The Saint Paul globe., 1897-06-04
DENIED THE BOOKS
AN INVESTIGATION OF THE COM
MERGE COMMISSION BLOCKED
BY THE REFUSAL.
Mr.. MORRISON ovERRULED.
CHAIRMAN IN FAVOR OF FORCING
THE MATTER TO AN
ISSUE.
Mr.. MORRISON ovERRULED.
STOCK YARDS co. DEFENDANT.
Jurisdiction of the Commission De-
MED as the Corporation Does
Business Only in Illinois.

CHICAGO, June 81. c.. Dennison,
secretary and treasurer of the Union
Stockyards & Transit company, block
ed the investigation of the interstate
commerce commission today by refus-
ing to produce before the commission
the books and records Of his corpora
ton.
Mr. Newlin, of the Texas Cattle
Growers association, demanded the
books, and asked the commission to is
sue a subpoena to compel the secre-
tary to produce them. Attorney Bah
cock claimed that the Union Stock
yards &, Transit company was an I'LL
nois corporation, doing business en-
tirely in Cook county, and that the
commission had nothing to do with its
affairs.
Chairman Morrison was of different
opinion, and wanted to issue the sub
poena, but. after a conference with
Commissioner Prouty and other asso-
ciates, he announced that the subpoena
would not be issued. He said he con-
sidered the Union Stockyards & Trans
it company, although an Illinois corpo-
ration, doing business entirely in Cook
county, was handling interstate busi-
ness, and hence was subject to an in
quiry by the commission. He said,
however, that his associates did not
agree with him, and hence no subpoena
would be issued.
The object of the efforts to bring in
the books and records of the COM
pany was to show that the railroads
formerly held the stock and organized
the stockyards company, and Mr.. New
lin was desirous of showing the rela-
tions of these roads and this company
at the present time.
Secretary Dennison reported at the
opening of the afternoon session with
the data in reference to organization Of
the company. He said the original
stock was for $500,000, subscribed for as
follows: Chicago, Burlington & Quin-
CIV, SIPS, 900; Northwestern, $125, 900; Rock
Island, SIPS, 900; Chicago & Alton, $780,
900: Illinois Central, $50,0000; packing
houses, $4,000. He did not know the
present holders Of the stock or any de-
tails Of the transfer of ownership by
the railroads.
Mr.. Babcock then renewed his mo-
ton for dismissal Of the stock yards
company on the ground of lack Of
jurisdiction, but Chairman Morrison
again ruled the motion out.
Then came several hours of work
over cases of comparatively little i'm
portance, most Of them being continued
1t was after 5 o'clock when the COM
mission called UP the complaint of
the American Warehouse association
against the Illinois Central, Wabash
Michigan Central and nearly every
road in the Western states. The COM
plainants constitute q chain of ware
houses all over the country, and they
seek to have the commission enter an
order upon the railroads to cease from
storing and warehousing grain, ex
cept upon unclaimed grain and other
commodities. They charge this service
is being performed by the railroads
for nothing or next to nothing and
that it interferes with the legitimate
business of the regular warehouse
men.
George B. Barnett, of the Wabash
line, moved to dismiss the complaint
on the ground that it did not specify
any act Of violation of the interstate
commerce law. Mr.. Summerwell