The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-25
MORE RAILROAD MEN
A Party Of Officials Taking in tht
stockgrowers' Conventions.
TALKING ON FREIGHT RATES
There VIII Ee a Reduction, IL Is
Thought. From Chicago and
Far Eastern Points-Busi-
ness In This state.

S. o. Brooks of st. Paul, assistant
general freight agent of the Chicago
Great Western and s. j. Barclay, trav-
cling freight agent of that road with
headquarters at Helena, came in yes
terday over the Northern Pacific from
Dickinson, N. D., where they attend
ed the North Dakota stock growers
convention. Mr.. Barclay was notified
yesterday that he has been promoted
to be general agent for Montana for the
Maple Leaf line and on May l, when
the promotion becomes effective, he
will move his headquarters from Hell
ena to Butte.
II have been paying annual visits to
Montana for several years." said Mr..
Brooks yesterday afternoon, and In
all the points that 1 have visited this
year 1 find a better feeling than has
existed for the last four years. The
people are more hopeful and / expect
to see great times in Montana this
year.
1.-The business men of Butte will be
interested in knowing that there will
probably be a reduction in the fifth
class freight rates between Chicago
and Butte before long. For instance,
the rate on canned goods, which come
under this class, from Baltimore to
Butte. is $1.37, and the proportion of
this rate from Chicago to Butte is
$1.17. The lines west of Chicago are
considering the ACCESSIBILITY of making
this proportionate rate apply on ship
ments direct from Chicago, which will
make a reduction to Butte merchants
of about 13 cents per hundred. am
inclined to think that the reduction
will be made. There are great many
canned goods put up in Chicago and
with a difference of only cents hum
dred against Baltimore the canned goods
men of the western metropolis are
placed at a disadvantage. The con-
templated reduction will equalize the
rates and put the Chicago canned goods
men in a position to compete with
those of Baltimore"
The following officials of the Omaha
road also came in yesterday in spe-
cial car from the North Dakota con-
vention at Dickinson: G. H. MacRae,
assistant general passenger agent; E.
b. ODER, second assistant general
freight agent; James McCabe, super
intendent of the Chicago division, and
Capt. NJ. NJ. Wheeler, travelling pas
senger agent, with headquarters at
Miles City All of the visiting railroad
men will leave this evening for Helena
and Great Falls and will attend the
Stockgrowers' convention at Chinook
next week before returning to st. Paul.
I'm view of Justice Browns decision
in regard to the interstate commerce
act we now look for season of right
eousness and prosperity" said one of
the visiting railroad officials yesterday
afternoon. Heretofore the rule has
been that a railroad man could not be
compelled to testify as to violations OF
the act If his evidence tended to In
criminate himself, and this practically
made the law imperative. Under JUS
hnuouar
who knows that the interstate COM
merce act has been violated can be
compelled to testify or be held for con-
tempt. He is offered immunity for so
doing and his own mental anguish Is
the only punishment that he is ex-
pected to suffer. This ruling is in the
interest of justice and the strong roads
and the weak lines will have to shut
fie along as best they can. The result
of the ruling will be that rates will be
maintained"
Several of the railroad officials who
are in the city from st. Paul admitted
last evening that the boycott of the
Montana merchants on the st. Paul
and Minneapolis wholesale houses on
account of the hostility of the news
papers of those cities towards silver is
being severely felt. They fully con-
firmed the reports which have appear
ed in the Standard concerning the boy
colt, but refused to be quoted for OBJ
vious reasons. They said that the ef-
fects of the boycott can be plainly seen
in the increased freight traffic between
Chicago, Omaha, Kansas City and st.
Joseph and Montana cities.
James ]. Hill, president of the Great
Northern, is quoted as saying with re-
lation to the Great Northern and
Northern Pacific: THE supreme court
of the United States has declared
consolidation of the two lines Illegal
and there is nothing further to be
looked for in that direction. In fact
we ceased considering the project
more than three months ago. / think
the Northern Pacific reorganization
plan will succeed. Its promoters are
conservative and have marked the in
terest charges down. We are entirely
satisfied to have the Northern Pacific
security holders run the road and pay
its debts and be charged with the re-
sponsibility of meeting all proper obli-
cations, rather than have IL operated
by officers of two or three courts. con-
stantly contending for jurisdiction"