Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-06-01

interstate transportation, trado
and commerce"
The petition then cites the ST. Paul
4 Des Moines railroad, the Fort
Dodge the Des Moines & Southern
railroad. tho Elgln. Joliet & Eastern
RAILWAY company. the Chicago Mil
waukee q Gary Railroad company,
and the Minneapolis, St Paul & Sault
ste. Marie as later becoming members
OF the western trunk line committee
and parties 90 the unlawful comhina-
ton and conspiracy
RATES by AGREEMENT
Continuing the petition SAYS since
the date mentioned the western trunk
line committee, unincorporated. with
bca d. quarters iu Chicago. U.s. the instru-
ment BY means Of which freight rates
have been fixed and that the charges
now being imposed are the same by
all the defendants ana are so made by
agreement.
Tho following IS the method by
which the petition alleges rates are
fixed by the western trunk line COM
mittec:
RATE FIXING METHODS.
Each Of the defendants is O. mem Der
~ the western trunk line committee.
There is a freight committee, compos-
cd OF the freight traffic managers or
general freight agents OF each of tho
defendants This committee meets once
every month Whenever and defend
ant cuntcmplatcs change in any
rates, rules or regulations, the officer
or officials representing such defend
ant on such committee suggests such
change to the chairman of the COM
mittec who then dockets the same for
consideration ana discussion at the
next meeting Of tho freight COM
mittce AZ that meeting the matter Il
brought up for consideration. IT all
agree upon the proposed change, IL IL
made by all the roads defendants here
in Unless there is unanimous agree
ment the suggestion Is rejected and
no road adords the proposed change
Of rates"
The petition says there Is an agree
ment between the defendants to tho
effect that no rates VIII he advanced
or reduced except with the concur
renee Of tho entire body, with
simultaneous advance or reduction by
all the others agreed upof-", mect-
ing Of tho freight committee. FUR
Their N is claimed by means Of member
shin I'm the committee, all competl-
ton between tho defendants il sup
pressed.
The western trunk dine committee Is
said TO have succeeded another as
soctation of similar character, tho
name OF which is unknown. hut tho
complainant AYERS that there are
other associations Of similar charac,
ter TO which portions or the lhlteu
states have been assigned ana IN
which many OF the defendants arc
mem scrs.
The complaint charges the commit
te, was organized and is maintained IN
violation OF the sherman anu-trus'
law. $500,
part three OF the petition says that IN
'9r9 on carly In 1910 the defendants CON
L. . IL IL
vance I'm commodity rates to prevail
throughout the western trunk line ter
ritory- ,.,,.
.gThe freight committee held meet.
ing. the date OF which Is unknown
continues the petition. and the com
modify rate named In the interstate
commerce commission tariff Ale, ana
sometimes called Hosmer's tarin NO
I'D. WAS gone over and considered
The conference resulted in an agree
nent as 10 new advances to be made,
After they had been determined upon,
each Of the defendants notified the
chairman Of the western trunk llne
committee, W. ". Hosmer Of Chicago,
who had printed a schedule % the ad-
vances called supplement No. to
freight tariff No. I'D"
on April 81. 1910. Homser. as agent
for each OF the defendants, filed sep
aratclv on behalf OF them. with the
Interstate commerce commission, the
new schedule to become effective June
l. 1910. on the enforcement thereof Is
restrained nv this honorable court.
The petition charges that the ad-
vanced rates are the direct outcome Of
a agreements IN suppression Of compe-
tition and ~ an unlawful combination
in rostrnlt Of interstate trade, arrived
at and made effective through the
agency of the western trunk line com
mittee. and that the acts OF the com
biuation I'm advancing rites are the
result of conspiracy.
Further charges are made that the
and excessive rates fixed
without competition apply 10 vast
number Of prime utility and daily nee
esslty. and that the unreasonable ad-
vances In freight charges apply To APP
proNirately so per cent Of the com
modities carried, and win increase
freight charges in amounts varying
from 10 10 20 per cent OF the rate here
tcfore charged.
The petition closes by saying that
unless the unreasonable schedule 81
rates Is enjnned II will become effective
June l. and the citizens Of the United
States who ship commodities through
tho western trunk line committees
territory will be compelled 20 pay
arbitrary and excessive rates.