St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-17
WANT THEIR INNINGS.
The Elevators Have About
Two Hundred Witnesses
to Summon,
But Chairman GrisSell Thinks
Ten Could Tell All the
Story.
Gen. Barrett Has a Few New
Ones for Today's
Revelation.
The Alliance Proposes to Use
the Testimony in a
Bold Fight.

NJ. d. Grover, the acute attorney OF
the Great Northern. who knows hawk
from a handsaW without regard to the
direction Of the wind, was the first wit
ness called in the wheat investigation
yesterday morning. Gen. Barrett was
deslrous of knowing who were the
stockholders of the Eastern Minnesota
road, and Mr.. Grover said the majority
was held by the Great Northern compa-
ny and the minority by Eastern capital
lists.
"Ihen the Great Northern controls
the policy of the road" said Gen. Bar
rett
"No, sir: the board of directors con-
trolls the policy of the road" replied
Mr.. Grover.
1T is the same thing" said Gen. Bar
rett. 1.-THE Great Northern elects the
board of directors" Mr.. Grover was
excused.
II. f. Sanford, of Elbow Lake, q
member of the state board of equaiza-
ton. was sworn. He testified that he,
with others, had built farmers Gle
Vator at Elbow Lake for the purpose OF
harding farmers grain direct. In two
years the company had paid the cost of
erecting the building ana earned 81 800.
They had bought on Il 10-cent margin,
the freight being " cents. The capac-
ity of tho elevator was 10000 bushels,
and cost 81, 100.
The long wanted Alfred Wells, of
Herman, was put on the stand at II
O'clock. He was wheat buyer, having
bought $1,000 bushels last year. Mr..
Dennis. station agent of the Great
Northern, had told him he must get
down to list prices or he might DE shut
off from getting cars. Dennis had not
said he must get down to list prices or
his ears would be shut OFF," but had ad
Vised him in an apparently friendly
manner to get down 10 list prices. Wit
ness had bought not for The profit in the
wheat, hut more FOR the purpose of col
Letting from the farmers who owed him
bills.
I'VE have only one more witness. but
! don't Know what he will testify to-"
said Gen. Barrett.
Better take him out and hor c. cd
him." suggested Mr.. McGee.
MI. MCGEE desired to know at this
point if the elevator companies were to
be given any opportunity to present
their case Mr.. McGee said the grain
growers had been allowed to summon
all he witnesses they wanted, and the
elevators demanded the right to be
heard. Mr.. Geissel summed up the
whole matter in the ultimatum that
when the prosecution got through the
defense might use up all the funds that
were left. After that they would have
10 pay their own witnesses.
''ln other words" said Mr.. MCGEE,
'the prosecution may use $500 of the
fund 10 summon and examine witnesses
WHO know nothing, and using nearly
year In do it, and you graciously give
us $500 and three or four days to pre-
sent eur defense"
Mr.. Childs thought it would be pub
lie calamity not to hear both sides.
Senator Melt, of BIRDS Eye, was q
vetent;sry witness to the Squashing of
farmers elevator by the combine" who
put u1 the price, getting all the grain.
MS was seven years ago. at ElktOn,
and Since then they had tried it again.
with slightly more satisfactory results.
At the opening of the afternoon SEES
sion. d. A. Christy was present to eX-
PLAIN the discrepancies between his
testimony before the house committee
and his affidavit before this committee,
but his attorney was unable to be pres
ent, and quite controversy occurred as
to whether he should be called in his
absence. The Christy side claimed that
they had been ready to testify at the
morning session, but here presented an
account of Mr.. Erwin's absence, and
now they objected to proceeding with
ont their attorney.
Senator Smith wanted to have mo-
ton passed that in future the commits
sion examine witnesses in the absence
OF attorneys. He was tired of waiting.
He said he had been absent in the
morning, and "the only thing he re-
GREETED was that he wasn't absent this
afternoon"
Gen. Barrett asked the privilege Of
Introducing two witnesses today, al
though the limit of time expired last
night, as the witnesses could not arrive
sooner. The permission was granted.