St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-07-15
Interstate Commerce Com
missioners Put Their Foot
Down Hard.
The Illinois Steel Company
Subpnnaed to Produce
Stock Books.
Lawyers Thrown Into Terri
BILE Excitement by the
Demand.
Indicted Ticket Brokers to Be
Prosecuted by Worlds
Fair People.

CHICAGO, July 14.-Evidently the IN
terstate commerce commission is deter
mined to find out, if possible. the exact
relation existing between the Illinois
Steel company and the five incorporated
side tracks known as railroad COM
panies. Yesterday they were baff1ed in
their attempt to obtain this information
by the refusal of the principal witnesses
to answer important questions.
Before the commissioners had fairly
settled in their seats today conflict oc-
Cured and the commissioners decided
to bring the Illinois Steel company to its
knees by promptaction. Commissioner
Veazey and his colleagues made a
formal demand on Vice President Ster-
ling, of the Illinois Steel company, for
the stock books of that concern.
Mr.. Sterling's counsel, Lawyer With
row, demonstrated. He said it was an
unusual demand and that it was not
costumary for large corporations to
permit their private books to be in
spected.
Then you refuse to let the commits
sion see the books?" inquired Commits
sioner Veazey.
There was brief conference of law
yers, railroad men and steel company
officials. and the conclusion was that it
would be an unwise move to let the
books be inspected.
Then" said Commissioner Veazey,
II will subpoena you, Mr.. Sterling, to
produce the stock book.
This nouood co,natI,;,,r -
and right on top CT it came an order
from the commissioners making it i'm
perative upon the auditor of the five
railroad companies, j. S. Keefe, to yield
the secretary'S books for inspection.
After some further consultation the
commission was informed by Vice Presi-
dent Sterling's counsel that it would lie
impossible for his client to produce the
stock book of the steel company.
MIR. Sterling has not got it in his
custody" remarked the attorney. "All
the action of this company involving
vital matters is original with the ex-
ecutive committee, and until that body
instructs Mr.. Sterling to produce the
books in question he is without author
ity to do SO. However, he will accept
service Of the subpoena for the company
and endeavor to call meeting of the
executive committee so as to get the
stock book"
There seems nothing for the COM
mlSsloners to do but await THE pleasure
of the company and its executive COM
mittee. In the meantime w. r. Rrim-
SON, president of the defendant railroad
companies, and F. S. Chase, the assist
ant general freight agent of the Lake
Shore, were called upon to answer a
few questions touching the traffic over
the thirty-siX-mile system. 1t was
brought out that an agreement existed
between the Lake Shore and the Hi
nois Steel company whereby a switch
ing charge of So per car was made, but
no important information was ELECTED
from either witness and the commits
sioners temporarily abandoned the in
veStigation of this case.
At the afternoon session the first case
called was tine. complaint against the
Grand Trunk, East Saginaw q Michi-
gan and the Wabash roads. charged with
having given lower traffic rates than
those stated In the tariff sheets to for
eign and domestic points. The first
witness called to testify with regard to
the allegation was David Brown, freight
agent of the Chicago & Grand Trunk.
Chairman VeaZey stated the charge and
asked if 1t were true. The witness alb
ton, which was put to him in varying
forms with the same result.
why do you decline?" asked Chair
man VeaZey.
Because / might become party to
a prosecution in connection with viola
ton of the interstate commerce act"
replied the witness.
Mr.. Brown Immediately seemed to
realize the inference which his reply
suggested, and withdrew it, saying he
desired to consult his attorney before
giving reason for his refusal.
Sumner Hopkins, freight agent of the
Wabash, next took the witness stand.
His attorney stated that he advised his
sion's questions because he believed the
commission had no Jurisdiction to insti-
tute such an inquiry. Mr.. Hop
kins declined to answer every
one of the queries put to Mr..
Brown and refused to state whether he
had himself ever given less than the
tariff rates, or was aware of any such
rates being given, OF knew of any agent
OF the company who had solicited bust
ness with offers of illegal rates.
II: ii. Waller. agent of the Leligh
Valley Despatch, followed with like
refusals. After Chairman Veazey had
finished his unsuccessful examination,
he and his fellow commissioners con-
suited District Attorney Milchrist, and
the result may be that tomorrow the
three railroaiers will find themselves
in contempt.
1--WE will endeavor to compel these
witnesses to answer our questions and
Will invoke the aid of the courts. If
they decline they will be in contempt
of court and may be punished accord
ingly." These are the words of the
commissioners. MIR. Milchrist also saws
the witnesses will be taken into court.
THE INDICTED BROKERS.