The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-01-11
NEGOTIATIONS UNDER WAY TO
END RAILROAD ACTION OUT
SIDE OF COURT.
CONSULTATION IS HELD
Conference at the White bousa
Between President Taft and Govern
mental Officials and Officers Of the
Hartman Lines Relative to the Dis.
solution Proceedings Of Government.

Washington. Jan. 10.-Nagotiations
have begun looking to settlement
out of court" of the governments
suit for the dissolution of the merger
or the sa-callcd Hartman lines
brought under the provisions ar ~
Sherman anti trust law Rumors ~
such negotiations have been current
for some time and today they took
concrete form at n conference at the
White House. granted by President
Tart at the solicitation of the railroad
officials. 1t can be stated anthorita-
lively that no decision Of any sort
*as reached. II was said that todays
conference was the first of a series
of meetings to be held for the pur-
pose of determining upon what ground
If any. the representatives of the Har-
riman lines and the government can
meet for an adjustment of the situa-
tion.
President Taft has given no intima-
tion as to his attitude and his final
decision. 1t Is stated, will depend
largely upon the proposition the rail-
roads have 10 make looking toward a
compliance with the anti trust law.
The case will not be dropped, 1t is
said, except upon such terms as viii
look to a correction OF evils COM
planned OF In the government suit. or
unless the government can be shown
to be completely in error.
Today's 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 attorney of the United States
In the case against the railroads: for
mer Senator John c. Spooner and
Maxwell Evarts of New York. attor-
neys for the Hartman lines. None
of the members of the railroad party
would discuss the matter In any way.
Attorney General Wickersham had
taken no definite position In the mat
ter. He went into the conference to-
day openminded. for up to this time
he had not been called upon to deal
with the suit. No time was fixed for
a resumption of the conference. but
it probably viii be within a few
days
The suit against the Hirriman lines.
which consist I'm chief OF the Union
Pacific. the Southern Pacific. the Ore
road & Navigation. was begun fol-
lowing an inquiry before the interstate
commerce commission. IL was during
this hearing that the enormous stock
holdings of the Hartman lines In
other railroads first came To general
public attention. Mr.. Hartman him
self appeared before the commission
and was on the stand several days.
Mr.. Hartman. il will be remembered.
declined to answer number of lues-
tions put to him and the matter was
taken to the United States circuit
court for determination. Frank b.
Kellogg and c. A. Severance of st.
Paul. represented the government in
the case Judge Loyett, now the head
of the vast system Mr.. Hartman built
up. was general counsel for the rail-
roads. Senator Spooner and John G,
Milhurn also appeared on behalf of
Mr.. Hartman.
The suit for the dissolution of the
Hartman merger was brought in Salt
Lake and is pending in the courts
there. Testimony has already been
taken in a number of cities.