The Springdale news., 1915-01-08
American Government and Politics.


 On January Secretary McAdoo and Secretary Houston began a series of hearings to determine where the new fed eral reserve banks Were to be established. The federal reserve bank system went in to effect November If. On January 10 the Washington authorities and the New York. New Haven and Hartford railroad officials came to an agreement by which the railroad relinquished its trolley lines. its control of the Boston and Maine, and most of it's steamship lines. in order 10 avoid further conflict with tho Sherman antitrust law President Wilson nami- mated John Skelten Williams, then assis- tant secretary of the treasurv. to be comptroller of the currency and ex-offieio member of the new federal reserve board.
 On January 27 the president signed an important order which established per manent civil government in the Panama Canal Zone. to go into effect April 1. few days later he nominated Col. George W. Goethals to be first governor. On February Il the government brought suit Ut Salt Lake City to compel the Southern Pacific railroad to relinqaish its control Of the Central Pacific.
 Tn March government proceedings were begun against two railroads: The inter state commerce commission accused the Chicago. Milwaukee and St Paul road with =ayerstatement of income and other financial irregularities. and suit was brought against the Iehigh Valley road under the charge that it was monopoliz- Ing the anthracite coal industry through subsidiary companies Tn this month also. the department of justice announced that q plan for breaking up the transportation monopoly practiced by the New York, New Haven and Hartford had been ar ranged satisfactory to all parties
 Early in April the government met with lafa iy, {fc e4t eFtf tn 1fstt ts4a Delaware. Lackawanna and Western road and the coal-mining company of the same name existed as an Illegal and menoPois- tic combination. On April the commit tee appointed for the purpose announced that il had selected twelve federal re serve districts. with their central bank ing cities under the new currency law.
 On June the American Thread com panv which was proved to be a eombina- ton of manufacturers which practically controlled the output. forestalled the ae ton contemplated by the department of justice by dissalVing In June. also, the United States supreme court affirmed the power of the interstate commerce com mission to fix rates, and held that pipe lines are common carriers and must carry products at rates fixed by the commission.
 On June E the president made public charge that big business interests had been trying to force congress to adjourn. ] in his power to keep congress in session until the proper business legislation had i been enacted.
 In July the commission found that the former management of the New Haven road was crimnally wasteful and negli- gent President Wilson directed the at torney general July 21, to begin civil and criminal proceedings against the New York New Haven and Hartford road. and two days later the suit was begun in the United States district court at New York.
 On the first day of August the interstate commerce commission denied the petition of the eastern railroads for a general in- crease of per cent in freight rates. but allowed certain increases in the middle West. On August F the dissolution of the International Harvester company. desig- mated monopoly in restraint Of trade was ordered by the United States district court ct St. Paul, Minn.