The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-09
JOY HORIZONS TESTIMONY.
Hutchinson Bee Says Salt Company
Officials May Be Prosecuted.

The Hutchinson Bee says of the re-
cent salt rate" investigation there by
the Interstate Commerce Commission:
The sensation of Saturdays hearing
in the investigation of the salt rates
out of Hutchinson was furnished by
the testimony of Mr.. Joy Morton, presi-
dent and owner of the Hutchinson Kan
saS Salt company, and brother of Paul
Morton of the Santa. Fe. The fact had
been established in previous testimony
that 25 per cent of the through rates
from Hutchinson to Kansas City on
bulk salt was paid to the H. & A. r.
railroad. 1t was yet asserted, notwith-
standing the apparent identity of the
two directorates, that the H. K. salt
company and the H. & A r. railroad
were distinct corporations owned by
different persons, and that the H. K.
salt company got no benefit of the di-
vision of rates between the transpOrta-
ton companies.
Joy Morton was put on the stand for
the defense. He lives in Chicago and
is president of the H. K. Salt company
and the H. & A. r. railroad. Says his
salt company receives no rebates from
the railroads. Mr. Morton went into
the story of thea organization of the H.
& A. r. railroad whose purpose, he
said, was to admit his salt company
into the field of the Frisco railroad.
Says the original plan to build to
Kechi was abandoned owing to cost
Of right of way and negotiations were
begun to get use of Santa Fe tracks
to Burton. The whole scheme fell
through upon the merger of the Frisco
and Rock Island. His company was
then able to get Frisco cars and there
was no further need of the line he had
proposed to build.
The examination of Mr.. Morton was
then taken in hand by Commissioner
Prouty. After a few preliminary ques-
tions drawing out the statement that
Mr.. Morton and Mr.. Frank Vincent
were chiefly responsible for the Hutch
inson and Arkansas River railroad, Mr..
Morton was asked:
who is Joseph P. Tracy? The wit
ness became a trifle disconnected and
finally admitted that Mr.. Tracy, though
he had a few affairs of his own, was
one of Mr.. Morton's trusted lieutenants
in business. He also confessed that all
of Mr.. Tracy's holdings were held in
trust for some one else. A few more
direct heterogeneous. which sought the
heart of the case with the skill of a
master, and Mr.. Morton admitted that
Mr.. Tracy was the trustee for the same
interests whom he, Joy Morton, rep
resented in the salt business.
AS Mr.. Morton replied to this ques-
ton it was apparent to every one in
the crowded court room that the case
was at an end The point the indie
pendent operators had been trying to
establish was made. 1t was all over
but the ''buryin."
Commissioner Prouty then announced
that the case would be left open fer
testimony to be filed by the various
roads as to the amount of money paid
to the Hutchinson and Arkansas rail-
road. A further hearing is possible in
Chicago about December %. No de-
cision is probable before the first OF
the year. 1t is possible that the In
terstate Commerce Commission may
begin prosecution of the railway Off
cials and the officials of the salt COM
pany under the Elkins act.