St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-31
SHIPPERS ARE SLICK.
Interstate Commissioner
Morrison Gives a Pointer
to Corporations.
Minnesota's Representatives
Detail Grievances Concern
ing Traffic Rates.
Country Customers Enter
tanned in a Manner to Be
Remembered.
Doings Of the Day Gathered
From Odd NookS and
Corners.

Six gentlemen occupied room 30S at
the Ryan yesterday afternoon and dis
cuSsed for several hours the status of
railroads i'll Minnesota, special atten-
ton being paid to alleged discrimina-
tons against certain localities. Grouped
in a semi-circle were Interstate Rail-
road Commissioners Cooley and Morri-
son, and Messrs. Gibbs, Becker, Will
Jams and Bixby, of the Minnesota COM
mission of railroads and warehouses.
1t was an executive session. and no
testimony was taken, the services OF
stenographer not being required. Judge
Cooley presided, and addressed interrog-
atives to the Minnesota representa-
tives, Commissioner Morrison, as
he expressed it, allowing his col
league ito have full sway"
That the commissioners meant business
was emphasized by the fact that Mr..
Morrison had discarded the felt hat
which has been part of his makeup
for years. and he appeared with a prac-
teal looking Derby, so dear to the heart
and head of every commercial poten-
tate. 1--WE may not remain longer than
to-day" said Judge Cooley, in response
to query by representative of the
GLOBE, land our trip may be termed
one of investigation OF evils complained
of by state railroad boards, We will
not take testimony, but will confine our
researches to confidential conversations
with railroad commissioners through
out the country, and endeavor to get at
the foundation of certain allegations
against railroad corporations. 1t is our
experience that information can be OBJ
tanned on many points at controversy
much better when we pursue
this course than if we opened
the doors and admitted the public"
When supper time arrived Judge Cooley
requested an adjournment until to-day,
as he had business at Minneapolis.
whittier he hurried as soon as possible.
Commissioner Morrison. who is al
ways fond of a constitutional, and feels
perfectly at home
IN A HOTEL LOBBY,
said last evening that nothing tangible
of the afternoon. General allegations
were made" he continued, but moth
ing specific was brought out by our in
vestigaton. 1t is our purpose to gather
up fragments here and there, and when
we return to Washington we will prob
ably embody the suggestions made in
general report. One thing has been
demonstrated thus far, however, that
shippers are pretty cunning, and all the
complaints came from them because of
some real or fancied discrimination.
They make life a burd n to the state
railroads, who in turn communicate
the grievances to us.
Charges made against railroad usually
grow out of the efforts of shipper to
obtain the lowest rates possible. and, as
our travels and investigations rave
shown, are not justly attributable to ad-
verse action by the railroads against
certain localities. A shipper will go to
a railroad company and make PROPOSE
ton to have his goods carried at less
than tariff rates. A long argument en-
sues, and in nine cases out of ten the
proposition will be rejected. A visit is
then made to another road, and with a
view to carrying out his project the
shipper will assert that if the road does
not see fit to comply with his request a
rival company will, and then the trouble
begins to brew. OF course, it is only by
implication that the railroad officials are
informed of the prospect of a cut, but
that is sufficient to start the ball rolling
in our direction and arbitration becomes
very difficult matter. Ra Iroad people
are pretty good at making promises,
too, and some of them when they APP
pear before us are profuse in making
statements regarding reforms which are
not intended to be carried. Between
shippers and railroad officials the bed
assigned to the Interstate commerce
commissioners is truly not one Of roses"