The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-22
SEEKING 70 SETTLE It.
RAILROAD MEN CONFER WITH
COMMISSION CONCERNING GRAIN
RATE DIFFICULTY
FEAR OF ADVERSE DECISION
1T Is Stated by Freight Official to
Make the DesirabiIity of
IL Compromise PO-
tent.

The lines interested in the grain rate
case at present before the railroad COM
mission are making an effort to secure
an adjustment. Freight representatives
of the important roads cited in the gen.
eral order of the commission for hear
ing on grain rates from Southwestern
Minnesota spent the entire afternoon yes
terday with the railroad commissioners
their secretary and statistician, in an ex-
ecutive conference at the offices in the
Endicott building. The case was threshed
over again, and a lengthy discussion of
rates and tariffs ensued. The commits
sion has not yet decided on any action
terminating the case, though it Is certain
that the lines interested have submitted
a proposition for consideration. Those
present as representatives of the lines
affected We're: Marvin Hughitt Jr., gen.
eral freight agent Of the Northwestern
line. Chicago; Darius Miller vice presi-
dent of the Great Northern; Francis b.
Clarke, general traffic manager of the
Great Northern; J. T. Clark, vice presi-
dent and general traffic manager of the
Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha;
+ d. Sewau, district freight agent of the
Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul, Mime
apoIis; J. II Hiland, general freight
agent of the Chicago, Milwaukee & st.
Paul, Chicago; a. c. Johnson, general
agent of the Northwestern at Winona.
Marvin Hughitt Jr. and General Freight
Agent HUand, of the Milwaukee, arrived
from Chicago yesterday morning. Mr.
Hughitt came up in the presidents pri-
vate car, and, upon the arrival Of the Chi
cago officials an informal conference was
held al the office Of Vice President Clark,
of the Omaha Arrangements were made
TO meet the railroad commissioners, and
early in the afternoon the party met at
the commission headquarters III the En-
dicOtt building.
From o'clock until in the afternoon
the commissioners were in conference
with the railroad officials. The session
was held behind closed doors. In answer
TO a question regarding the purpose of the
meeting, Commissioner Knox replied:
The session was not prearranged, and
is in the nature Of an informal confer
ence. These gentlemen called upon US
to talk over the coming hearing"
During the past three weeks Statisti
clan Yapp, of the railroad commission,
has prepared carefully constructed
charts showing the rates in question over
every mile of each of the Minnesota lines
of each Of the cOdefendants. In addition
TO this, careful review of the reports
received from these roads for the year
ending June 80, 1899, has been made, and
charts constructed from the showing Of
these sworn returns, giving the gross
operating expenses of each line, the pro-
portion Of operating expense in Mime
sofa, based upon the mileage basis; the
total revenues for the entire lines and
Minnesota's proportion on the mileage
basis, together with the proportion Of rev.
enues in other states. These charts show
also the percentage Of operating ex-
penses to gross earnings for the lines en-
tire and for the Minnesota proportion.
These freight and revenue statements
We're used in the conference yesterday
The representatives before the commits
sion were provided with their own tariffs
and these were compared with the records
of the commission, and the argument and
statement Of the case of the commits
slOneTs heard.
From one Of the officials present at the
hearing a statement was secured, indi-
eating that a formal basis Of settlement
OF the pending rate questions had been
agreed upon and definitely proposed to
the commissioners
One of the freight officials present said:
We desire to arrange some adjust
ment Of the present rate situation which
can be accepted without committing
either side Of the case to a definite de-
feat. If these rates can be adjusted salts
factorily without a contest before the
commission 1t will be a decided advan
tage TO the railroads. An adverse deci-
sion from the commission, sustained bv
the courts, would leave the case a danger
out precedent on which to base future ac-
tons in other localities. In the event that
the commission decides adversely vve viii
carry the case into the courts at once and
fight 1t to the finish"