The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-12-01

=
and quoted verbatim will see far
th6r on. The Dispatch said:
GREAT NORTHERN HEARING.
DR.. Fish Testifes Hard Against the Road.
Dr. Fish was the only witness who went on the stand
the rate reduction before the railroad and
Der Of reports and quoted figures show that is
table Tor the railroad company well as the public, to
make low freight rate the increase in business
sultng from the low would tt make up the
loss. He claimed that in the with the New York
CENTRAL when it reduced rates from Buffalo to New York
after the building OF the Erie CANAL the profits increased
issuance of watered stock He claimed that large |
amount OF the income Of the Great Northern during
past two years had been expended in building new lines
through other States and that it injustice to
the Minnesota farmer with high freight rate He plac
ed the capitalization of the Great Northern at
O0O and said that So 100000 per cent, would be
fair profit on that.
This is not fair statement OF the testimony on this
point although the word capitalization is used We
stated that even allowing, for arguments sake, that
the Investment is 60 Millions" But afterwards
showed that that 60 million only ten million in
cash-and that amount wholly in doubt. We gave list
Of the second hand truck exchanged for "stock"]
He thinks that the payment Of s. 900 rental for
the Manitoba system is all wrong He closed his argu-
saying that the rate of II cents per 100 pounds
from CroOkston to Minneapolis was wrong, and more
than the ra charges from Chicago to the seaboard,
and twice the charges from Duluth to Liverpool. He
said that the profit of the road hauling in other
states about 30 cents the dollar while in Mime
sofa it is more than half
At the conclusion of the testimony, NJ D. Grover at
torney for Great Northern asked for time in which
the road might consider the charges preferred.
The Pioneer Press report was much like the above,
only more full. It gives Atty Steenersons remarks
where he drove hatpn through Donnellys fat rotund
ity as follows:
- -
to procure witnesses There plenty OF people who
knew vast deal about the subject when they max
ing speeches writing for the newspapers but when it
came to finding out what they really did know that
could be presented in the form of testimony they had
knowledge at ALL
| Inasmuch as Donnelly had deserted the case and
present, he lost this litta CARTOON oi his
bellxahp. .4-.s------~~--ss---44
/ THE TESTIMONY.
Dr. Fish took the stand and was sworn.
The first statement made was that the rate of tic.
per 100 lbs. of wheat too high tariff because it
gave an enormous and unreasonable profit Secondly,
because it higher than all rail wheat rate from Chi
cago to New York. and a the Great Northern carried
wheat than the east lines, and b) the east lines
cost more per per mile to rum OF them main
tanning four tracks Third, it than twice the
freight rate from Duluth or Chicago to Liverpool.
On the first of these propositions he quoted large
number of authorities, having stated in the Pioneer
Press, large number of congressional committee re-
ports and railway reports to quote from. Every vol
used and page quoted was given in full to the stem
ographer.
The income from of wheat per mile, at Tic
per 100 lbs $68 per car, an unreasonable amount
That this 113 mills per ton-le for special bulk
freight, loaded and unloaded for the company.
The average receipts for freight per ton per mile
the Great Northern was LII mills (Minn. Ry. Rep p
whereas large classes Of freight double the
OF others-showng that the farmer made to pay
reasonable amounts.
The average cost OF carrying one ton one mile is Civ
by the road (Ry Com Rep 90, 345) at 5.14 mills
Therefore the profit the hauling of wheat 1O(
per cent, by their own figures
But Dr. Fish maintained that the figures of cost wer
excess of the facts they emb1 aced fixed charges
on stock, which, being fixed, and guaranteed, no
dividends" but lien-and lien upon three times tn
amount invested, afterwards shown. He then wen
on to give the cost per ton mile other roads, botl
: east and west.
Mr. Grover Atty. for the Great Northern asked wit
ness if he could give any amount generally regarded
sufcient for road to charge. The DR.. turned to tn
Rep of Select CON- q. s. Senate VOL Testimony p. 543
and read an extended examination of the witness for tn
railways, under of Senator Miller, showing tha
even the railways admitted that mills per tonmi
was suficient-rather that was not too high"
Witness then turned to other state reports first tax
ing up that Of Kansas where he found the charge
the higher roads to be 81 mills (p ~ of others IL
misfor all freight; and (p. 1917 ia mills the
age charge of all freight all roads, the Ct Northern
being in excess Of ALL And yet these Kansas roads
as the Of the ton-mie IA mills-whe the Grea
Northern gives it IA mills onlyl The wheat fregh
charge is higher than the average Of eights there
:. while the cost is but 5-7thsl
The Iowa roads reported charge Tor receipt) Q
1913 mills per ton per mile Ia Rep. 1889, p LII an
yet they made 81 900 profit than before tn
enforced reduction to this fgurel This 1913 mills