The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-03-08
Frye BUSHES to the Defense of
Huntington.
FAILED TO BLUFF MORGAN
THE LATTER THREATENED TO AP-
PEAL TO THE SENATE.
Huntington Gives New Definition
of a LObby-Admits That He Has
Spent Two Millions in Paying
For Explaining Legislation and
Protecting His Interests.

WASHINGTON, March 7.--Senator Nor
gan today resumed the questioning of c. P.
Huntington in the Pacific railroad inquiry
by the senate committee on Pacific rail-
roads. The first question was directed to
ascertaining whether the Union Pacific
road had lost money in consequence of the
diversion OF the traffic from the Central
Pacific to that of the Southern Pacifis.
huntington replied that it had not as it
was fact that more than so per cent of
the trans-continental business over all the
rail routes was carried over the Central
Pacific. He said this matter was arrang
ed by an understanding as to the rates
and distribution OF business among all the
trans-continental lines. He said this was
rot a pool but a mere agreement This
statement had the effect of diverting the
inquiry into the system of pooling and
division OF business, but Huntington pro-
fessed not to be familiar with the details.
lie said such agreements had been in
ERECT twenty-five years.
Mr.. huntington asserted that the aver
age local rates in California were as low
as in any other part of the world, not
Withstanding the expense of operating the
roads was proportionately much greater.
Mr.. Huntington said he never had heard
that freights intended for points short of
San Francisco had been carried on to
to pay the freight back to the local points.
There had been complaints, however, of
higher rates for short haul than for
long haul. but this was unavoidable when
the end OF the long haul was at tide
water, bringing the road into competition
with the water traffic. He admitted that
when the Central Pacific started first
there was some complaint among shippers
along the line of the road from the east
that they were compelled to pay rates
equal to what they would be If their
goods were shipped to San francisco and
then back, and they demanded if such
rates should be charged, the roads should
carry the freight twice. Senator Nor
gan asked II the California railroad com
mission had taken cogniZance of this dis
elimination in favor of the long haul,
and Mr.. Huntington replied that the com
mission had been elected on a pledge to
cut rates % per cent. but the question had
been taken into the courts and would be
settled there.
Senator Morgan-You contest then the
right OF California TO exercise this au-
thority?
Mr.. huntington deny the authority of
the state of California or anybody else
to take my property without giving me
due consideration. l said that even con-
gress has not the right to forfeit my
property, and l don't believe it will.
Senator Morgan entered into a long
examination of Mr.. Huntington as to the
rates on fruit and the distribution of the
especial reference TO the shipments to
the Mississippi valley markets.
Mr.. Huntington said the greater part of
the fruit shipped to these states from CAL
ifornia was sent over the Southern Pacific
and the Central Pacific in preference to
sending entirely over the Southern PacitfS
as might be done, but did not. know why
this was done. He could not explain why
the Southern Pacific should receive 81
per cent. OF the amount paid unless it was
because the Southern Pacific had the ca
pense Of gathering and handling the
fruit. Fruit shipments were expensive be-
cause of the necessity of carrying large
quantities of ice. The green fruit trans
portation did not cut any great figure in
the railroad business, he declared. In
reply to questions as to his disposal of
stocks in the Southern Pacific Ghe Ken
lucky corporauom Mr.. Huntington said
he had never sold any of it at any price.
Speaking OF the land grant of the Cen
trail Pacific Mr.. Huntington said 1t
amounted to about 100000 acres, but that
most of it was in western Utah and Me-
vada and was Of but little value. He
said the company had so far realized less
than $S,U0O0OO on the land grant
He said that the companies in which he
was interested had received from the gov
in grants about 100000 acres in
land.
When Senator Morgan asked what had
been done with the proceeds of the land
sold, Mr.. Huntington said it had been
used in building UP the road.
what else were we to do with it?' he
asked, and added: 1.-The building of the
Central Pacific road was the dearest piece
Of railroad work ever done in America"
An interesting episode occurred at this
Iuncture. Senator Morgan was pressing
an inquiry as to what Mr.. Huntington
thought Of the Pattison report, and asked
him if in saying the report was incorrect, |
he meant to impeach the character of the
members of the commission. Senator
Frye protested against the question, say
ing as he did not think it a fair ques-
ton.
Il don't care what you think it is or
what Mr.. Huntington thinks 1 am trying
to get att replied Mr.. Morgan.
Il don't want Senator Morgan to say
that" said Mr.. Frye.
THE senator has no right to plunge
INTO the midst of a question by me adj
dressed to the witness. | don't regard !
that as polite treatment
Il contend said Mr.. Frye, that the
senator has no right to examine the wit |
ness as to whether he impeaches the |
character OF any man."
Senator Gear, who was presiding, said
every member of the committee was here
On an equal footing, and every member |
must be treated with equal propriety and |
comfy.
Mr. Morgan said that if the chairman
meant to say that he had no right to put |
The question, he would appeal to the |
senate.
The incident dropped with that and |
he examination went on. In reply to !
questions, Mr.. Huntington said he had |
never kept lobby in Washington or else |
where, in the usual acceptance of that I
ERIN, to promote the interest of his road, |
out that he had always had trusted men, |
awyers and others, to explain legislation |
md protect his interests and that the |
from the first On this account in !
he national and state capitals had |
amounted to about S2,00O000.
Mr.. Morgan asked if Mr.. Huntington |
vas pursuing that plan to procure the
legislation which he was now seeking to |
obtain.
He replied that he was doing most of |
he work now himself. Nevertheless there |
we're still some expenses. He said he |
lad always employed men in this work |
whom he could trust.
1T is a case" said Senator Morgan, |
of trust and say nothing-a case in |
which faith removes mountains
Mr.. Morgan examined MIR. Huntington |
1t length as to contracts with shippers |
or rebates and other purposes looking to t
discrimination, but he said he knew moth |
ng about the details of these matters. |
lie said, however, that the rebate system !
vas legitimate
At PAS O'Clock Mr. Morgan announced /
le had concluded his examination of Mr..
huntington and the committee adj |
burned until next Friday. In closing Mr..
made a statement, giving in
concise form, the facts which his exam
nation had developed in regard to the
cost of building the road. the resources
upon which the work was done and the
DI RI o.IBo CATARRH