The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-25

regardless of holdings. That common In
terest can be served by natural conditions.
Our interests are so in common that we
cannot injure others without injurtnE
ourselves
Mr.. Hartman insisted that the common
interest Of all systems now affiliated under
the Northern Securities company must be
considered rather than the so-called
community of interests" He said he
was member of the board Of directors
OF the Securities company and MI. Hill
was its president, but the combination
under that company affected rates in no.
wise. He told how, shortly after the
scramble over Northern Pacific stock, he
had given Mr.. Morgan a proxy in order
to sell the stock again. 1t was under
stood the sale was to be effected in cash
and securities-the latter in the Northern
Securities company, if it should be or
ganized. Mr.. Hartman eventually con-
trolled about 100000 of the stock OF
this company. The question as to whether
the formation of the Northern Securities
company and the association Of SO many
roads might influence rates, brought de-
NAL.
Might '.Stop the Discrimination"
cit may enable u.s. said Mr. Hartman,
"when brought so close together, to
eliminate the prevailing distrust as to the
various lines maintaining traffic rates.
The complaint has been of too high rates.
We may be able to stop the discrimina-
| ton in rates of one shipper against an
other"
He admitted, however, that this need
| not have been done by means of such a
company. The suggestion was made by
the commission that this company also
might prevent reduction of published
rates by competing roads. He did not
consider that the company afforded
power Of concentration for pooling. Other
larger considerations than stock holding,
! he said, Influenced rates.
eff Mr.. Hill or myself owned all the
| roads, the people would get better rates
| because of conditions. With a freer hand
we could the better regulate rates to
any point. The prevailing movement of
cars, are, influence He ibid not think
temporarily.
Hill Is Excused.
AT the conclusion of his testimony, Mr..
Hartman took sDecial train for New
| York. Mr.. Hill, who was not again called
to the stand. was excused and accom-
panied Mr.. Hartman.
George B. Harris, president Of the old
and new Burlington companies, then tes-
titled as to the transfer of the old COM
pany tc the new, promised to furnish the
commission copy of the 99-year lease
and said that none Of his conferences with
Mr.. Hill or others had any reference other
than to the general efficiency Of the road.
He said it was the hope OF the new COM
pany to be able to reduce rates and said
| such reduction would follow only natural
conditions. He favored publicity for all
rate transactions.
49, No Agreements, Says Mellen.
Charles S. Mellen. president of the
| Northern Pacific, was called. Mr.. Mel
| len said his conferences with Mr.. Hill
were not more frequent or more po-
| tent ,than those with any other presidents
! of northwestern roads. He said there
| were no agreements between the Northern
| Pacific and either the Great Northern Or
/ Canadian Pacific roads on allotment Of
| traffic or differentials. The Northern Pa
ciic was just as Independent in it's man
agement as before Jan. /, 1902, and there
| had been no orders or suggestions as to
management from the Northern Securities
company or any of its directors.
| The commission took an adjournment
until Wednesday at Washington, D. c..
The further inquiry into the grain rate
| situation was put off by reason Of the
| absence of several Kansas City witnesses.