The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1911-06-30
R. R. DEAL LEGAL
FEDERAL COURT UPHoIps UNION
OF SOUTHERN AND UNION
PACIFIC.
JUDGE HOOK DISSENTING
full Restraint Of Trade-WiIl
Appeal TO the Supreme
Court.

ST. Louis, Mo. The merger Of
The Southern Pacific and Union Pacific
railroads is legal according to an opin-
ion handed down by the United States
circuit court of the Eighth district.
Judge Hook filed a dissenting opin-
ion in which he expressed the belief
that the governments petition was
granted.
The bill charged conspiracy and the
Formation of a combination in viola
uOn of the Sherman antitrust act.
passed by congress to protect trade
and commerce against unlawful mo-
nopolies. The defendants named In
the case were the Union Pacific, Ore
gon Short Line. Southern Pacific, Ore
gon Railroad and Navigation company,
San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake
company. Atchison, Topeka. and Santa
Fe. Northern Pacific, Great Northern
railway. the Farmers Loan and Trust
company, Edward II. Hartman. Jacob
III. Schiff, Otto II. Kahn. James Still
man, Henry II. Rogers, Henry c. Frick
and William A. Clark
The specific allegation OF the govern.
ment. was that the defendant named
were engaged in furthering con.
spiracy the purpose of which was to de-
stroy railroad competition through that
part of the United States lying west of
Kansas City, by welding into one vast
cooperative organization all of the
railroad companies specified.
The government alleged that. with
the exception of the Great Northern
and Northern Pacific systems. which
controlled the Chicago. Burlington G.
Quincy, which the Hartman syndicate
had failed to secure control OF, that
there remained practically no competi
ton to keep the railroad traffic of the
whole western half OF the United
States from passing into the contro
Of the Hartman merger.
The Hartman plan, according to the
government. was as follows:
With such men as Jacob II. Schiff
Otto II. Kahn, James Stillwell. II. II
as his lieutenants. he is alleged 10 hav,
manipulated the purchase of 800. OO(
shares OF stock in the Southern Pa
cific and to have delivered them to tn,
Union Pacific. This voting control was
used to elect Union Pacific directors tC
/ similar positions on the Southern Pa
\ cific. The late 4. II. Hartman, who
was the originator and prime mover II
the consolidation. according to the gov
eminent, was made chairman OF tn,
executive committee of the Southern
| Pacific and later was elected president
of the road. The full details of tn,
merger were completed and the Nor
thern Securities company was organ
lied as a holding corporation and moi
only took over the stock OF both the
Union and Southern Pacific. but &c
quired control of every road Of an,
prominence operating tracks TO the Pa
cific coast.
Suit was brought by the government
under the antitrust law and the Nor.
thern Securities company was dissoly,
ed. Since then the government has
been occupied in an attempt to pre-
vent the Joint operations of parallel or
transcontinental lines. The common
directorate of the various railroads
made this, II is alleged. a comparative,
ly easy matter.
Since the suit as fled Mr.. Harri.
man and Mr.. Rogers have died, Judge
r. S. Lovett, successor Of Mr.. Harri-
man in the railroad system was by
stipulation. made a defendant. At
torney General Bonaparte and Assist.
ant Attorney General Purdy retired
from Office while the suit was pending.
Hearings were held in many cities of
the country.
Arguments were made In the case
before Judge Sanborn. Hook. Adams
and Van Devanter. now a member of
the United States supreme court. Oct.
10, 1910, in St. Paul. CA. Severance
and Frank b. Kellogg argued for the
government. Judge p. +. Dunno of Cal
!fornia spoke for the Southern Paci-
fic, former Senator John c. Spooner
appeared for Henry c. Frick, n. III.
Loomis Of Omaha. for hte Union Paci-
fic and David T. Watson of Pittsburg
submitted a special brief and argued
for all of tho defendants. The judges
Of the Eighth judicial circuit of the
u. S. circuit court have had the case
under advisement since the arguments.
The suit was tried in the circuit
court under the expedition act of con-
gress. Any appeal will be made direct.
ly to the United States supreme court.