The Washington times., 1912-12-07
|W.LS Ms STAND ON
| SHERMAN ACT GIVES
LEADERS ANXIETY
Policy Of Unusual Import
ance on Account of UP,
Merger Decision.
py JuDsoN G. wEIIrvER.

UOUsu0UD O1HSuSDs UCSSeso " saso Shsoh
Pacific merger decision.
The decision 10 expected TO strengthen
the demands both for and against the
modification Of that act In Washing.
ton legislative circles, the opinion pre-
walls that no change Of the law 10 likely
to be enacted during the extraordi-
nary session Of Congress. That 1t will
be pressed upon the consideration Of
Congress at the long session. opening .
year hence, 10 regarded ~ certain.
Meantime. the policy Of the new Ad-
ministration u Q matter Of vastly
greater concern than It has been hero.
tofore, because Of the momentous re-
suits that might follow rigorous cam
paign Of enforcement OF the law.
Sees Danger to Railroads.
Members Of the big law and com.
merce committees Of Congress have
been anxious to get complete texts Of
the Union Pacific decision. In order to
inform themselves In detail as to the
latest construction and application
Eiven to the law. Beyond this. there
has been interested inquiry a. to what
the decisions may be expected to fol-
low the very literal lines laid down In
the Hartman opinion.
An official Of the Interstate Commerce
many I of the important % raj railroad systems
Of the country would be In danger Of
dismemberment II prosecutions. should
be instituted against them ana the same
construction applied 70 them that ma, has
trust railroad action. 'Ie the court mad
been disposed to make any concessions
to the rule Of reason" said this official.
"it might well have sustained the CIR.
cult court IN this case: Evidently II
casses. The published reports Of
fences pointing out that while compe.
tition cannot be enforced, i is possible
which would tend to prevent compei-
tion. and that that II the purpose Of the
law. This Is very suggestive obser-
walton.
Speculation Over New Haven.
"Mr. Hartman never wanted to con-
troll the Southern Pacific: that was not
necessary to his plans Of developing
the Union Pacific. What he did want
was to control the Central Pacific. for
that road afforded him his connection
from Ogden to the south Pacific coast.
But he could not get the Central Pacific
without taking the whole Southern Pa
cinc controlled the Central Pacific. So
ne did just that. Without the Central
Paciic. the Union Pacific was at The
mercy Of the Southern Pacific. As 1t
related to the Union Pacinc. the South:
combination in restrain Of trade"
Because the New Haven combination
has lately been so much In the public
eye. there has been inquiry as to
necessarily forecast q dissolution Of the
New Haven, II q Government suit
should be pressed. The impression
among railroad authorities familiar
with New ENGLAND. is that the New
steamship lines would be ended. but
there IL rot nearly 90 much confidence
that the control Of the Boston and
Maine by the New Haven would be in.
terfered with: The sama ofhciai said
whether the New Haven and the
Boston and Maine would be held TO- be
competing roads 10 not, in my opinion.
at all certain. The Boston and Maine
sought Western TRAFFIC extensively be.
did little Of It. Boston and Maine had
Western connections through the
Canadian Pacific. via Newport. VT. and
through the Grand Trunk via White
River Junction. 1t got . haul OF about
about 100 miles from Boston to White
River Junction.
See Change In the Reading.
Recently the New Haven has been
more actively reaching out for Western
business. Moreover. 1t 10 reported that
some arrangement has been made be.
tween the New Haven and the New
York Central. by which the New Haven
gets q voice in the control OF the Bos'
ton and Albany road. Since that prop
erty was leased by the New York Cen.
vestment' ,.as ~ nAs and 's report 1: that the New
asreed nnved on S"1 some plan Of joint Control,
| In the interest Of the roads traffic, and
the sane time to pTSteoii 81
the New England situation" :,
The general feeling in washington ID
| that the next big antitrust case Will oe
against the New Haven combination.
si .ssS .s sf.asd asd II: II:
| Union Pacific decision has been ac-
eepted BY authorities on this subject as
indicating that a sweeping rearrange'
ouired. The Reading company holds
| the securities Of the Reading railroad
controls the Central Of New Jerse.
and vast coal properties. About ter
the Lake Shore roads acquired nearly
but sfterward disposed OF q consider
able part Of 1t.
Question As To Pennsylvania.
Another railway organization thai
10 brought under inquiry Is the At
lantic Coast Line. The Atlantic Coas
Line Company Of Connecticut owns I
majority of>the stock OF the Atlantic
Coast Line railroad company, and alst
q majority Of stock Of the Louisville
and Nashville railroad. Under the rul
laid down in the Union Pacific case
these two roeds are regarded by in
| terstate commerce authorities as un
|questionably competitors.
Whether the Pennsylvania system
could hold the Pan Handle and also tn
Pittsburgh: whether the New York Cen
tral could retain both the Lake Shor
and the Michigan Central, are question
which authorities on Interstate com
merce and Sherman-act AFFAIRS are dis
/ cussing with the utmost interest, 1t
/ pointed out that business and financia
interests would alike deplore a program
/ that looked to disintegrat.ng the grea
systems that have been put together H
the last generation: and the only thin
that can remove that danger, is assuY
ance that the antitrust act will not
set at the business Of running amuck,
Woman Writer Coming.