The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-05-04

| terms, Of q technical nature, with which
only railroad men would have been famil-
lar. In this connection, also, there was a
remarkable knowledge Of the names OF the
who were summoned, showing that the
railroad men who gave the information
must have been familiar with the local
situation.
POSITIVE OF HIS GROUND.
During the examination Of witnesses at
the investigation, Counsel Day, for the
commission, proceeded along certain lines
as If seeking specific points, and 1t must
be said that he knew right where to look.
whether the examination resulted in any
thing definite is vet to be told. There were
certainly some duplicating statements, and
the end is probably not yet. There was a
woeful lack OF memory on the part of the
shipping clerks, and in some cases the
wrong man was secured.
Discussing this same point further rail-
road man said: ut was significant that not
a Milwaukee official was called, although
several were present. and it was noticed
that their demeanOr and actions were not
those occasioned by any undue worry or
anxiety. 1t also developed that the local
representative of the Pennsylvania line was
not summoned, as were representatives of
several Of the fast freight lines. Several
Of those prominently identified with the
milling interests were not called, the COM
mission evidently intending to save them
for conviction"
When the report was circulated that the
Milwaukee was responsible for the investi-
cation, it was, of course, promptly denied,
but the officials of competing lines will not
be made to think otherwise until the Mil
Waukee has shown different policy in the
matter of meeting competition.
The interstate commerce commission 10
one of the most autocratic bodies in the
United States. It's jurisdiction extends
from boundary to boundary, and 1t has
authority to summon witness from one
section of the country to the other. 1t can
address questions to witness the answers
! to which would implicate him, a power
which the United States court has not. 1t
compensates no witness for time or trans
portation, and can appeal to the United
States courts for power to compel wit
ness to attend an investigation. IT is diff
ficult to tell what a poor man would do
should he be summoned to far distant
point to answer questions. During the last
investigation several witnesses were
brought from a distance, and were required
to remain i'll the city several days at eX
pense, but, so far, they have heard moth
ing about any fee or compensation for their
trouble. A manager Of local milling con-
Germ was brought from Hot Springs, Ark,
at his own expense.
Those subpoenaed are required to be pres
! ent during the entire investigation, whether
called to the stand or not. In several cases
| with the miliers nearly every office employee
| including the heads, have been subpoenaed
| to appear May g. and the result will be the
| enforced closing of the office and the cessa-
| ton of business during the term.
| 1t has been asked why the investigation
| should be held in st. Paul BY far the
! greater part of the witnesses are Mime
| apolis people, who are required to go to ST.
! Paul in the morning and remain all day
every day during the investigation. Those
! coming from out of town to attend it would
doubtless prefer to remain in Mnneap Olis
| ST. Paul has no particular interest in the
| case. She has nothing to ship, and in fact
| has acted rather coolly regarding the whole
| affair. The st. Paul papers have been nGa-
| cOmmittal in their reports, and certain St.
! Paul business men have laughed in their
| sleeves at the situation.
Anything which is evelled at the milling
! interests of Minneapolis concerns the entire
| city, for the milling industry, followed close
| ly by the lumberinterests is the backbone
| of the metropolis. 1t is possible that the
| spirit of discrimination shown by Mr. Ar
| mour and other stockholders in favor Of
| Chicago may have also figured in the re-
| sponsibility of the Milwaukee road for the
| investigations !! II
| The transport ation problem of this coun-
| try is very intricate, complex and sens-
| tive one. Excessive competition has Gre
ated conditions beyond the control of any
| human brain to grasp. The actions Of the
| traffic officials OF railroads in the old line
| of their DUTIES are not understood, and the
! intricate problems which their Judgment
| must solve, Involving the welfare Of bust
! ness enterprises and communities are not
| appreciated by the powers that formulated
| the act to regulate interstate commerce
| and it is patent that upon it's own resources
| the commission would accomplish no more
| in the present examination into rates than
| it has in the many farces which it has con-
| Quoted in the past.