The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-23
THE EFFECTS OF
JOINT TARIFFS
Col. w. P. Clough of Northern Sc
curities Again on Stand in
Merger Case.
Joint Tariffs, He Said, Greatly Fa-
cihtated the Movement Of
Traffic.
The Taking of Testimony Is, for the
Present, Nearly Com
pleted.

When the hearing before Special Exam
fner Ingersoll in the government sun
against the Northern Securities com
many and other defendants. charged with
violation of the Sherman antitrust act
began to-day it was hoped that one SEES
sion would complete the taking Of tes-
timony for the present. Colonel w. P
Clough, vice president and counsel OF the
Northern Securities company, was re-
called and identified map Of the terri
tory covered by the railroads Interested
for the purpose of demonstrating that even
ii 1t had been 50 desired it would not have
been possible for them to control the rates
completely on 10 per cent Of the traffic
carried in the territory through WHICH they
run.
The witness told in some detail Of the
organization Of the Northern Securities
company and its incorporation. The capt.
tai stock was placed at high enough
figure to make possible the requirement
Of any desired railroad industrial
stocks Colonel Clough told Of the con-
Meeting points Of the Northern Pacific and
Great Northern and their population and
business interests in North Dakota, Mon
tana and Washington. He explained the
meaning Of ''joint tariffs and identified
documents showing the nature Of such tar
ifs, which were then placed in the rec
ord.
Joint Tariffs.
Joint tariffs" he said ''greaty facii-
tate the movement Of traffic, connecting
important centers. and such arrangements
aid in the movement Of large shipments
This arrangement makes a single route
out Of several independent ones and Is
the particular point in which the railroads
Of the United States far superior tC
those of Europe"
He presented and analysed a statement
intended to show the distribution of in
terstate business on the Great Northern
for the year ending June 80 1901. both
that In competition with the Northern Pa
cifc and that which is non competitive. 4
similar statement Of Northern Pacific
business was also presented The figures
had been compiled by the accounting de-
partmentS Of the two roads, and he said
they were as correct as any railway sta
tistics could be. in view Of the army of
clerks who assist In their compilation.
The government attorneys objected to a
portion Of the figures presented. on the
ground Of incompetence, insisting that
the original figures might be entirely corr
rect. but that the differences might be
entirely incorrect and improper. s~a.''. @ts@2
Colonel CIoueh Cross Examined.
Colonel Clough Was cross examined by
specia! Attorney ]. M Beck, who sought
10 learn whether there had ever been any
contest Win W.T.. Hill ana MS associates
In their practical control Of the Great
Northern. Colonel Clough said there had
not been any such contest and admitted
tnat Mr.. Hills policy would probably be
supported also in the Northern Securi-
ties company. He insisted that there
had never been any real attempt to con-
sclidate tho Northern Pacific and Great
Northern railroads and held that the only
action ever taken had been really nothing
but the personal actions Of Individual
shareholders. He said. further, that the
Great Northerr itself was a holding and
operating company, although owning no
railway lines Speaking Of the Northern
Securities company. he said its organizers
did not ADOPT the idea Of trustee for
their stock, as they did not desire to tie
un their stock that tight, as the stock
should be in such shape that it could be
dealt with. The effect Of possible adverse
Legislative action had been one influence
IN the organization Of the Northern Sc
curit1eS company, some supreme court
decisions had made a little uncertain the
question Of vested rights and some even
feared that their charters might be talk
en- away.
Colonel Ciough was still on the stand
when recess was taken for dinner.