St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-15
FAILED TO MAKE A CASE.
Alleged Discrimination on the
Railroads

Alleged Discrimination on the
Part OF Railroads.
Frank B. Kellogg, of the firm Of Kel-
logg, Davis & Severance. was the first
witness called in the afternoon. Mr..
Kellogg testified that he acted as attor-
ney in hearing before the railway and
warehouse commission for j. G. San
born ct al, and the claim was made
that more was being paid for wheat at
Morris than at other points this side on
the line of the same road, which drew
grain from points on other roads. The
claim was made that the Northern Pa
cific and the Manitoba were dIscrlml-
mating against other points in rates, so
that the Morris buyers were enabled to
pay Minneapolis prices. Mr.. Sawyer.
who was a witness, and denied this,
claimed that the war was one b etWeen
the elevator companies. At the hear
ing letter was produced from s. Il.
Moore, of the Northern Pacific COM
pany, to MIR. Shelby, of the Manitoba.
The matter was dropped because of the
restoration OF prices.
The letter referred to was produced
from the files of the railway and ware
house commission The letter sug-
gested settlement by the railroads of
the Morris trouble as being beneficial to
both roads.
Other letters from S. l.. Moore on the
same case were introduced. suggesting
that the railroad officials get together
ard restore list prices and grades at
Morris.
A letter from Mr.. Shelby. of the Man
itoba road, in reply to Mir. Moore's let
ter.waS also introduced, in which it was
stated Chat the difficulty would settle
itself when buyers on the Northern Pa
citic line pay prices based on Duluth
and Minneapolis prices. The claim was
made that the Northern Pacific started
the difficulty. The letter stated that
prices at Morris were as high, and in
some cases higher, than were paid at
Minneapolis, and the charge was made
that the Northern Pacific must be haul
ing the wheat for nothing.
Another letter addressed to j. M.
Hannaford was produced, written by
Mr.. Shelby, of the Manitoba, in which
it was stated that A. j. Sawyer had said
the Northern Pacific road was backing
him UP, and suggesting that Mr.. Saw
yer desist from making such statements
lest they reached the ears OF the buyers
OH the Manitoba road.
A letter was introduced from w. S.
Alexander urging the Northern Pacific
officials to get Sawyer down to list
prices, in order that the trouble should
not spread.
Still another letter from Hannaford to
Shelby was read, in which it was stated
that Mr.. Sawyer had no understanding
with the Northern Pacific road, and
promising to caution Mr.. Sawyer not to
make any statements not warranted by
the facts
A telegram from S. L. Moore to Mr..
Chambers, of the North Dakota Ele-
yator company, saying that the North
from the Manitoba in regard TO the Nor
ris trouble, and saying that it was
thought best not to show any particular
anxiety regarding the matter.
A telegram from A. j. Sawyer to
Moore suggested visit to Minneapolis
to look over the Morris trouble in con-
nection with the elevator men.
A letter from Sawyer to Hannaford
announced that they were paying 10
cents over list prices at Morris and
were getting as near half the wheat as
they could.
A statement of wheat receipts and
prices at Morris, at the time of the
trouble, was introduced, showing 1885
bushels bought at cost of $40. 444.S6,
making cost at Minneapolis, with
freight added, $21,312.36, and worth
there S19,S29.S7, showing a net loss of
S1.4S2.4 40.
Mr.. Kellogg and Gen. Becker idenli-
fed all of the above letters and tele-
grams. Mr.. Kellogg said that he did
not know how the case was settled. The
trouble did not assume the nature of
contest between the roads. The North
ern Pacific alone seemed to be involved.
Mr.. Erwin asked if witness learned of
any agreement whereby the railroad
company was to make good the loss to
the buyers in the way of rebates.
Witness said he did not. The parties
whom witness represented knew of no
such agreement, and the railroad COM
panies testified that there was none.
1--WE sailed in to see what we could
learn" Tie ground of complaint made
was that the railroad companies were
discriminating against other counties
by carrying wheat from Morris at less
rate than from other points.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Grover, wit
ness said that Mr.. Sawyer testified at
the time that the fight was started to
see which buyer could get the most
grain. and that the Northern Pacific
road had made no agreement to make
good the loss. A statement made up
from MIR. Sawyer's books showed that
he paid the Northern Pacific regular
rates.
Then you failed to make outa case"
IL did,"