The Washington times., 1910-05-31
WickerSham Will Begin Ac-
ton Today or To-
morrow.
KENYON is THERE
READY TO PROCEED
Conspiracy Is Charged by the Ship
pers, Whose Complaint Caused
President and Cabinet to Act.

President Taft this afternoon instruct
ed Attorney General Wickersham 20
bring an Injunction suit at once against
the twenty-five railroads in the Middle
West which have served notice on the
Interstate Commerce Commission Of an
intention to increase freight rates to-
morrow The suit is 10 be brought late
this afternoon or early tomorrow morn
ing. probably in Chicago.
W 6. Kenyon. assistant to the Attor-
nev General and chief trust buster OF
the Department Of Justice. is understood
TO be in Chicago today. It is expected
he viii take immediate charge OF the
suit.
The decision Of the President came af-
ter a long conference with Attorney
General Wlckersham and after the mat
ter had been thoroughly discussed by
the Cabinet at today's session.
Railroad Men Here.
The shippers had their inning yester-
day. and today a formidable array OF
high railroad officials arrived in the city
intent upon frustrating the shippers
Among the railroad officials who have
already reached Washington are George
r. Peck, of the ST. Paul system: G. W.
kreutzinger, Of the Monon; General
Counsel Pierce, and James German.
vice president in charge Of traffic, both
of the Rock Island. In addition, John
G SDooner. former Senator and general
counsel for a number of the largest
systems, is also in the city.
The shippers have arranged a further
conference with Attorney General
Wickersham this afternoon. They ex-
pect alsv TO ask the Interstate Com
merce Commission FOR a hearing.
Old Injunction Maybe
The shippers representatives in their
conference with Mr.. Wickersham
brought out that the roads which are
REPRESENTED in the Western trunk line
committee. which formulated these
rates. were nearly all members OF the
old Trans-AIissouri Freight Association,
which. twenty years ago. were perpetu-
ally enjoined from entering into any
compact % maintain rates. and il was
pointed cut that they are now Violating
that injunction. The Attorney General
Indicated that he had been looking into
that aspect OF the case and was NOT
certain WneJner an action in contempt OF
court would not lie. But that would moi
prevent the rates taking effect Juno 1
ana TINS was the immediate result de-
sired.
Allege a Conspiracy.
The numerical Representatives m
formed the Attorney General that they
had evidence that this June I advance
Is the result OF a careful plot. The
railroad representatives meet frequently
TO agree on rates, and when agreed
upon, tie these with the Interstate Com
merce Commission Ordinarily, as soon
as they are thus filed these rates are
also sent TO interested shippers for their
notification and information a long LIST
of these being kept by each road. But
in the present instance the advances
were not notified 10 the shippers- in
stead the rates were filed with the
Interstate CoWmissiOn. and in Omaha.
St. Joseph. Kansas CITY. and other
could be found save in the possession of
some railroad and that was not ac-
oessiblc- The result of this unusual
procedure was that 10 was near the
middle Of May before the shipping pub
lie learned what was really the signih-
cance Of these rates, filed on May / in
Washington, and intended TO take eff
feet June l. Then 1t required quick
action 10 organize any effective protest.
Attorney General Impressed.
The Attorney General was much i'm
pressed with the testimony about the
conspiracy of silence to prevent the
shipping public knowing about the new
rates until il should be too late to at
tack and enjoin them
The petitioners assured him that
there was no doubt that the railroads
mad determined, by this series Of ad-
VanceS, 10 get their rates high. in an
uCIPduon OF the new railroad bill pro-
NlolhB lhe Interstate Commission with
power 10 suspend advances and keen
them from going into effect tiI1 rbeI-
nay oe investigated and found rea-