The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-15


ST. LOUIS. Nov. 1.-THE interstate
commerce commission resumed tho hear
ing OF the complaint of the St Louis
Business Mems League and other inter
vencrs against the A. r. s. +. railway
system and other tYanscontinental rail-
road lines today.
The audience was considerably larger
than on the previous day. having been
augmented by a number OF witnesses
who had come 10 testify for one side
or the other OF the controversy.
Gardiner Lathrop. of Kansas City. gen.
eral solicitor OF the Atchison. Topeka
Il Santa Fe system. was In court and
entered his appearance for tho road he
represents.
1, was manifest today that. while the
railway companies are the aeminal de-
PENDANTS in the investigation. the real
tight Is one between the tobbers of the
Pacific coast on the one side and those
of the Middle West on the other. In
deed. from the telegram sent by the
Philadelphia Hardware Merchants Asso-
citation TO the members OF the commits
sion on Monday. stating that that body
sustained the Pacific coast and the rail-
road side OF the question. II may be said
that the two seacoast sections and the
country tributary thereto have united in
the fight against the interior country
All the witnesses thus far have testf-
fed that II was not on account OF an
excessive rate exacted by the railroads
that their business on the Pacific coast
had been ruined. On the contrary. they
thought the rate very moderate. but that
by abol.shing the mixed carload feature.
as was done at the Milwaukee confer
ence In June. 1885, and establishing
wide difference between carload and less
than carload shipments. the railroads
had effected a scheme which effectualiy
shut the st. Louis jobbers out of the
Pacific coast territory. Under the con-
ditions thereafter existent It was aoso-
lutely impossible for them TO compete
with the Pacific coast jobbers and manu-
facturers, who bought In New York and
other Atlantic coast cities In carload
lots and saved. under the present So
called postage stamp rate. the amount
Of the freight rate from St. Louis and
other interior cities to the same Atlantic
seaboard markets.
few minutes prior to the opening OK
the session ex-Gov Joseph Fifer. OF I'LL
nois recently appointed a member OF the
commission, reached the Federal building
and was sworn In by United States Com
missioner Gray.
A. ]. vanland.ngham resumed his test-
mony, and again stated II was his BELIEF
that the differences between carload and
less than carload rates and between the
tariff and commodity rates was not lsgiu-
mate.y based on competition either BY land
or water.
On cross examination, Attorney b. 3.
pllSbury, of the Pacific Coast Merchants
and Manufacturers Association. attempted
to bel!ttls the Importance or the 81. Louis
protest Mr. vanlandingham replied that
the complaint represents the view Of 800
- a,yfr I'll
organization OF the traffic bureau ana called
attention TO the fact that the bureau. not
being a corporation, could not Ale pro-
test under its own name. and hence II hao
to be Ned BY the Business Mems League.
which has a membership OF Us merchants.
representing all lines OF trade. Mr.. Van
lansiingham fled as exhibits all OF the tar
IFS and document. which he used in CIV
ing his lengthy testimony. Those included
certified records OF the ST. Paul meeting.
at which references to a contract between
the railroads and Pacific coast tobbers were
made.
J. NJ. Allen. trafIc manager OF the Meyer
Bros. Drug Company, testified that In many
instances the profits on drugs shipped by
his house TO the West were almost entire
~ satsn up by the freight rates. the bur-
den being especially heavy on account OF
the differences between carload and less
than carload rates.
Attorney Pilsbury endeavored to show
that the complaint was based on a nero
selfish business interest and the desire OF
ST. Louis jobbers TO extend their territory
farther west.
Mr.. Allen said there was no such motive
and demonstrated that the rates East from
the Coast were much lower than those for
the same distance west OF II. Louis.
With Mr.. Aliens testimony the forenoon
session ended.
AT the afternoon session J. r. Hickman.
OF ST. Louis. traffic agent for a number
OF ST. Louis firms: II. H. McKibeon.. Sec
rotary OF the Peters Cartridge Company.
Of CINCINNATI 3. p Dutton, traffic mana
ger OF Kelly. Maus & Co, OF Chicago. ana
f. ". Hurth. secretary Of the FarweIi
Osman & Kirk Hardware Company. OF ST,
Paul. MINI. all testified that the present
rates had practically driven them out OF
the Pacific coast market.
Mr.. Hurth said that prior to the ado.,-
ton OF the tariff OF June Is. 1885, his firm
did large ana profitable business on the
Pacific coast. from Los Angeles to Seat
tie. When this present rate agreement
went into effect his business was totally
destroyed. at leass so affected that no lost
money each month. He concluded to stick
cut. however. hoping tina; a change would
he made soon and an opportunity given
him to make profit In May 1899
he said, the Great Northern and Northern
Pacific modified their existing rates at a
meeting held tn 81. Paul. giving them more
favorable rates. AZ result OF this change.
he ,aid. re ecii in one month In tho state
% Oregon. Ss4.U-t worth Of goods while IN
California. which he could not reach he
ala not sell 81 60 worth He insisted that
there Was TO good reason .or the differ
encs In rate between carlcad ana le~s Than
carload lots and that the maintenance Of
the existing schedule ~ tariffs ny trans
continental lines was in violation az taa
interstate commerce act. ard that II was
a manifest discrimination In favor OF a
particular section o. the eountry--ths Pa
ellie.
The hearing adjourned at o'ciock. t.
meet tomorrow morning. when the taking
Of testimony will he continued.
Yaie.s Athletic Association.