The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-04
.HURlEO. DEFIANCE
Al COMMISSION.
The Car Line Officials
Refuse to Answer
Questions.
LAWYERS OBJECT TO
"STOLEN EVIDENCE"
Copy Of Telegraphic Code Of
Armour & Co. introduced BY
Commission Which is De-
nounced BY Lawyers
for Defense AS
Irregular

(Fron Our Regular Correspondent)
WASHINGTON, D. c.. Nov. 3.--Had
the Interstate Commerce Commission
been tribunal endowed with judicial
powers, George B. Robbins, president or
the Armour Car Lines, would probably
be in jail tonight for contempt, for,
after an exciting episode, he declined,
under advice OF his counsel, to answer
the questions put TO him by the Com
mission or Its counsel, aon the ground
that it had no Jurisdiction over the car
lines. sJ
The attorneys for the car lines have
long tried TO get an order out of the
Commission which would enable them
to take the matter INTO court, but as
often as they have tried the Commis-
sion has lodged the issue, and the hear
slEgs have continued in various parts Of
the country. Finally IL was apparently
determined to burl their defiance In the
teeth or the Commission by advising Mr..
Robbins not to answer their questions.
In thu hope that the Commission would
appeal TO The courts for an order com.
@pellng him tDf answer sfst
The Commissio took q recess to de-
eide whether. they should order N ~ Rob
bins to answer, and, 1t is reported that
quite difference OF opinion existed over
this question. Chairman Knapp Is said
tc be of the opinion that the Commission
is without Jurisdiction under the law AS
II now stands. When the Commission
reassembled he was not present, and
Commissioner Clements, acting as chair
man. directed Mr.. Robbins to answer,
which he declined to do under advice Of
counsel, and there The matter rests.
Later when the Commission had or,
dercd Mr. Robbins to reply and he had
refused Commissioner Clements intro
duced copy Of tho telcgraphic eo'~
book OF Armour & Company.
Stole Code From Company?
Attorney Urion was Immediately on his
feet. denouncing the presentation Of this
book. stating that 1t had been stolen
from the company and the effort OF the
Commission TO produce It again at this
time was In violation OF the consttu-
t.onal rights OF his clients.
Commissioner Cockercll thought it hat
rot been stolen but the employe who
gave 1t to the Commission had forgot
ten to return 1t.
"If that is not embezzlement' inter-
rupted Mr.. Dunno. counsel for the
Southern Pacific, then don't know the
meaning OF the term.
Commissioner Clements continued read
ing from the book, but counsel FOR tho
car lines raised strenuous objections to
the Introduction Of the stolen ev-
dence." and openly stated that the only
object the Commission could have in
asking such questions was to inflamc the
public mind.
Mr. Dupne also set forth that as the
commissioners knew they would get no
answer they continued their questions
only 10 get them in the record and sub
mitted that that was scarcely dlRnihed
course for the commission 70 pursue.
In the face OF these representations the
commission ceased It's questioning an"
excused Mr.. Robbins.
Morton's "Bill of Health"
Later in the day another contumacious
witness was encountered in the. person
OF William Sproale, traffic manager of
the Southern Pacific, when the counsel !
for Tho commission sought to question
him as 10 tho famous Paul Morton con-
tract TO maintain freight rates. Counsel
DlmnH "went mp In the air. at this point
and pointed out to the commission that
President Roosevelt had already given
Mr. Morton a clean bill of health on his
recent Southern TRIP, put Expressed nun
self in favor of limited competition.
Commissioner Prouty said he was per-
sonally inclined to favor limited pool
ing. hut he did not think tho President
sanctioned violations OF the law.
Under the advice of Mr.. Dunno. Mr..
Sproale refused to answer any questions
on this subject and the commission ad-
iourncd to some time In the future. 1t
II not believed the commission will appeal
to the courts as that would bring be-
fore them the question of Jurisdiction.
On the contrary 1t stated that tho taking
OF testimony will continue from time to
time throughout the winter.