St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-18
IRONS GETS HOT.
Gen. Barrett Makes 1t Warm for
the Last Witness.


the Last Witness.
Frank III. Irons was called and testi-
fed to fhis business relations with the
elevator companies. His evidence SUBJ
stantiated the statement made by Mr..
Amsden and Mr.. Robbins as to his du-
ties. He said his salary was paid by
the various companies in proportion to
the number of elevators each company
had. He kept no account with the COM
panies, and kept no books.
II do not furnish the elevator companies
with prices. l furnish such list to Farm
ers Alliance people and others who ask for
them There are more Alliance elevators
that | furnish than any one else. l never
have refused to furnish any one who asked
for them | send them whenever there is
change i'll prices. Don't think | ever sent
out q list unless enc was requested. PROP
ably send out 100. My charges are to cover
postage-about ST or 81 year. | am aware
of no combination of elevators for any pur-
pose whatever. The elevator companies do
not as a rule meet in my office. They never
met in my Office tc determine prices. L
never received any commands from the com
panies to arbitrarily fix the price OF wheat
They are not such fools. "
Mr.. Irons explained his method ofsde-
termining prices, as heretofore testlhed
to by other witnesses.
Gen. ChIlds-Do you know GENT eman by
the name of Samuel S. Scott?
II know person by that name"
Did you ever have any conversation with
him"
yes, about stealing some matter out of my
Office
Il don't care TO bring that out. Do you
recollect ever having given orders 10 some
one something like this: On, SHOVE II up
couple of cents?"
Nothing of the kind ever occurred.
most emphatically deny knowing of any
combination, or of being the agent of any
combination. am simply clerk. My sal
airy last year was $4,000. and the companies
paid my office rent"
Cross-examined by Gen. Barrett, Mr..
Irons testified that there was commit
tee of the chamber of commerce which
met in his office early and determined
the closing price of the day and posted
1t on the ackboard, but they never
confer with me-"
DO they represent the elevator compa-
niesY'
DO the elevator companies take that
price?''
u take it and guess every one does"
About this price list; the more you SEND 1t
the more satisfactory it Isl"
Not to me. don't care d. who it
goes to-"
''Then you fill in a niche?'
what the h do know about niche:'
Gen. Barrett went over the ground
again as to the duties of the witness.
Asked specifically as TO what they were,
he said:
ITO look up freight rates and other mat
tiers"
what other matters?''
"Oh, l don't remember now"
SIS it your business to forget nowf'
II don't know as it is.
He Didn't bolt
Mr.. Irons declared, in reply 10 ques-
ton from Mr.. MCGEE, that he never had
the least thing to DO with fixing prices.
cit is not incumbent on any one to pay
any attention to the prices | send OUT
DO you know of any combination in this
state %
81 do not"
~ didn't know but you knew about an
Eric Olson combination"
II have heard of grain growers comolna-
tom
Gen. Barrett" Do the elevator companies
send out yonr prices -
II do not know
Witness testified that there was at
times difference of opinion as to the
closing prices OIL change, and the COM
mittee referred to determines it. I'm
investigating the case am called OH to
lOOh ups L olhlPiJ ANPOAo LIlO ioNbo anu
make no recommendations. If it was
question of price should report the
price paid"
Gen. Barrett continued badgering the
witness, and finally Mr.. Irons became so
disguised that he left the stand, put on
his coat and, with several others, left
the room; whereupon Chairman Gels
sell declared that the committee stood
adjourned until 10 a. m. today. Mr..
Geissel said he presumed he should be
accused of shutting out t he farmers;
''but mans patience sometimes gets
exhausted" he continued.
Gen. Barrett-It was an outrage to let that
man leave the stand without telling me to
stop.
MIR. Geissel-Great God. general. you had
gone far enough. and excused the witness.
Il am sorry you did it,
"Wel, the blame is on me. When ! make
upmy mind to do thing do"
This morning the committee will de-
termine upon the mode OF considering