The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-01
ROADS ARE ENJOINED.
Continued from Page one.)

(COntiQueQ from Ra2e OneJ
by to effect and procure great sums of
money from the people engaged in in
terstate traffic, trade and commerce
within the region of the country afore-
said and from all persons having goods,
wares and merchandise to be shipped
by said railroad"
Continuing. the petition states that
the railroads intending to monopolize
the transportation traffic, trade and
commerce. between the different states,
did com bine cons ire, confederate and
unlawfully agree to organize and be-
come members in the western trunk
line committee with the purpose and
object of using said western trunk line
committee as a means for suppressing
all competition between said defend
ants, in the said interstate transporta-
ton trade and commerce, being carried
on by the defendants as aforesaid.
The petition then cites the St Paul
& Des Moines railroad. Fort Dodge, Des
Moines & Southern Railway company,
the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroad
company and the Minneapolis, st. Paul
e. Sault Ste. Marie Railway company as
later becoming members of the western
trunk line committee and parties to the
unlawful combination and conspiracy.
The Instrument Used.
Continuing the petition says that
since the date mentioned the Western
trunk line committee, unincorporated
with headquarters in Chicago, is the
instrument by means of which freight
rates have been fixed applicable to all
freight within the jurisdiction of the
Western trunk line commission. That
the charges now being imposed are
the same by all the defendants and
are so made by agreement is alleged.
The following is the method by which
the petition alleges rates are fixed by
the Western trunk line committee.
Each of the defendants is mem
Der of the western trunk line commit
tee. There is a freight committee COM
posed of the freight traffic manager
or general freight agents of each of
the defendants. This committee meets
once every month. Whenever any de-
PENDANT contemplates change in any
of it's rates, rules or regulations the
officer or official representing such
defendant on said committee suggests
such change to the chairman of the
committee who then dockets the same
for consideration and discussion at
the next meeting of the freight COM
mittee. At that meeting the matter
is brought up for consideration. II all
agree the proposed change is made by
all the roads, defendants herein. I'm
less there is unanimous agreement the
suggestion is rejected, and no road
adopts the proposed change of rates.
The petition alleges there is an
agreement between the defendants to
the effect that no rates Will be ad-
vanced or reduced except with the
concurrence of the entire body with
simultaneous advance or reduction Dy
all the others agreed upon at a meet
ing of the freight committee. Furth-
er 1t is claimed by means of member
ship in the committee all competi-
tion between the defendants is sup
pressed The western trunk line COM
mittee is said to have succeeded an
other association of similar charac-
ter, the name of which is unknown
but the complainant ayers that there
It Gin 10
character to which portions of the
United States have been assigned and
in which many of the defendants are
members.
The complaint charges that the
committee was organized and is main
tanned in violation of the provision of
the act of congress on July 2. 1890.
entitled, can act to protect trade ana
commerce against unlawful restraint
and monopolies," and {hat II con-
conspiracy in the restraint of the
commerce and trade of the United
States.
Railroads Were Surprised.
St Louis. Mo, June 1.-The tenn
porary restraining order which Federal
fudee d. P. Dyer issued last night at
Hannibal. Mo, prohibiting % railroads
from advancing freight rates was GER
tilted to the United States circuit court
here this morning
Processes
prepared and will be served by United
States marshals in the districts where
the different railroads have their gen.
eral offices.
Hinder orders of Attorney General
Wiclersham an eXpediting certificate
providing for a speedy determination of
the issues was filed. A copy of the ex-
pediting order was mailed this morn
ing to Circuit Judges Hook, Sanborne,
Van Deventer. and Adams.
Railroad officials here generally re-
fused to be quoted concerning the suit
TODAY. They said it was too early to
express opinions, and explained they
would prefer to keep silence for
awhile. because interviews could not
benefit their cause. The action of the
government, however, was a surprise
It was pointed out that the attack
on the railways is unique in one re-
spect. 1t is the first time in which the
commercial interests of the chief west
ern cities are not proceeding in full
harmony: in fact, several of the strong
organizations are siding with the car
riers. The ST. Louis League of Bust
ness Men is not antagonizing the pro-
posed increase in freight rates, but in
other cities opposition has developed.
The most important active forces in
opposing the increase in rates are said
to be the Missouri Manufacturers as
ISOLATION of st. Louis and the Illinois
Manufacturers association. 1t was
stated today that it was not the pur-
pose of the railroads to increase all
rates in this territory today. Only
commodity rates were to have been
to freight the general public is not di-
rectly interested in.
PRESIDENT RIPIEY,S VIEWS.