Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-02
BLOW TO RAILROADS
hotPrepared for Move Against
Increase of Rates.
POLITICS, THEY DECLARE
Administration Accused of Deserving
Stand It Had Taken.
ANXIOUS FOR THE FUTURE
Insurgents Are Elated, Insisting
That Their Stand on Railroad
Bill Is Endorsed.

The administration action in enJoln-
ing the proposed increase of freight rates
by western railroads has created bound
less comment among politicians at the
Capitol. All day yesterday the resident
and visiting representatives of railroad in
terests We're inquiring of their friends in
Congress the meaning Of the administra-
tons course and its possible bearing on
future policies.
The action of the Attorney General was
profound surprise to the railroad in
terests and created consterna ton as we'll
as amazement. They were surprised be-
cause they have fostered the belief all
along that an agreement among railroads
upon freight rates was in accord with
the spirit of the administrations policy
and the policy of the republican party
favoring pooling.
Quote President Taft.
The railroad men say that the admin
istrations own bill. prepared by the At
torney General, contained clause au-
thorizing pooling, which was defended by
the administration leaders in Congress.
Furthermore, only few weeks ago Pres
ident Taft declared as to pooling agree
ments, that mo one suggests the wisdom
of instituting prosecutions under the anti
trust law to prevent this traffic.
Imagine their dismay, then, they say
when at the eleventh hour the admins
tration steps in with an inJunctlon 10
estop the very proceeding which,. they
claim, they weres JUSTIFIED In believing
the administration to view with COM
placency.
Naturally, the railroad interests charge
that this move on the part of the admin
istration was one Of political expediency.
No one denies that the result VIII be to
the political advantage Of the admlnls-
tration, but the friends OF the president
in Congress deny emphaticaliy that the
motive was political.
They say that rate agreement OF the
western roads far exceeded the scope or
a reasonable pooling. contemplated 10y the
sanction In the original
bill, and that if it had been consummated,
the transmissouri region would have
been at the mercy of combination OF
railroads just as inimical to the PUBIC
interest as would have been the famous
Northern Securities merger which the
United States Supreme Court denounced
as against public policy.
Where They Part Company.
Right here is where the representatives
of the railroad interests and the adj
-
company-namely. how far did the pool
ing agreement sanctioned by the Presi-
dent in his recommendations go, and did
the agreement sought to be effected by
the roads exceed that policy?
Politicians at the Capitol say that there
Is wide ground for difference of opinion
upon that score, and that a charge by
the railroads of having been dumped
by the administration is susceptible OF
argument and refutation.
The progressive republicans in Con-
gress are in high glee over the admin
istration's course, claiming that 1t amply
indorses the fight they have been making
against pooling, and against many other
provisions Of the pending railroad bill.
They say the administration is now work
ing with them, and that they can justify
to their constituents every vote they have
cast in Congress against the administra-
tons bill.