The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-08
NIL WAUKEE IS
AGED ON RACK
ADMITS CERTAIN DISCREPANCIES
IN RATES.

ADMITS CERTAIN DISCREPANCIES
IN RATES.
Mr.. LOTUS Close Questioning Of AS
sistant General Traffic Manager Con-
ley Before Legislative Committee
Shows that Some Favors Were Grant
ed-Other Roads to Have Hearing.
The, hearing before the joint legisla-
tive committee to investigate railroad
rates, developed yesterday into war
between George +. LOTUS and the off
Gals of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St.
Paul road Mr. Lotus charges were
met in several instances by the officials
with published tariff sheets Of which
LOTUS knew nothing and which ne
shippers. In other cases the charges
held good, altho the railroad men tried
to get around them.
The road was represented by J. T.
| Conley, assistant general traffic man
ager; Attorney f. W. Root and d. d.
ISewall, assistant general superintend-
emit. Several members OF the leglsla-
Z Jul nOU VI UnC 1uNcSUlSdCAnS SOAAAlAAC-
tee were present, including Lieutenant
Governor Ray w. Jones, Chairman
Hawkins of the senate railroad COM
mittee and Speaker Frank Clague.
Mr.. Conley was sworn and was ques-
toned by Mr.. Lotus. Taking up
coal rates, Mr.. LOTUS said: For q
haul OF 449 miles from Duluth to Far
go, the rate is $2.1O. From Duluth to
Buffalo u Lake Ike, twenty-five miles, the
explain this?'
Attorney Root interrupted, saying
that Mr.. LOTUS was going into inter
i state commerce, over which the COM
mittee had no authority. Mr.. Root was
overruled on the ground that for COM
i parison a certain amount OF such evil
dence would be accented: It was then
ton, that from Fairmont to Duluth the
rate for wheat is 1914 cents; and to
some intermediate points 1872 cents.
/ The only reply was that these rates
were "oversights, such as occasionally
will happen according to Mr.. Con-.
ley, and that he had received message
from Chicago saying they were being
readjusted.
Are you not violating the inter
state commerce law when you make
cheaper rates from Duluth to Dakota
points then to points of lesser length
Of haul in Minnesota asked Repre-
} sentative Washburn.
"Only Minnesota rates are under in
vestlgat1on now,' was Conley's an
swer.
Thomas Yapp, statistician Of the state
railroad commission, on being called
upon, asserted railroads had frequently
requested permission in certain cases
not to live up to the long and short
haul law, but that the commission had
never yet granted q single one Of these
requests.
Express Company Favored.
Mr.. ,Lofmtus then brought Pratt 8 ex-
: press into the investigation. "The Mil
: waukee road grants Pratt Is express a
rate between the twin cities of $3.50
car for single cars, or when two or
more cars are used, $5 a car. The
road announced tariff expressly for
this company at these rates, Feb. 25,
1904. claim that the railroad as a
common carrier has not the right to
make special tariffs under contracts.
Under this contract. the road carries
mixed package freight; or even first
: class freight, all at the same rate.
;. When we shipped a car of bran from
! one city to the other, grade Of freight
E compelled to pay $12.50.''
Mr.. Conley admitted this charge.
Pratt's Express does team hauling
business from one city to the other, y
said Mr.. Conley, s"and to aid them
in shipping their freight, we make this
contract. But we will be glad to make
the same contract with Mr.. LOTUS or
any. one. It is not an exclusive rate for
Pratt s express.
Mr.; Yapp was asked by Representa-
tive Washburn if the making Of such
a contract rate as this was regular
custom He replied: "This is the
first case I ever heard OFF,
Attorney Root explained that the
contract with Pratt s express did not
give lower rate to any shipper over
the line. The cost to those who con-
signed express to Pratt was up to the
regular tariff. sax
Mr.. LOTUS. seconded by Louis Ned
RE, president of the Hastings Mailing
shipped from Minneapolis to Wabasha
for 2 cents, while from Hastings to
Wabasha the rate was cents. This
tariff was put in effect one year ago
and since Cancelled. Mr.. Conley said
the rate was made at the time to give
the Wabasha flour mill wheat; that the
crop in the vicinity had been consumed
and that it was done to tide the mill
! over.
Too Deep for Nedrie.
1 Here Mr.. Nedrie took hand. tsThis
morning I looked up the rate to
Wabasha from Minneapolis and found
the tariff sheet gave it cents. At II
O'Clock / inquired for the rate and
was told it was 10 cents. What's the
reason of this, Mr.. Conley?,'
"All !! have to say in regard to Mr.
Nedrie is that we have thoroly dis
cussed this rate matter BEFORE" said
Mr.. Conley, and turning to Mr.. Ned
RE, continued: lit is something you
can t understand and won It under
stand''
After further showing of specia
rates Of 2 cents on wheat, Minneapolis
to Wabasha, it was brought out that II
some cases by reshipping wheat in car.
just received from the west, it went
to Wabasha at 2-cent rate or ever
without cost. This was explained a!
proportional = rate and claimed by
the road to be permissible.
LOTUS then charged that coal wa
shipped from Chicago to st. Paul ant
Red Wing to certain favored parties fo
a rate of $1.20 per ton, when the tariff
is $3.50.
eve deny that the coal tariff rat,
has ever been broken by US, replied
Conley. II demand that Mr.. Loftu
give us the names Of such firms as h
q / allauns wara fauOrn1 - sezs.5