The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-20
told OF COMMUNITY.
HIPS Closing Testimony Devoted to
Relations Between Roads.
WHY THEY TOOK HARTMAN IN
'Twas Done to Show They Weren't
Afraid of Him-TerritOrial
Agreements Denied.

According to the best knowledge Of
James j. Hill, as given in his testimony in
the Peter Power case Tuesday after
noon. what to the public IS known as
community Of interest among railroads
has worked no change in the policy Of the
roads interested. Mr.. Hill said that there
was no agreement between the various
roads. interested as TO a division of the
territory or their relations to the public.
It has been the common impression that
thorough understanding had been
reached as to the territory which each
system should call its own.
Treatment of Hartman.
Mr.. Hill also said that Hartman was
made a MEMBER of the boards OF various
lines in which Hill and Morgan were in
terested to show him that
Hill and Morgan were not afraid
of him.. It was pointed out to Mr..
Hill that Hartman had placed his North
ern Securities proxy in Mr.. Morgan
hands, and in turn had been made mem
beS of the boards Of Morgan Hill lines.
ne said there was nothing significant In
this. Hartman and Schiff had been afraid
that the northern coalition would be too
strong for them and that the Burlington
might be extended to California or to
connect with Senator W. A. Clark's pro-
posed line from Salt Lake City. He had
told them not to be afraid, that the north
ern roads We're busy developing an en-
t1rely different section.
When asked if he had taken part in any
conferences with Hartman relating to an
agreement as TO territory or any phase of
the railroad situation. Mr.. Hill said that
ne had attended none touching the rela-
tlons OF the northern roads. Mr.. Harri-
|snan had asked him to attend a conference
between Hartman and George Gould over
rate troubles In the, southwest and Colo
RADIO. Their relations were much strained
and rates had been badly smashed The
Burlington was interested in the situation
to some extent, but as Mr. Hill was not an
officer OF the Burlington all he could do
was to listen.
Referring to the fact that the Burlington
and the Union Pecifc were competing
lines as testified by him. in his evidence
before the interstate commerce commits
sion, Mr.. Hill was asked if there had been
any abandonment Of Burlington extern
sions since May last. Mr.. Hill answered
in the negative. He did not know OF any
proposed extensions. President Perkins
of the Burlington had told him of a num-
Der of surveys that he had made. There
had been no agreement since that date
between the Hill and Hartman lines over
extensions. r. -..".>:. p.
Witness was asked if there had been a
better understanding between the Great
/
Northern Pacific since May 9Flast.
He replied with a smile that there was
no understanding unless it was deter
minatiom to maintain rates since the in
terstate commerce commission made its
visit west. -@...~ .r
Pres't Mel1en Testifies.
President Charles S. Mellen, Of the
Northern Pacific, unlike Mr.. Hill,
acknowledged he was g. reader, of the
newspapers. For much of his information
Of the big deals corrected with Northern
Pacific he referred to the press. Mr..
Mellen answered readily all questions re-
lating to the directorates and the operat-
ing of the Northern Pacific. AS far as
the naming of the new directors by J.
Plerpont Morgan he said he had known
nothing about it officially until b fifteen
minutes before the meeting. In answer to
the question if this was not a remarkable
procedure, Mr.. sMellen said that he had
never knownasit to happen before, but it
was a remarkable time. The hearing was
adjourned until Friday morning.