St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-15

emily wants to know something, that the
officials of this road may be able to tell.
| have produced the general manager,
MIR. Moher, now in the chair, who knows
all about it. The committee wanted TO
gather its evidence as to the policy OF
the company. from a station agent. l
objected to that and Instructed the agent
not to testify. hold that the officers of
the company are in better position to
testify as to the roads policy than any
station agent. The desire of the officials
of the road is TO give any information
freely and honestly, that the committee
desires, but the company cannot submit
to having its policy given as from the
point of view of one of its station
agents." The examination of witnesses
was then begun by Assistant Attorney
General Childs.
"Mr. Mohler," he said. lyon have
general supervision OF the traffic de-
partment?"
Il have"
rs there any contract or combinatlO II
between your road and any other, or
any elevator companies for the purpose
OF controlling the price OF wheat Ill this
state?'
mo, sir. There is no such combina-
ton"
us there any contract or combination
to control the wheat business i'll your
interest, or rather chat of your road?''
mo. sir. The laws would not per
nit it,
Are there any instructions to your
agents as to the prices paid for grain?"
MIR. Mohler here explained that the
efforts of the road were directed to get
ting prices just as high as possible. SO
as to attract business to the road. Its
instructions were in that direction.
''Have you an agent named Dennis at
Hermann?
Very likely. There is agent there.
| dOu't know his name"
WAS he ever notified by your road
that too high prices were being paid
for wheat, and that reduction must be
madeW
mo such instructions were ever is
sued with my knowledge.
Mr.. MohIer declared that the Great
Northern had not dollars worth OF
interest in elevators anywhere in the
state except at the terminal poi nts, st.
Paul and Superior, and these were
under the state supervision.
The Story of Stowe.
"Do You know man named Stowe at
Wadena?"
Eyes, have known Stowe for some
time"
Did you refuse to allow him to erect
an elevator at Wadena, and if so, why?'
1--WE did refuse, for the reason that
Stowe wanted TO put up cheap hat
house. Mr.. Stowe is irresponsible and
could not meet his obligations, and our
aim is to allow only responsible people
to put up buildings on our lines. Again,
Mr.. Stowe wanted to use the same build
ing for a picket factory. Now we could
not permit this, for the reason that we
cannot go into manufacturing. If we
did we could not handle the business
ard that would be discrimination"
AS to shortages in shipments of wheat,
Mr.. MOhler was unable to explain them.
1t was hard to locate car thieves. They
stole canned fruit, tobacco. i'll fact, all
sorts of merchandise, but it was hard
to trace them. AS the railroad compa-
MES were paid by weight it was to their
interest to have the cars contain as
much as possible.
'Are the rates to Duluth calculated
on the basis of the rate to Chicago"'
1--WE calculate to get Lhe better of Chi
cago."
In reply to questioning as to the rea-
son for the 10-cent margin already re-
ferred to, he said that the rates of the
Great Northern were precisely at any
and all times just what the company
could afford to carry for. The rates on
the Minnesota lines to Chicago were
less than those made in Iowa.
"What is the Western Traffic associa-
tion?" asked MIR. Erwin.
"a delusion and snare" said Mr..
Mohler. alphabetically. 1.-The object OF
the association ostensibly is to do away
with disturbing competition"
AT this point Mr.. Erwin said that he
could not complete his examination in
less than half an hour. 1t was now
1890. An adjournment was taken I'M
til O'Clock.