Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1892-07-21
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Illinois Steel Company in an Unpleasant,
Predicalnent.

Illinois Steel Company in an Unpleasant
PredicaInent.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, July 14.-Before TIM
Interstate commerce commissioners
who are investigating the various rail-
roads centered here, had fairly settled
in their seats to-day, q conflict occurred
and the commissioners decided 70
bring the Illinois Steel COMPANY
to its knees by prompt action
At Yesterdays inquiry Presiden,
Crimson, of the five small road,
which are alleged to be owned by tha
Illinois Steel Company, declined tn
state by whom the stock of the Inns
which he is president is held. He aka
refused to state if the Illinois Stes
Company had any stock of the roads
In turn Secretary Keefe and Vice. Pres.
ident Sterling, on the advice of counsel
also refused to answer the question.
When the commission met this morn.
ing Chairman Veazey, addressing Vice.
President Sterling said: "Mr. Sterling
this commission asks you to produra
the stock books of the Illinois Steel
Company"
Before Mr.. Sterling could reply At.
torney Withrow, representing the Rock
Island road, jumped to his feet with an
objection. 'sThat is an unusual de.
mand," he said, because it is custo.
mary with all large corporations not to
permit it's private books of accounts to
be inspected"
''Then you refuse to allow us to es.
anime the books?" inquired the chair.
man in a voice which Indicated that
II l. T.
demand.
There was a hasty scramble among
the cotiere of lawyers for conference
would be unwise for the Steel COMPANY
to consent to an inspection Of ink
books.
"Then, l will subpoena you, Mr.. Ster
ling, to produce the stock books of the
company" said the commissions
shortly.
This announcement produced panic
among the lawyers. Lyman Trumbul
endeavored to compromise by saying
that if the commission would indicate
what it expected to learn from
the books they might be produced
This remark was lost on the chairman
and he added to the score by also sum.
moning Secretary and Auditor keete,
of the five roads, to produce the stock
books Of the roads. A comparison be.
tween them and those of the Illinois
Steel Company might result in some
thing interesting.
Dlst.-Atty. MiIchrist himself super
intended the drawing of the sub
penas. They directed the two Off
GERS named by order of the Interstate
Commerce Commission, under the act
of Congress creating the interstate
law, to produce the books called for. The
subpoena was placed in the hands of the
United States marshal to serve.
One Of Vice-President Sterling's rep
resentative arose and stated that
in the matter Of the order to pro
duce the books Mr.. Sterling had no au,
thority, in the absence of the executive
committee of the company, to produce
the books. He would endeavor to get
the executive committee together, and
from them secure the AUTHORITY
to bring the books in. Mr.. Sterling
would accept service Of the subpoena
however. This ended the investigator
until such time as the books are pro
duced. The officials of both the Stee
Company and the roads again formal!
declined to answer the questions whicl
they refused to answer yesterday. NJ