Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-18
EXPENSE BILLSM MANIPULATED
Sensational Evidence Presented to Inter-
state Commerce Commission.
LOUISVILLE GRAIN SHIPPERS FAVORED
Duplication and Alteration of Ex-
Pense Bills Gives Them Big
Advantage over Com
petitors.

LOUISVILLE, Ky, July 17.-Evidence Of
sensational nature was offered late this
afternoon at the hearing which is being
conducted by the Interstate Commerce COM
mission to investigate charges Of irregulari-
ties in the freight rates on grain originat-
ing west of the Mississippi and north OF the
Ohio rivers and shipped to southeastern
points. The evidence presented today con-
sisted Of sixty-seven expense bills" from
the local Office of the Southern Mississippi
Valley association, some Of which had been
altered and the rest duplicated and even re-
duplicated, with the result that Louisville
shippers were given an illegal advantage
of cents per 100 pounds over competitors
selling grain in southeastern territory.
st. Louis shippers Complain.
The hearing was instituted on complaint
of shippers of grain from St. Louis and
other Mississippi and Ohio river points,
who charge that Louisville shippers, by
manipulating expense bills, either with or
without knowledge on the part Of the rail-
roads, were securing lower rates to south
eastern territory than other points in this
territory Under the present system the
Mississippi and Ohio rivers are billing
points for all gran originating west of those
streams. Grain shipped from St. Louis to
the Atlanta CGa.) district by way of Cairo,
ILL.,, at the regular local rate, would in
consequence of the shorter distance. be
carried cents per 100 pounds cheaper than
1t would via Louisville BY the presentation
of an expense bill for each car of grain
handled from st. Louis at any time within
the previous ninety days, the Louisville
shipper may ship an equal amount of grain
on to Atlanta and have the rate 'shrunk"
cents. thus placing him on an equality
with the st. Louis shipper.
Defense of Louisville Dealers.
The Louisville shippers, through coun-
sci, before the commission denied that these
expense bills had been manipulated and
duplicated so as to allow of the shipment
Of grain to the southeast, that they bought
the grain in the vicinity of Louisville, and
thus saved them the cents over st. Louis
grain. The duplicated bills introduced to-
day, however, were admitted by counsel for
all parties interested to have been in many
cases forged from beginning to end. The
others had been obtained by erasing such
words, for instance, as bricks" and writ
ing in wheat. Every one of the bills intro
duced today was in favor Of single Louis
Vile grain firm which does an immense
business in the southeast. AS the bills thus
far shown cover only the months of Sep
tember and October 1904, those interested
expect the total number of such bills used
during the last two years to number hun
dreds, and to cover saving in freights
to the guilty users of many thousands of
dollars, to say nothing of the advantage
reaped in getting hold of the grain trade of
the southeast. thorough investigation
will be started and criminal proceedings in
each state and the federal courts are ex-
pected.
No action had beer taken in the matter
when the commission adjourned until to-
morrow