The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-05
GREAT STRUGGLE
T0BEG|N MONDAY
Then Taft and Railroad
Presidents Will Be
Face to Face.
BOTH SIDES NOW
RESTING ON ARMS
Railroad Men Are Going to White
House With No Idea Of Sub
hitting to Ideas of Admins
tration-Case of Eastern
Roads May Go Over by
Default.
Especial TO The Times-pispatch.

Especial to The Times-Dispatch.1
Washington, June 4.--The govern
ment and the railroads arc resting
on their arms pending the preliminary
battle to be waged between President
Taft and tho presidents and attorneys
Of. railroads at the White House on
Monday.
The attitude of the railroads doesn't
warrant the assumption that they arc
going to the White House to submit
to the presidential policy. On the
contrary. all the accounts of the rail-
roads up TO date have been in direct
opposition to the plans of the admin
istration and to Its announced ideas
on the regulation of rates and rail-
roads. The question OF the Eastern rail-
roads and the raise of rates In the East
is now clearly up to the President. 1t
is his action that is being looked
for. and it is his views which are. of
special interest at this time. The At
torney-General has stated frankly
what he can do and what his limita-
eions are.
Seeking Evidence.
The Department of Justice is seek
ing the evidence by which it can place
the Eastern railroads and the raise
of rates in the same category as that
of the Western railroads
The ACCOMPLISHMENT is waiting for
the evidence Plenty of 1t was forth
coming in the case of the Western
railroads The shippers were alert in
that instance. So far no complaint has
been made, no direct terms as to
warrant the Immediate action of the
Attorney General. 1t is not likely. in
fact. that he will act at all until he
meets tho President on Monday
This much can he SAID and 1T IL
said on the very highest authority
here:
The Attorney-General. viii assume
that there is nothing the matter with
the raise in the Eastern railroad
TO him and shows good reason for the
complaint
1t is regarded as extremely remark
able at the Department of Justice
that considering all the outcry
against the acts of the Eastern rail-
roads. there is as yet no complaint
filed against them.
Tho Attorney General has stated cx-
plicitly that he could not proceed
against the Eastern railroad people
without evidence. and also stated that
the cases of the Western and the LAS
tern railroads are very different. n
fact. he says that the Eastern railroad
case is unique.
The apparent apathy of the ship.
pers affected by the Eastern railroads
is a phenomenon uncNplainable by the
Department of Justice. 1t Is certain
that If there be no evidence TO sus-
tain the suspicion of conspiracy or
joint action in restraint of trade. the
Attorney General cannot file a petit
ton for injunction.
May be Good by Default.
The case against the Eastern rail-
roads appears, therefore. at the close
What the President is doing no one
here knows.
There is only one other way of pvo-
ceeding against the Eastern railroads.
The President can order the Interstate
Commerce Commission to consider
specific cases, in which tariffs have
been raised to test their fairness.
This is a slow process which will con-
tinue until the new railroad bill goes
into effect with It's commerce court.
That court was intended to do away
With the laws delays,
1t is possible that the President may
have from the Interstate Commerce
Commission some very valuable in
formation obtained by Its agents With
in the past few days in New YORK as
to the raise of the Eastern railroad
rates Certainly the great fight is 10
begin on Monday, when the railroad
magnates and tho President are face
to face. 1t would be a marvellous re-
suit IL by reason OF that conference
the President would agree to modify
the railroad bill or to cease to proven,
illegal acts Of the railroads by means
of his courts,