The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-16
.BURLINGTON'S HEAD men
HEARD in MERGER CASE
PRESIDENT HARRIS AND DARIUS MILLER EXAMINED BY At
ToRNEYs FOR THE STATE.
Says About Operating Expenses but Didn't Die
Burngtons Action in Making Rates in Routing
Freight-Relatons Between Merger Roads. -s.

let is played without the star part. The
state summoned George q. Harris, presl-
dent of the Burlington system and Darius
Miller, it's traffic manager, chiefly Tor the
purpose Of getting into the records letter
written by James j. Fill to President Har-
ris telling what he wanted done with the
Burlington and using the word "instruc-
t1ons.'' .., .rF
The letter will have to be numbered
among those that never came. President
Harris produced letter from President
Hill, dated in July, and discussing the OPP
Grafton of the Burlington road, but it
was not the letter that the state wanted.
Its language was very general. and 1T was
Of no value toward proving the states
case, so it was not introduced at all. Mr.
Harris said if they would give him the
dates he would be glad to produce any
letters they wanted, from Mr.. Hill or any
one else; but the state could not identity
the desired letter In that way. SO the
star part at the hearing was not played
Mr.. Miller Is Guarded.
The days session, which adjourned at
1920, was spent in examining the two
Burlington officials Mr.. Miller was the
stand q greater part Of the time, while
Mr. Mum endeavored to prove that as
traffic manager of the Burlington he is
now carrying out instructions from Mr..
Hill as to rates and division of the traffic.
Mr.. Miller met this line Of question
ing very skilfully and appeared to be
amused by it. He talked glibly but
guardedly with an occasional jest, and
was not tripped into any damaging ad-
missions He told how while acting as
traffic manager, OF the Great Northern.
Mr. Hill told him that the Burlington
wanted him to fill a similar position.
In his new capacity he often talked with
Mr.. Hill, but got no instructions from him
and never consulted him about rates or
division Of the traffic. The traffic was ap-
portioned to the different roads in accord
ance with the per cent received from them.
He said there had been no reductions in
Joint rates over the three systems in the
past year except to Seattle and other coast
points, whereas he admitted the COMPETE
ton Of other systems was felt. In con-
ferring over these changes he had repre-
scented the Great Northern and Northern
Pacific, as we'll as the Burlington.
Definition Of "Communlty."
President Harris occupied the stand
about an hour. Mr.. Mum spent nearly
all that time trying to get Mr.. Harris
to define the phrase Community Of inter-
est as meaning common ownership. In
the testimony taken in the government
suit. which has been stipulated into. the
states case, Mr.. Harris used this term.
He skilfulIy parried the questions, and
insisted on rather vague def1nitioins. By
community Of interest he meant unity
of feeling between the roads, leading to
more stable relations and to greater traf-
fc Like, Mr.. HILL his main idea was
development of the country.
He finally admitted. however. that ccm-
mon ownership of stock was large fac
tor in his mind in creating this commun-
ity Of interest. He steered clear Of
Northern Pacific and Great Northern con-
solidation and insisted that all he knew
about these roads was as common owners
Of the Burlington. He had never owned
stock in the Northern roads, 'for Very
long at time.
"Unlon Of interests" Defined.
Mr. Harris testiged that the stock Of
his company was substantially all held by
the Great Northern and Northern Pacific
companies. Much Of the freight shipped
from the Burlington went to points
reached only by the other two lines.
Mr.. Mum then questioned Mr.. Harris
as to what he meant by "union Of in
terests,'' a term he used in the govern
ment case. Mr.. Harris replied:
1.-THE officers and agents of those COM
panies would understand that they should
promote general trade. interchange of
traffic between the systems
"There is in effect union of interests
of the roads, is there not?" asked Mr..
Mum.
There has been purchase but the
MANAGEMENT is distinct"
1.-THE control comes from the board OF
directors and from the stockholders, does
it not?" .r-'..
GAS far as I am concerned my only con-
troll comes from the board Of directors"
Mr.. Harris then read the list of directors
of the Burlington companies, both tile
''raildoad" and railway companies. The
latter. he said, now operated the system
under a lease.
Mr. Harris was again asked to define
L.yp 49, -.
Community Of interest" He was asked
what he meant by that. II really dom,
know how to define it, he replied. 81
mean sort Of community Of feeling
which would promote mutual interest"
"You mean that the merchants anG
manufacturers along the lines Of these
roads would feel a security because the
three roads were practically, one system.
Wouldn't Admit Common Ownership.
Mr.. Harris would not admit that there
was one system, or a common ownership
"How could this stability be felt unless
the roads were owned by common stock
holding source?"
Because they would feel 1t to thei
mutual interest to promote trade re
piled Mr.. Harris, Ito promote trade"
How would this operate to bring close
relations between the officials?'' .
"Well, blood is thicker than water, ant
railroad blood I suppose Is the same a
any other kind" H., .. ~ .2.-
''This railroad blood is stock ownership
Is 1t not?"
'Well, circulation, circulation Of bust
ness" ~ II Vi
"This all results in greater dividends
does 1t not?"
IT think it results in greater business
In promoting commerce, and breal1in
down barriers. This will naturally in
crease earnings"
Does this not also result In the main
tenance Of rates?'
. IT think it will result in the stability {
lawful published rates" Il
1T would result in stability of presen
rates, whether extortionate or not"
when we take more than we ought W
cut our threats, we restrict; trade. Their
IS a selfishness on our part, but 1t is a
enlightened selfshness.'' q
Like the Three Musketeers.
'In this community of interest eac
road tries to secure all the business it ca
for the others?'
Eyes naturally. but there is not NOR
of that The great benefit win be the de
velopment Of the territory through whic
those roads run. !"
You mean largely the feeling of Sc