Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-31
GOVERNMENT WARS
ON WESTERN ROADS
Injunction Suit to Be Brought
Today to Prevent Increase
in Freight Rates.
CHARGE OF VIOLATION
OF ANTITRUST LAWS
Proceedings Will Probably Be Taken
in St. Louis Court.
wICKERsHAM HOPES TO WIN
Sees Good Chance to Prove Instance
of Combination in Restraint
of Trade in Present
Agreement.
Proceedings Will Probably Be Taken
in St. Louis Court.
WICKERsHAM HOPES TO WIN

OF 1IdQe III 1TSSeul
Agreement.
suit to enjoin twenty-five western rail-
roads from increasing freight rates will
be filed by the government in the federal
court at ST. Louis this afternoon.
The suit briefs for injunction will as
sert that the railroads have entered into
combination in violation of the Sher-
man antitrust laws. and that the facts
indicate that the rates are the result of a
combination clearly in disregard of the
provisions of the Sherman law.
President Taft today approved Attor-
nev General Wickershams suggestion to
bring this injunction suit. The twenty
FIVE western railroads have served no.
tice upon the interstate commerce COM
mission of intention TO increase freight
rates beginning tomorrow
The decision of the President was
reached after an early morning confer
ence with Mr.. Wickersham Announce
ment was made at the cabinet meeting
that followed, from which Mr.. Wicker
sham was absent in attendance at the
Supreme Court
President Relies on Wickersham.
The President has learned TO have great
confidence in the legal judgment of Mr..
Wjckersham, and did not hesitate to ap
prove the recommendations of the Attor-
ney General Immediately after they had
been laid before him. The Attorney Cen
eral had reached his conclusion over
night. after long conference yestei day
afternoon with western shippers who
filed a request for such injunction pro-
ceedings.
The fight, it is expected, will be a ter
rife legal battle. If the railroads had
acted separately in announcing an in
crease of freight rates without appear
ances of having Joined together the ad
yHiHfrrdtion would not have regarded rs
good its chances of obtaining permanent
injunction. On. the spl2 of the moment
Mr.. Wfckersham Is satisfied that he will
win.
Attorney General at White House.
The Attorney General called at the
White House early today and laid the
protest of the middle western shippers
against the increase in rates before the
President The protest was made to the
Attorney General yesterday afternoon.
He was closeted with the President Ior
half an hour. and explained in detail the
complaint of the shippers, who declare
that the railroads in the middle west
have combined to raise the freight in
violation of the Sherman antitrust law.
At the Department of Justice this
morning the Attorney General said he
was not prepared TO announce his plans
for obtaining the proposed injunction.
and that he would have nothing to say
until after he had seen the President
again this afternoon. He did not attend
the cabinet meeting. but went directly to
the Supreme Court.
The time which the government has to
obtain an Injunction against the traffic
association before the new rates go into
eG - is so short. however, that ii is
-. .-ved the machinery of the government
hca been placed in entire readiness to OBJ
-a.a the ir junction IN case the President
. the !ttorney General make up their
p, Eds r seek Injunction.
The Attorney General said he had con-
s'dcred the advisa hility Of the Presidents
sending a message TO Congress today
ing immediate legislation permitting
determine upon the justness of rates be-
fore they were put into effect by the
railroads. after shippers had protested
against the proposed rates.
He said 1t was not deemed advisable
az this stage to send such message.
lie would recommend against such q
message il his advice was asked, he
added
La Toilette Acts in Senate.
The shippers protest against the ad-
vance In freight rates in the middle west,
which viii go into effect tomorrow was
taken UP in the Senate today by Senator
La Foliette. He introduced resolution
declaring thet the Attorney General
should institute suit Immediately to en-
join the advancement OF the rates.
lie also sought to introduce joint res
ol1tlon declaring il to he unlawful! TO ad-
vance rates without the consent Of the
interstate commerce commission.
Attorney General Wickersham was IN
me supreme Court this afternoon when
the decisions were announced. He went
later 10 the Senate end of the Capitol and
talked with several senators who have
peen active Ill the consideration OF the
railroad bill. 1t is understood that the La
Toilette resolution. demanding court ac-
tion by the Attorney General, was the
subject OF the conferences. although the
senator's would talk but little of what was
discussed.
After the Attorney General left the cor
rdor OF the Senate it became generally
understood that he had reassured those
with whom he talked that the Department
or Justice had not been asleep at the
switch. that IL had been making quiet in
Yestigattons of the increases in railroad
rates fled with the interstate commerce
commission and that il was about ready
10 take definite action.
Shippers Seek for an Injunction.
The delegation OF shippers from the mid
die west that called upon the Attorney
General yesterday TO invoke the Sherman
antitrust law against all the prominent
railroads operating between the Missis-
sippi and Missouri rivers which subscribe
TO the decisions OF the western trunk line
committee asked the Attorney General
to get: oui an Injunction before June
against the roads from raising their
freight rates according to the schedules
which have been prepared. The shippers
insisted that the roads had entered into
a combination TO raise their rate June 1.
AMI that the combination was contrary to
the Sherman antitrust law.
Attorney General Wickersham, while
promising to take the matter up immedi-
ately. gave the shippers to understand
that the time was very short i'm which to
examine the ease and 10 take the neces-
sary proceedings.
The shippers claim that the proposed
increases IN freight rates were unjust and
unwarranted, that projected action of the
railroads was to forestaIl legislation. and
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