The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-10
ROBINSON
GOT RATES
ONE MAN MAKES ADMISSION OF
DISCRIMINATION AT KAN
SAS CITY
SAVED FIVE CENTS A HUNDRED
On Export Grain ON a Concession
From the Missouri Pacific Rail-
way-This Is the Only
Admission Made.
PR0UTY SAYS SHARP THINGS

KANSAS CITY, Mo, Jan. 9.-The inter-
state commerce commissioners spent six
hours today in examining seven Wit
nesses regarding grain rates from
Western points to the Atlantic seaboard,
and other Eastern destinations. They
returned to Chicago tonight, after an
nouncing that the investigation would
be resumed in that city Jan. a, when it
IS believed several big railway officials
will be called.
The expected rush of railroad officials
and grain shippers today to confess they
had made and received rebates. or cut
rates, did not occur. In fact, what in
formation was elected was obtained only
after persistent questioning on the part
Of the commissioners.
The most direct admission was that Of
John A. Robinson, Of the firm of Hall
& Robinson, Of Kansas City, which con-
trols the export grain business Of the
Missouri Pacific.
Secured Low Rates.
Mr.. Robinson admi tied that w D.
Smith, freight traffic manager CT the
Missouri Pacific, had made him a rate
on export grain Of from 3 to 5 cents per
100 lower than the published export tariff.
Other testimony went to show that Kan
sas City was made to suffer from dis
elimination by through lines because CT
the arbitrary rate on grain in effect
here.
Only three members Of the commission
attended the hearing, Judson @
Clements, of Georgia; Char-es =. Prouty.
of Vermont, and James D. YeOmans, Of
Iowa.
w. P. TrieIett. head of the Kansas
City Transportation bureau, the first
witness, said the arbitrary proportional
and differential grain rates as they OBJ
tain on goods shipped from Kansas City
east, places Kansas City at a disadvan-
tage. He said that the through grain
lines, the Santa Fe, Missouri Pacific and
Rock Island each had special grain rep
resentatives in the person of certain
grain firms, and that these firms could
afford to pay q higher rate than other
grain men, as they undoubtedly receive
commissions from the railroads. Such
q system, he said, lad been in vogue since
about 1896, and il had destroyed cOmpeti-
ton.
Very Few Admissions.
J. A. Robinson, Of the firm Of Hall &
Robinson. grain commission merchants
which firm Mr.. Trickett had testified
was the representative here Of the Mis-
souri, Pacific railway. was called, and
testified as stated above.
Fred Hoose, local representative Of
Richardson & Co., Of Chicago, declared
he did not know Of any arrangement
by which his firm received special ad-
vantages from that railway.
II. G. Kali, assistant general freight
agent Of the Union Pacific railway, was
accompanied by L. H. Loonas as attor-
ney. Mr.. Kain was questioned about the
Midland Elevator cOmpany, of Kansas
City. Kan. Grain consigned to the Mid
land elevator. he said, was billed to Kan
sas City, Kan. with the right to be
shipped on East into any state. and went
forward at the proportionate rate.
Underhand Methods Suspected
Commissioner Prouty thought the
! statement preposterous, saying that it
forced the consigners to pay the arbi-
trary rate in force in Kansas City un-
/ necessarily. The commissioners tried to
bring out the fact that the existence Of
the Midland Elevator company was a
subterfuge to evade the interstate COM
1 merce law, and that Eastern destination
was intended when grain was first con-
| signed, and that a IayOver here meant
| the application of the arbitrary rate of
I cent on 100 pounds, which justified the
suspicion that an underhand motive ex-
| listed.
Attorney Loomas here interposed to
say that such conclusions were unfair
/ and to declare that his road was acting
! in good faith He announced that he felt
! it his duty to instruct the witness to re-
/ fuSe to answer further questions until
the matters at issue were judiciaIIy de
/ termined.
( The commissioners informed Mr.
/ Loomas that he and his witness must
l assume the responsibility and Mr. KailI
! continued to answer questions.
Deny Granting FavOrs.
]. E. Seaver, manager of the Midland
/ Elevator company, testified that Of 49,
! 900 COO bushels of grain consigned to
! Kansas City over the Union Pacific last
1 year 6.O00, coo bushels went into his ele-
! vator, but denied that that railway ia
/ vors his particular elevator. All of the
/ 5000, coo bushels handled by their elevator
/ had, he said, gone on East.
/ NJ. c. Maegley, assistant general freight
\ agent of the Santa Fe, said he knew of
no private arrangement, and insisted
4 that his road gave no favors. He would
not admit that the arbitrary rate was
] enforced to maintain through rates. He
admitted, however, that there is gem
eral belief that the Santa Fe makes con-
cessions to Richardson & Co.