The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-13
LAUGHSOME IS j.
II THE E. REBATE ! |!:!||!|.'!!' CODE
Alleged Al Armour nona car car Line Secrets
Before Interstate Commerce
= ,e'E -: SfE< ~ 80 Z. s7s.z 81
!::a>., r.. Commission. 1,is ~

Chicago, May 13.-Sensational testi-
mony as to an alleged secret code used
by the Armour car lines in making re-
bates was given today before the inter
state commerce commission. The testi-
NOM was given by H. Streyckmans,
formerly employed by Armour & Co. as
sstenographer: The witness read from a
book some Of the code words and their
meanings, as follows:
ter arrange rebate there. Laura
Handle rebate matters very carefully.
Lava-Pay rebates from cash on hands.
Laveallo-Rebate must be confidential.
Observation-Disclosures commerce com
mission. - -
Here there was a ripple of laughter
among the shippers present. The inter-
state commerce commissioners smiled.
Mr.. Streyck mans continued:
Woodprint-Avoid service Of sum-
mons from interstate commerce COM
mission.' EUIs .=s
The laughter grew more audible.
-. Commissioners Coded. .
Footnot-Meet interstate commerce
commission. Imprinted - Judson G.
Clements of Georgia. Imprintings-
j. c. Yeomens. Imprison-Charles A.
Prouty. Improbitas-J. w. Fifer. I'm
probltv-A. K. MOseley.'
When the code words standing for
the names of the interstate commerce
commissioners were read, laughter and
handclapping among the shippers
caused Chairman Clements to rap for
| order.
Questioned regarding prices paid by
various railroads for icing cars, Mr.
Streyckmans replied:
!" The North Western billed ice at 81
ton. That furnished by the Chicago
Milwaukee & st. Paul was billed at
on a counter claim. In the case of the
Erie it was $1.25. This gave large
profits to the Armour lines.''
Shows Discrimination.
elimination among shippers. streyck
mans declared that Former Lieutenant
Governor Aldon Anderson Of Califor
MIA paid IS per cent of the tariff rate
on his shipments.
"Among those whe received more
than SO per cent rebate. said the
Porter Brothers company, the Produc
ers' Fruit company and others. Those
who paid and received less than a 81
per cent rebate were Stephens g. Hum
phreys, S. r. Roper, Schnadel Broth
ers, George D. kellogg and others
He said the net cost of ice to tn
Armour car line on the New York Cen
trail was 50 ton, on the West shor
roads $3.50 ton on the Baltimore I
Ohio, $3.50 ton; on the pennsylvani;
lines, So and $3.50 ton. Streyck
mans declared that the profits to tn
!. Armour lines on the icings ran a
high as 500 to 600 per cent.
The profits per car on shipment
from California to New York, sal
the witness, swere on an average o
$s650.'
Threats by Armours.
: On cross examination Streyckman
declared that George B. Robbins, pref
ident Of the Armour car lines, had al
tempted by threats to secure the pc
pers and code the witness had in hi
possession.
E AS no witnesses were offered in d.
Tense of the Armour car lines, Chair
man Clements announced at the col
clusion Of the Streyckmans testimon
j that the commission could remain
session no longer because of bushes
. | which would occupy it's attention
Washington It was then arranged b
agreement of the represent tives Of tt
! lshippers, the car lines and the commi
sion that further hearing of. the i
vestigation should be set at "a futul
j date.s u 81