The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-05-11
RATE HEARING WAS LIVELY
MankatO Contingent Quits Inquiry In
a Body and Other Interested
Parties F. How Suit.
From SATURDAYS Daily.


house late Wednesday, and for fifteen
minutes the air was blue, declares The
ST. Paul Dispatch.
During the morning session the wit
nesses on behalf of the shippers chafed
under the constant interruption and
cross examination by Attorney Sever
ance, representing the railroads
MIR. Severance, by his questions, sought
to make out the best possible case from
the railroad standpoint, and in doing so
the shippers side of the argument was
punchd full of noits.
The storm broke in the afternoon
when George S. LOTUS challenged the
course of Attorney Severance in bad
gering" the shippers witnesses
A short time previous to that Mr..
LOTUS proposed asking a few questions
on his own account, and he was taken
to task by Mr.. Severance for Quitting
in
''Well, you've been 'butting in all day
and | haven't objected, said Mr.. LOTUS
tartly.
f. /. Patterson, of the Patterson Mer-
camille company of Mankato, was Civ
ing his reasons why he thought the
present rates operated against MankatO.
Mr. Severance got permission to ask
a few questions, and entered into a
rapid fire cross examination of Mr.. Pat
terson, who was plainly getting the bet
ter of the astute railroad representative.
Mr.. Lotus was growing more rest
less every minute, and when he thought
the examination had proceeded beyond
legitimate lines he jumped to his feet
and shouted:
"Mr. Chairman. l desire at this time
to object to this procedure which |
think is ont of order and unwarranted.
The shippers came here to give their side
of the case, and we do not think it fair
for the witnesses to be harried by the
attorney for the railroads. When the
railroads appeared before the commits
sion they were permitted to put in their
evidence without interruption or ques-
tioning by the shippers, who were not
even present OH that occasion"
Commissioner Young The shippers
had a perfect right to examine the rail
roads witnesses if they so desired. The
commission desires to get all possible
light on this subject, whether by direct
or cross examination.
Attorney Severance think l am
within my rights in asking the witnesses
abide by the ruling of the commission.
j. c. Ryder advanced towards the
table and began shaking his hand in the
direction of Attorney Severance, whom
he called zone of those smart attorneys"
If he could have the floor long enough
he could demonstrate to the attorney
that the big cities were getting all the
best of it on account of the rate on pea
nuts. Just what peanuts had to do with
the question at issue no one could quite
see.
Things We're getting warm.
w. c. Weber, of Rochester, entered
into wordy controversy with Commits
sioner Young. He insisted that the
shippers should be permitted to put in
their case free from the Interruptions of
the railroad attorney. The shippers had
no objections to answering any ques-
tions put by the commission, but they
objected strenuously to the proceeding
as it had been conducted
The flames were rising, and F. NJ
Currier of Mankato put in another
quake.
At one point in the afternoon proceed
ings, Mr. Currier had asked permission
of Attorney Severance if he would allow
question.
Mr.. Severance said he was not on the
witness stand
Would Mr.. Severance allow the ques-
ton as between gentlemen.
Mr.. Severance would not.
"Then you're no gentleman" said the
irate Currier.
Mr.. Severance merely smiled
When the hostilities were renewed Mr.
Currier saw his opportunity to get even
with the attorney for the roads.
''We came up here to make our COM
plant i'll a decent, orderly way, and not
to be badgered by railroad attorney
If we can't do that, we can go home,'
he said.
Chairman Mills-The commission rules
that there is nothing irregular in the
proceedings, and that Mr.. Severance has
right to ask questions.
George S. Loftus-Then if that's the
case, the shippers association does not