Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1910-06-03
ROADS ENJO|NED
FROM RAISING RATES
rs WESTERN LINES ARE HIT BY
TEMPORARY RESTRAINING
ORDER.
SPEEDY DECISION IS PROMISED
Issued by Federal Judge in Missouri
at Understands Request.-Ac-
ton Follows Conference
With Taft.


Washington, June 1.-The govern
ment came to the aid of the manutac-
turers, shippers and consumers in
Western trunk line territory who Mon
day filed a memorial with the depart
ment of Justice asking that the rail-
roads be restrained on the plea that
they were unjust, from putting into
effect a proposed increase of rates
adopted by the Western Traffic asso-
citation. 1t also was contended that
the increases were the result of an
agreement between the railroads con-
trary to law.
The representations made by the
Omaha committee created a favorable
impression on the mind of Attorney
General Wickersham and after confer
ring with the president he decided that
United States District Judge Dyer at
Hannibal, Mo-, be asked to issue re-
straining order, which was granted by
him.
The intimation was given that the
administration was determined to con-
tiaue the fight on behalf of the manu-
facturers and shippers had the appli-
cation for a restraining order been
denied This, it is understood, was to
have been undertaken under the gen.
eral provision of the Sherman anti
trust law alleging a combination in
restrain of trade. Necessarily this
would have opened the door to pro-
longed litigation which would have
been met by a resort of the eXpedien-
tary act of congress. This law per-
mits of the advance of cases Of this
character for hearing befoer the
United States circuit judges.
It was also pointed out that ship
pers have recourse under the Hepburn
law giving the right to individual ship
pers to institute proceedings for alleg
ed unjust treatment in the matter of
rates.
The filing of the bill followed a day
of hurried conferences between Presi
dent Taft and the attorney general
and the matter, it is understood, was
gone into at some length at the cabi-
net meeting. The result reached was
that action be instituted at once, as
the rates complained of had not the
restraining order been granted, would
have gone into effect. In the senate,
also the question came up incidental
ly when Senator La Toilette introduced
a resolution declaring it to be the
sense of that body that an injunction
should be asked for
st. Louis, June 2.-The order of
Judge David Dyer, restraining 20
Western railroads from advancing
freight rates, was placed in the hands
Of the United States marshal here.
Three of the companies having gener-
al offices here will be served the first
thing. They are the Missouri Pacific,
the Wabash and Frisco systems.
Copies of the order were then sent
to Chicago, Kansas City, ST. Paul and
Parsons, Kan, where general offices
of the various railroads are located.
Following the filing of request to
expedite the hearing Of the case, 1t
was announced that the judges of the
United States circuit court, Adams,
Van Devanter, Hook and Sanborn, may
take it up before the vacation season.
In that event the hearing would take
place in St. Paul where the judges are
now holding court.
Though the temporary injunction is
not effective until served on all the
railroads it was announced here that
| L@, RI
the advanced rate.
Railroads Plan Battle.
Within the next two days attorneys
for the Is Western railroads, temper
Rrily restrained from advancing freight
rates, will meet here to plan an an
swer to the governments suit. It was
announced by an attorney for one of
ersham's petition for permanent in
junction will be bitterly contested.
The principal fight will be made on
the contention that there is an agree
ment among the railroads to advance
freight rates in violation of the Sher-
man antitrust law.
Frederick N Judson said he had
been retained as special counsel in the
rate case and as such would be an as
sistant to the attorney general.
In an effort to restore the rate en-
Joined, the railroads may come into
court with a petition to dissolve the
injunction Failing in this, the peti-
ton of the government for a perma-
nent injunction will probably come up
on July 5, on which date the order to
be served by marshals today has been
made returnable.
Richard EIIWood Electrocuted While
At Work in Saltwater.
Saltwater, Mimi, June 1.-Richard
Ellwood fell from a telephone pole