Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-12
Il lRRIXAy LINES TO DIVIDE
Proposal to Taft to Separate Southern
and Union Pacific.
MATTER IS UP IN CONFERENCE
Officials OF Road Understood to Have
Agreed 60 Dissolve Merger Un-
der Conditions Not
Given Ont.

! NEW YORK, Jan. IA proposition
looking to the separation OF the southern
Pacific and Union Pacific systems IL now
under consideration between President Taft
and Attorney General wlckersham and
officials OF the Hartman railroads. end
following the conference Of Attorney Gem
eral wiekersham and Judge Lovett, head
OF the Hartman system, in Washington,
II was said in Wall street today that an
announcement Of the settlement was only
question OF time.
The executive committees OF the Harri-
man lines including the Union Pacific
| company. the Southern Pacific company,
the oregon Short Line company and the
Oregon Railway and Navigation company
held their regular weekly meetings today
Judge Lovett announced in advance that
nothing other than routine business would
engage the attention OF the committees.
Nevertheless It is taken for granted that
the conference at Washington would be
very thoroughly discussed.
Judge Lovett declined to talk about yes
terday's meeting, but somo OF his asso-
ciates intimated that the visit to the ma
tonal capital had not been barren OF re-
suits, These results, 1t was added. were
quite satisfactory to the railroad interests
although no further details were youch-
safed. 4..l-
There Is reason TO believe that at yes
terday's meeting proposition was made hav-
ing for its ultimate end the separation OF
the Union Pacific and the Southern Pa
cific roads along the lines laid down by
the government in its suit '#sf
This proposition came from the railroad
interests and, according to Wall street
gossip is likely to be finaify entertained
by the government, providing certain other
conditions imposed by the administration
are incorporated therein. .f sr
It Is believed another visit OF the Union
Paciflc-Southern Pacific interests in wash
ington In the near future may be followed
by definite announcement regarding the
status Of the dissolution suit.
Task for Railroad Men.
President Taft has given no intlmation
as to what his attitude will be and his final
determination in the matter, 1t is stated
will depend largely upon the proposition
the railroads have to make looking toward
compliance with the antitrust law Toe
case viii not be dropped, 1t Is said except
upon such terms as will look to a cor
recton of the evils complained Of in tho
government suit, or unless the government
can be shown to be completely in error.
Yesterdays conference was attended by
Judge Robert s. Lovett, president of the
Union Pacific and allied Hartman lines;
Attorney General Wickersham, Frank B
Kellogg, trust buster" and special at
torney for the United States in the case
against the railroads; and Former Sena-
tor John c. spooner and Maxwell Evarts
of New York. attorneys for the Hartman
lines. The conference lasted from shortly
after 3 o'clock until p. m. None of the
members of the railroad party would dis
cuss the matter in any way.
Attorney General Wickersham has taken
no definite position in the matter as yet.
He went into the conference yesterday open
minded, for up TO this time he has not
been called upon to deal with the suit in
any way. No time was fixed for resump-
ton Of the conference. but 1t probably will
be within few days.
History of Suit.
The suit against the Hartman lines,
which consist in chief OF the Union Pa
cific, the Southern Pacific, the Oregon
Short Line and the Oregon Railroad and
Navigation company, was begun following
an inquiry before the Interstate Commerce
commission. 1t was during these hearings
Nnab lHt hAoShIOiulisB3 OI Lno
Hartman lines in other railroads first
came to general public attention. Mr.. Har-
rlman himself appeared before the COM
mission and was on the witness stand for
several days. Mr.. Hartman, it viii be
remembered, declined to answer number
OF questions put to him and the matter had
to be taken to the United States circuit
court for determination. Frank B, kellogg
and @. A. Severance Of st. Paul represented
the government in the case. Judge Lovett,
now the head of the vast system Mr.. Harri-
man built up, was general counsel for tho
railroads. Senator Spooner and John G.
Miliburn also appeared in behalf Of Mr..
Hartman.
The suit for the dissolution Of the combi-
nation of railroads was brought q in salt
Lake City and is pending in, the courts
there. Testimony has been taken in a
oR