The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-21
IMPORT RATES LOOKED INTO.
Senate Wants to Know Why Foreign
ers Can UnderseII Americans.

CHICAGO, Jan. 20.-The interstate
commerce commission met here today,
reinforced by a special prosecuting
counsel, to interrogate railroad off,
Gals concerning import rates. The
commission, acting at the instigation
of the United States senate, seeks facts
and figures as to import rates by which
European manufacturers are able to
underSell American manufacturers in
the markets of the Western states on
certain classes of goods. General
Freight Agent w. H. Rett, of the Illi-
nois Central, was one of the first to
testify. He was unable to state wheth-
er the ocean carriers Of the railroad
companies were responsible for the
conditions which prevail.
MILFORD Shade, a custom house brok-
er of st. Louis, admitted that he re-
celVed from railway companies 10 per
cent commission for the part he play
ed in getting import business. The
witness refused to say how much he
received from the importer and from
the consignees.
The afternoon session of the COM
mission was a continuance of the in
Vesugation began last December, in
which the Chicago Live Stock ex-
change complained that railroads are
discriminating in rates between Mis-
souri, river points and Chicago in favor
of dressed meats, and against Chica-
go as live stock market. At the pre-
V1ous hearing the Minnesota railroad
and warehouse commission interviewed
for the purpose of showing that the
rates then in effect on live stock and
the finished product to Chicago and St.
Paul were relatively proper, and that
no change should be made. Evidence
to this effect was introduced today. At
the same time other intervening petit
tons were filed by Frank T. Ransom,
for the Union Stock yards, of Omaha,
and the Live Stock exchange, of st.
Joseph, Mo-. by Mark D. Flower. for
the Union Stock Yards company, of
St Paul, and by William Gilchrist. of
the Sioux City Live Stock Exchange
and Stock yards. All the intervenors
are practically aligned with the rail-
road companies to show that the COM
plant of the Chicago Live Stock ex-
change is without foundation. The
live stock interests of these cities al
lege In their petitions that in reality
Chicago is favored by the present rates
on live stock and dressed meats.
The case Of the Chicago exchange
was closed after brief testimony by
Z. Z. Freeman, a commission mer-
chant, and c. w. Tomlinson, of the
Live Stock exchange. Both testified
to the effect that Chicago is discrini-
udI0Q against.
Chairman Ira B. Mills, of the Min
nesota commission, acted as examiner
for that body, and presented Commits
sioner c. F. Staples as his first witness.
Mr.. Staples testified that the Mime
sofa commission recently arranged a
compromise with the Western rail-
roads, by which rates on live stock on
points in that state and Iowa to South
st. Paul and Chicago were fixed in a
way that was considered fair to both
cities. He admitted, however, that the
commissioners had not considered the
reasonableness of the rates, except rel
Ntively to either city.
Thomas App, another member of the
Minnesota commission, produced maps
and figures to show that South St.
Paul was not favored, as against Chi
cago, by the railroads.
Late in the afternoon an adjourn
ment was taken until tomorrow. with
the understanding that each of the in
tervenors will present one witness. The
railroads, through Attorneys Kellogg
and Hanson, will present testimony by
President A. B. Stickney, of the Chi
cago Great Western, and Vice Presi-
dent Bird. Of the Chicago, Milwaukee
& st. Paul.