trouble about it, The
railroads undoubtedly have reason to In
crease their freight rates.
The increase of salaries and the addi-
Lional cost of material and supplies are all
sufficient. when fairly presented, to allow
increased rates. Popular sentiment In
his country is almost unanimous on this
question of the railroads. and it would
nave been better had the officials recog-
nized this strong sentiment and put the
matter before the interstate commerce
commission. If the House accepts the
Senate railroad bill the new law will re-
!uire the railroads to submit proposed
Increases TO the commission before they
20 into effect. That will enable the roads
to submit this whole thing to the proper
body
May Adopt Suggestion.
Ii is believed that the suggestion of
Senator Depew will eventually be the
program of the railroads. Failing in
having the proposed increase now pend
ing before the courts approved by the
courts, they will submit the proposition to
the interstate commerce commission and
will try to convince that body that the
increased rates ought to be allowed.
Conferring on Line of Defense.
CHICAGO. June illegal representa-
tives of twenty-five western railroads met
in the offices of Gardiner Lathrop gen
erai solicitor of the Atchison, Topeka and
Santa Fe railroad, today. The meeting
was called TO devise a line of defense
against the recent action of the govern
ment and TO choose special counsel to take
charge of the proceedings.