The Saint Paul globe., 1904-12-06
FIRTH SAYS CHARGE
is OUTRAGEOUS
Denies That Railroads Are
Going Into the Insurance
Business

CHICAGO, Dec Son behalf of the
interstate commerce commission a bill
was fled in the United States circuit
court today against Frank J. Reichmann,
formerly vice president and general man
ager of the Streets Western stable Car
Line company, asking that he be ordered
to appear and answer questions con-
cerning live stock carriers, which subject
was taken, up at a hearing of the com
mission last October and at which time
Reichmann refused to answer certain
questions regarding alleged rebates to
shippers.
The hearing before the commission in
connection with the proposed uniform
bill of lading' which was to have. been
taken up here this morning, was adjourn
ed until this afternoon because of the
death in Philadelphia yesterday Of Mrs.
Mae Knappe, wife of the chairman of the
commission.
When the commission reconVened At
torneys Levy Mayer Of Chicago. and John
B. Daish. of Washington, d. c.. repre-
Senting the shippers, began their argu-
ment to show that the adoption of the
uniform bill of lading would work hard
ship to the shippers of the country to the
extent of an increase of 20 per cent over
the present freight rates.
Secretary Glenn Of the Illinois Manu-
facturers association, was present pre-
pared to go upon the stand and say that
the railway companies in the effort to es-
cape liability of freight intruSted in their
hands, expect to profit to the extent of
hundreds of millions of dollars.
In answering the statement of Attorney
Mayer, counsel for the complainants. At
torney Henry Russell appearing as counsel
for Frank J. Firth, president of the So
called uniform bill Of lading committee" !"
testified that the bill in question was the
same as has been. in use for the past ten
years, except that in former years they
were not uniform in size and thereby
caused much confusion. Mr. Russell de-
clared that while it was unnecessary that
the words mot negotiable" should appear
on the bill and that it was misleading
still there was no intention of enforcing
the 20 per cent phase of it, and. that he
did not understand the contention of the
complaintants.
"Is this old bill the same as the new
one?" asked Commissioner Prouty.
Yes" replied the witness.
well, then. why lie new one?" in
Merely because of the difference IN
Sizes" replied Attorney Russell. "but
will say that this new bill has been en-
forced as much as it ever wiz be. The
charge is that the rate is to be increased.
but / disclaim it and it shall appear by
testimony that 1 am justified in making
the statement
President Firth. of the uniform bill Of
lading committee. who is also president
of the Erie at this point, arose to make
a personal statement.
''TThe statement of the complainant g
attorney that this so called 20 per cent
increase is a speculative move On the
part of the railroads is an outrage and
wish to protest against It, sad MI
Firth. Several years ago the uniform
bill of lading committee held meeting
in Chicago and at that time we secured
letters from a number of bankers here.
among them being Mr.. Sage. former sec
refary of the United. States treasury, that
our bills of lading although bearing the
words not negotiable. We're bankable un-
der the conditions named on the bills. |
will also say that there is no idea of
charging an increase of 20 per cent. For
ten years this was in the. classification
but was never enforced and will. never. be
used. The rates viii not be advanced; Tor
we are not representing an economical IN
surance crowd -,s,g.,. tt tfd
President Firth was then sworn as a
witness and subjected to cross -exaTnina-
tion by Attorney Mayer.
Asked what the duties of the uniform
bill of lading committee consisted OF, MI.
Firth replied:
I'VE meet, consider and merely recon-
mend That is all we can do. We are ap,
pointed by the carriers IN the ohacial
classified territory"
Are there any members of the shipping
interests on this committee? asked AT
torney Mayer.
mo" replied the witness, ''all are rep
resentative carriers.
-'Would you, as president of the Erie
to as member of this committees! ask
ed Attorney Mayer.
The witness replied that 1t depenoeo
upon the circumstances.
At this time the hearing was adjourned
until tomorrow.