Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-06-10
SIN FINDS HIMOUT
BEEN A0TIHG AS AN ARBITRATOR

In Opposition to the Interssate Commerce
Statutes Made and Provided - Made
Awards Of Percentages Of Business To
BE Done BY Roads in . Pool-Fact Dug
Up by the Commission While Investi-
eating Case 1t Chicago.
Chicago. June 10. - Sworn evidence
| was presented to the interstate COM
merce commission yesterday morning
to the effect that Carrot A. Hobart,
vice president Of the United States,
| figured in a direct infraction Of the
| federal law. 1t was shown that he was
| one of the three men who prepared q
pooling agreement between roads run
ming east from Chicago. This was en-
forced, according to one Of the members
| Of the commission, in absolute violation
| of the interstate commerce law. The
agreement was read to the commission
| by ]. L. Clark, general western freight
agent of the Lake Shore and Michigan
| Southern railroad. Carrot A. Hobarts
name was attached to ii, as II stands on
the records Of the commissions proceed
| ings.
Copy OF the Arbitrator Award.
Charges were made during the cam
paign that Hobart's sympathies were
| with the railroads because he acted as
| arbitrator for them on one occasion.
| 1t has never before been shown that the
| result of the arbitrator's decision was
| a violation OF the statutes of the United
| States. Clark said he had received this
"Arbitrator's Award OF the Joint Traffic
Association" Nov. 6. 1896. from G. J.
Grammer, traffic manger OF the Lake
1 III sS a. 81 h. e.
| sion, as follows: After due considera-
ton of the arguments presented and the
| statistics of traffic forwarded in the past
the arbitrators' award isthat east-bound
| shipments of live stock and dressed
| meats from Chicago and Chicago juno
| tions. included in this reference, re-
duced to an equivalent OF sixth-class
tonnage basis. be apportioned between
the lines in interest from and after
Sept. 1, 1896. as follows" Here the
| apportionment is given in tabular form.
Another paragraph and table gives the
decision as to east-bound dead freight
Railways Obeyed the Decision.
| The whole is signed by ]. F. Goddard,
| Carrot A. Hobart and f. II. Leonard,
arbitrators. Clark. under the question:
| ing of the commissions attorney, w. a.
| Day. admitted this decision was being
| followed In proof the following tele-
| gram. ordered produced by the commits
sion. was submitted. 1t is dated Cleve-
land. o.. Feb. 25. 1897. and addressed to
j. l.. Clark: BE sure to see that our
tonnage is reduced. II II Is necessary
to send Red line or Lehigh Valley ton
mage over Nickel Plate in order to re-
duce our excess you can do so. but be-
fore doing It you must arrange with
Il Dlnf 20 oil cd ffy,,
business to New York Central and
Lehigh Valley business to the Lehigh
Valley at Buffalo. / am very anxious
| that our current business will show a
| reduction at once. G. ]. GRAMMER."
Clark stated that between Feb. 6 and
April 4. 1897. acting under these in
structions, he had diverted to the Nickel
Plate 1854 cars of freight, aggregating
12.466.140 pounds. Other evidence as 10
similar transactions was produced later.
Direct Violation OF the Law.
| This Is a direct violation OF the In.
terstate commerce law. clause g." COM
mented Commissioner Prouty. The COM
mission learned another very interesting
fact-that the rules of the Central
Freight association and Joint Traffic as
ISOLATION are in force in spite of the
| recent supreme court decision. Then
| Tic dSSoSidtiOu mas Soue ny tne DOdru,
Chairman Morrison asked OF Mr.. Clark.
but its rules are still in force?" "Yes,
sir. this one. anyhow" said Clark,
referring to the rule about the length
of time cars might remain in Chicago
without being reconsigned. Clark was
by far the principal witness of the ses-
sion. although a very unwilling one His
| testimony also helped to arouse the COM
| missions curiosity to a much higher
pitch regarding certain peculiar entries
on the books of various roads.
Some Explanations Wanted.
Attorney Day and Commissioners
Morrison and Prouty were very anxious
to find out why the statement OF the
Lake Shore road should show a pay
ment of SIS per car to the Elgin, Joliet
| and Eastern road far above the
| ruling price-for transfer charges at
Chicago. They also wanted an explana-
ton of another entry Of 81 extra per
car which was alleged to have been
paid the Chicago and Eastern Illinois
| road on cars OF grain received from II.
1.-The c. and z. !. did not disclose this in
| their answer" said Day. I'VE should
like to know where II is and who got IL %
But Clark said he could not account
for 1t. He was sure 1t had been paid,
but could not tell why. He was ap-
parently Mortified at the suggestion that
this entry was made simply to conceal
| a rebate