St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-23
IRONS REPENTs.
He Once More App ears Before the
Committee for Examination.

He Once More App ears Before the.
Committee for Examination.
At the opening of the afternoon
session Frank III. Irons was again pres
ent and his attorney notified the COM
mittee that he would answer any
question that might be asked him by
any one, Oh the committee or off it. Mr..
Erwin, who had been notified that Mr..
Irons would be present. sent word that
he could not be in attendance on ac-
count of other business, and Gen.
Childs cross-eXamined the Witness
Asked relative to the information he
sent out regarding changes in prices.
he said he found when he went into the
office list Of people to whom
this information was sent, and his
predecessor had told him it was Gus
tomary to send the notices to the people
named on the list. He continued to
send the notices, and had made addi-
tons to the list; but no inc had ever
given him any instructions regarding
it. He was not aware of any arrange
ment between the elevator companies
and the railroads to regulate prices.
His only motive i'll sending out the list
was to be courteous to any one who
wanted the information. 1t was public
knowledge, and he sent it to any one
who wanted it. The charge for the
service was made to cover post
age and expense of preparing
the list, and witness did not
profit by reason of the work he did in
this direction. Had no communication
with Duluth people relative to prices
there. but received a circular from a
commission firm there in which prices
are given. There is printed market
sheet and any one can get it. Mr.. Irons
continued:
They furnished it to me before came to
Minneapolis. 1t is of no benefit TO me, and
! seldom look at 1t. 1t is a-legular market
sheet l do not use it us basis for any in
formation | furnish; for my information |
depend on the blackboard in the Minneapolis
chamber of commerce.
ALI Was Square
The witness again testified to the
chamber of commerce committee which
meets daily to determine the closing
prices of the Minneapolis chamber; one
of the committee is an elevator man
and the other two are commission men.
Their decision is accepted by every one
as official. The committee acts daily
and they daily determine which sale is
the best one of the day. az
Have you any knowledge of the employ
ment Of any agents whose business it is togo
about among buyers ard regulate prices aud
adjust difficdlties?' is
THE elevator companies have travelling
agents. but do not know what their duties
are" sdQ
Have you any knowledge of settlements
between elevator companies?' FIfr
NO. sir, have not g.
Witness continuing said he had NO
knowledge of any agreement between
the elevator companies whereby each
company was to receive certain share
of the wheat of any station, but had
heard elevator men say they were net
receiving their share OF the wheat alta
certain station, but it was only'a gossip,
He knew nothing about any recora
which the elevator companies kept of
purchases at various stations. Witness
never received dollar from any rail-
road company in part payment OF his
salary, and had no understanding with
them.
By Representative Barrett-Is there any
agreement whereby these men to whom you.
send your prices, to pay those pricesg
No sir. They are not bound by these
prices IN any way"
as an employe of the elevator company, to
send out these prices?
NO sir
Hasn't the sending of the information
tendency to keep down prices!'
II don't think So"
BY Senator Smith--If they didn't get the
price from you they would be obliged TO get
ii somewhere else?
Yes, sir
In answer to Mr.. SeYatson. witness
said his prices are the s,ine as contained
in the newspapers. with freight and
fixed charges sieiWcted.. He couldn't
see how his Fri e hal any influence
whatever on tire buyer.
Cross examined by McGhte Witness