The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-04-13

Matters Into His Own Hands.
The United States interstate commerce
commission is investigating the alleged de-
moralization in -four rates between Mime
apolis and the seaboard. The commission
| sitting at st. Paul, and the ses-
| sion was taken up entirely with
the testimony Of Irving L. Corse, chief
| shipping clerk in the employ of the Wash
burn-Crosby Company, of Minneapolis.
The session opened promptly at 10 o'clock
with Commissioners James D. Youmans.
Judson {. Clement and w. j. Calhoun
| present. Attorney J. w. Day acted as coun-
| sci and questioned the witness minutely
as to possible discrimination or favoritism.
The large court room was crowded with
interested railroad officials, attorneys and
with the witnesses subpoenaed for the Oc-
casion, and the liveliest interest was mani
tested in the proceedings. There were quite
q number Of Minneapo milling men pres
ent, both witnesses and spectators. W..
d. Washburn was among those subpoenaed,
but was excused until his presence is absO-
| lutely necessary. The witnesses present
were James 8. Bell, A. c. Loring, James
HanniS, NJ F. Fletcher, George p Ewing,
c. F. Hubbard, f. NJ. Fairchild Eugene
Sheehan, A. V. Marden w. l.. Marden. E.
d. Parker r.. M. Broughton, 8. o. Brooks.
S. c. Stickney, W. D. Washburn, B. C..
Churchill, u. h. CHRISTIAN.
RAILROAD ATTORNEYS PRESENT.
The various railroads were represented by
the following attorneys:
Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste Marie,
M. b. Koon and M. D. Num-.
Duluth South Shore and Atlantic, A. B.
Ellsworth.
ST. Paul and Duluth, Hodley & Armstrong.
Wisconsin Central, r. H. GILL
Chicago Great Western, F. B. Kellogg.
/ Chicago, Burlington and Northern, J. w.
Lawson.
Chicago, Milwaukee ard st. Paul, George
r. Peck.
Minneapolis and St. Louis, w. NJ
Northern Pacific, ]. NJ. Hannaford.
Great Northern and Eastern Minnesota,
M. d. Grover.
Chicago, st. Paul, Minneapolis and
Omaha, Thomas Wilson.
Legal representatives of the Chicago and
Northwestern and the Flint and Pere Mar
quette lines were delayed but will be pres
ent later.
THE FIRST WITNESS.
Irving l.. Corse, shipping clerk with the
Washburn- Crosby company, the first
witness called and examined by j. w.
Day, counsel for the commission. The
flour rate was the first one delved into, and
the witness testified that at present the
rate to New York on flour was 80 cents.
Prior to March Fl. the rate q cents
The rates were changed so frequently that
he could not tell definitely what the rates
previous to the q cent rate were. The
average shipments OF the Washburn-
Crosby company amounted to between 100
and $50 car: daily in the busy season, and
in the year just passed it aggregated about
10000 cars. The Eastern shipments were di-
vided between FIVE lines. Minor shipments
made over other lines. The witness produce
ed a memorandum of the number of cars
shipped since Jan. l. 1898. He designated in
all h. E.S tn Ra
Western roads consigned the shipments. In
thus designating Eastern lines he named
practically all the trunk lines. Witness
gave the impression that his company had
no particular favorites. In designating the
Ann Arbor and Grand Trunk lines in con-
nectiOn with the shipments over the Wis
consn Central, he thought it was because
those lines gave a lower rate than their
competitors, perhaps two cents lower.
He thought the rate was either % or 25
cents, and he agreed to secure the facts
in the case and present them to the COM
mission later on.
Did your firm ever receive rebates from
the Wisconsin Central?'
Yes. For OverchargeS, cars wrecked in
transit, etc.
What is the largest amount your firm
ever received as rebates from the Wisconsin
Central?"
II do not remember,
Rebates and drawba cks were usually paid
to the witness. so he said.
Witness could not say whether his COM
pany had ever been allowed d rebate as an
inducement to secure its business.
THE BOOKS PRODUCED.
The books of the Washburn-C Crosby Com
pany were then produced. Mr.. Day took up
the invoice book and asked Mr.. Corse to
explain by looking at the bills the rates
charged, the amount of the shipments and
the lines of shipment. One shipment via the
Wisconsin Central to Manitowoc, Montreal
o,,I thn ain fra1 TO Rr1rro olx No
was made at a rate of % cents. Another
shipment to Salem, Mass, via the Northern
Steamship line was at the rate of 2412 cents.
Still another shipment by the 500 to Phila-
delphia was made at 23-cent rate.
Mr. Days question drew from the witness
the Information that shipments were billed
through to Liverpool by the railroads. Mr.
Day endeavOred to elicit from the witness
some facts relating to allowances made
upon claims, and reverted to statement
made by Mr.. Corse that the railroads would
notify shippers Of rate changes several days
before the publication of the tariff, as re-
quired by law. The witness denied, how
ever, that the railroads had ever allowed
his company a secret rate lower than the
published one file with the commission.
Have you never made out bills giving
the weight, the car number, the destina-
ton, and memorandum in the corner
Two and half?" demanded Mr.. Day.
Il can't say. Yes, i think 1 have" re-
piled the witness, hesitatingly.
He was then asked about the claim ac-
count, and whether he had any records OF
amounts received from the companies upon
these claims
Mr.. Corse said he had no memorandum
upon those matters but thought his com.
pany might have.
What book would you call for If you
wished to discover the status of amounts
between your company and the railroads.
relating to the rebate allowed from the
published tariff?"
Il think they arc called the tonnage
books
"Who has charge of these books?"
Il can't tell YOU"
Mr.. Day then took up the matter Of
switching charges and the witness said
that the charges varied ranging all the
way from $3.50 to 50 per car. These charges
were equalized by the roads, and his COM
pany was allowed rebate for all in ex-
cess of the $3.50 charge.
AS to the Chicago Great Western road.
witness said that road had never allowed
his company a rate lower than the one
published.
HAD AN UNDERSTANDING.
Mr. Day made very little out of the wit
ness in the two hours and more of the ex-
animation, and it was not until Commits
sioner Clement took the question into his
own hands that results were noticeable
He began by asking:
Now as to these Overcharge claims Does
there exist between your company and the
railroads apv 1In6orSta pdipC tbot oI,;x~,. ~