Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-06-02
GOVERNMENT SEES
ILLEGAL COMBINA TON
DECISION TO INCREASE TARIFFS
HELD TO BE EVIDENCE OF CON-
sPIRAcY; RAILROAD MEN WILL
NOT BE INTERVIEWED.


prder granted last night at Hannibal
by Judge Dyer Of the United States
district court, against twenty-five
western railroads, to prevent them
from advancing the freight rates, was
certified to the United States circuit
court here today.
The railroad officials here generally
refuse to be quoted concerning the
suit. While they refuse to express
opinions at present they admit the
action of the government was sur
prise to them.
It was pointed out, however, that
the attack on the railroads is unique
In one respect. It is the first time in
which the commercial interests of the
chief western cities are not proceed
Ing in full harmony. The st. Louis
league of business men is not an
tagonizing the proposed increase In
freight rates, but in the other cities
opposition has developed.
The most important active forces IN
opposing the increase in rates are
said to be the Missouri Manufacturers
association and the Illinois Manufac-
turer's association.
i
was not the. purpose of the railroads
10 increase all rates in this territory
today. Only the commodity rates
were to have been advanced, which
applies almost solely to freight the
general public Is not directedly in
terested in.
Judge Dyer's Word.
Hannibal, Mo-, June 1.-Twenty-fve
western railroads were temporarily re-
strained last night by United States
District Judge Dyer from enforcing or
making q general advance in inter
state freight rates.
The Injunction was granted on a
petition filed by the government on
The allegations that the advance in
rates were arrived at by the defend
ants by agreement with each other
and without competition and in viola
lion Of the Sherman antitrust act.
The petition was filed in the Unit
ed States circuit court at st. Louis
Yesterday afternoon. It stated that un-
less such restraining order be is
sured the rate advances would become
effective at midnight last night to the
grave injury Of the people of the
United States.
The petition on which the injunc-
tion was issued, was presented to
Judge Dyer by Edwin P. Grosvenor OF
Washington, D. c., special assistant to
the attorney general and by Frederick
N. Judson Of st. Louis, acting as spe-
cial counsel. II was signed by George
W. Wickersham, attorney general,
William s. Kenyon assistant to the
attorney general, and Charles A. Houts
United States district attorney.
Roads Restrained.
The roads restrained from increas'
Ing freight rates today are: The
Missouri Pacific railway, Chicago &
Northwestern; Chicago, Burlington e
Quincy; Chicago, Rock Island & Pa,
cific: wabash company, Chicago Mil
waukee & ST. Paul; Illinois Central
Chicago & Alton, Atchison, Topeka &
sante Fe; Chicago Great Western
Kansas & Texas, st. Louis & San
Francisco, Quincy, Omaha & Kansas
city; st. Paul & Des Moines, Mime
apolis & St. Louis, Iowa Central, Fort
Dodge, Des Moines & Southern; Chi
CdEO, OL. dOl, 1uAAAlO1PoAio "
Elgin, Joliet and Eastern; Chicago
Peoria & st. Louis; Chicago, Mil
waukee & Gary; Minneapolis, St. Paul
r. Sault Ste Marie, Kansas City South
ern. Chicago, Indiana & Southern and
the Western Trunk Line committee.
The restraining order declared that
It was issued on the statement OF
nounsel for the government that they
would Immediately file an expeditina
certificate under the act of Feb. II
1908, providing for speedy determin'
alton Of the issues in contention.
The title Of the suit is ''The United
states of America, complainant, yer
sus the twenty-five defendants re
strained in injunction" It alleges "un
lawful combination and conspiracy"
What Petition Says.
Referring to the unlawful combina
tion and conspiracy alleged the peti
tion says:
saThe construction and maintenance
of the lines Of railroad has been as
sisted by the United States Of Amer
lea, and by the states and territories
and by the people Of said several
n =