Omaha daily bee., 1910-06-01

! HANNIBAL, Mo, MAY Si-I-nlted States
plsuict Judge Dyer tonight granted an or
| Ger restraining railroads, members of the
| western Traffic association. from putting
INTO effect general increase in freight
rates. The petition alleging an unlawful
| combination and conspiracy was filed by
Frederick n. Judson, special counsel. and
EdWain +. Grosveror special assistant to
Attorney General Wickersham.
! WASHINGTON, May sl-A decision AT
White House conference this morning he.
tween the president and Attorney General
! Nickersham to institute at once iniunc-
ton proceedings probably at St. Louis.
against the Western Traffic association to
| prevent general increase in freight rates
| tomorrow preceded by but half an hour
the introduction in the senate a resolution
by Senator La Toilette declaring it to be
'he sense of that body that such an in
junction suit should be brought.
Meme of the senator's in the chamber
when Mr. La Toilette put In his resolution
inew of the decision already reached.
"enator Crane of Massachusetts,. who saw
ne president at the conclusion of the con-
! ference with the attorney general was the
l'lst to take the news to the capitol.
senator La Toilette was prevented from
NuiS speech IN support OF his reSolu-
ton by the determination of Senator Elkins
to call up the railir ad bill for Immediate
consideration.
Attorney General Wickersham, after at
tending the sitting of the United States
supreme court, had series of conferences
with senators and 1t was decided that Sem
ator Curtis of Kansas should make the re-
ply to Senator La Toilette. IL the resolution
should again be called up.
shippers See Wickershnm
The decision to institute lni,Inction nro-
ceedings followed a conference I'm this cit,,
yesterday between Attorney General Wick
ersham anda COMMITTEES representing shin
pcis' consumes and producers in the terri
tory affected by the proposed Increase In
rates This committee was accompanied
TO the Department of Justice by Senator's
Clapp or Minnesota, Cullom of Illinois and
warner of Missouri and REPRESENTATIVES,
Nye Of Minnesota, Hitchcock and Norris
OF Nebraska Hubbard of Iowa, Madden oF
Illinois and Stafford of Wisconsin. The
committee protested vigorously against the
proposed increase.
Inc Wisconsin senator presented his first
resolution, which was a mere declaration
purporting to give the views of the senate
1t went IN as part of the routine bust
ness but when he requested present con-
slderation of it, objection was voiced bv
Senator Elkins.
Mr. La FOllette's Resolution,
Inc resolution reclted that the railroads
had announced a general advance i'm all
claSs and commodity rates, and after pre-
sehtlns several other considerations bv wav
of preamble, proceeded
hesoIVed' That it is the Sense of the
9el'te that the attorney general should
proceed at once to institute actions enioIn-
lhs such advances as has been and may he
IIieu win the Interstate Commerce com
ana should also institute prosecu-
tons of the railroads filing such ratas &C
ons III VOCATION of the act of congress
approved July g. 1890, entitled an act 10
- go trade ana commerce against un-
iawful restraint and monopolies.
Senator LaFollette said he had Intro
duced his rate resolution because the ~
creases to be made by the railroads rara
lhs' according to his estimate. from 20 "a
per cent would impose intolerable b,,rdons
on the people lie declared thar tho a.,
cuse that the Increases were made beca,sa
VI advanced wages amounted to 'mere nre-
'ehSe ana the higher rates would resuit
III an annual profit to the raiIroads ~
rom S4OOOOOOOO to $500 OOO, ,OOO.. He believed
-Iat lle hotce that the rates would taka
5iiect tomorrow was for the purpose or
beating OUT the railroad bin WITH ~
probable prohibition against rates he,na
'avaneed without the approval OF the Ins
erstate Commerce commission
VIII he Filed in St. LonIs
II is generally believed the suit sgoins.
ne railroads will be Instituted at 81 T,onIs
- lne most central point. The details ~
ne Iesal proceedings were left bv the
'reSiueht entirely in the hands OF Attornev
General Wickersham and the Depsrtn,ert
u justice officials. Mr. Wickersha ms co.,
erence with the president was a burriad
me but 1t is understood the matter ,ras
discussed at some length by the presIdent
u the cabinet meeting this morning
president Taft regards this situat,o,
ehewed evidence OF the Importance or tho
roVision In the administrative railroad buI
ow pending In congress. which II enacted
VII give the Interstate Commerce oornrois
,on tne Ilsht to suspend for sixty days
ny proposed increase in railroad rates