The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-08-10
of COurtesies at
the Rate Hearing.
ATTORNEYS WERE AT WAR
IL Orders the Great Northern Road to
Bring Its Books Before the
Board.

ed an order to compel the Great North
crn railroad company, whose vice presi-
dent gave testimony at the merchandise
rate hearing, to produce at the office OF
the commission all records on which
the statistics given by the railroad wit
nesses are based, or in leu of so doing
to permit an examination of their rec.
ords at their offices.
The order is the most sweeping one
of the kind ever made by the state COM
mission. If the commission is inclined
to enforce it in detail it would prac
tically mean bringing the offices of the
Great Northern to the new capitol.
'Why, that order means filling the
capitol with records of railroads." said
C. A. Severance, attorney for the rail
roads
"No, it doesn't if the railroads take
the alternative of permitting an exam
nation at their offices" responded Com
lHlSSIOHcl y. holipltS'
The hearing today was replete with
sensational features, the climax being
reached when James Manahan, attorney
for the Minnesota Shippers association,
attacked the law firm of the attorney
for the railroads.
At the opening of the hearing today
Mr.. Severance made a long statement
before the commission. In regard to
the examination of the records of the
railroads to substantiatc statistics of
railroad officials, Mr.. Severance said he
had consulted with S. C. Stickney of
The Great Western, who had said he
was perfectly willing to have his com
pany's records examined by experts of
the state commission. Mr. Severance
had not had opportunity to consult the
heads of other railroads interested and
for that reason could not speak for any
road but the Great Western. The Great
Western, however, requested that the
be made
Mr.. Severance did object, however, to
an examination by the Minnesota Ship
pers' association, which" he said, boiled
down, consists of George LOTUS" Mr..
severance, in reference to the accuracy
Of the books from which statistics in evil
dence had been prepared said there
could be no question that such records
were correct. "The slightest failure to
keep records of such great interests cor
rectly," said Mr.. Severance, lis the diff
ference between bankruptcy and sue
cess
Il am of the opinion" said Attorney
that things could be learned
much better by an adverse party in
vestigation than by the work of the
expert. Mr.. Severance has
made light of what clients 1 represent.
| wish to say that | am making my re-
quest as attorney for the Hastings Malt
ing company, the shippers of Hastings.
the Minnesota Shippers association and
for myself as a citizen of this state.
Mr.. Manahan waXed warm.
"Mr. SeveraDce's attempt to belittle
me by his remarks that, in claiming to
state association, | am sim
ply an attorney for Mr. LOTUS, is en-
Lirely uncalled for. He has made a
number of like remarks in this case
which | wish to resent. | object to his
treatment of my arguments and the
manner of his criticisms. | did not mar
" rich; | have not been heir to wealth;
)ut | will place my standing at the bar
alongside of that of firm of attorneys,
,he Junior member of which is here to
represent the railroad companies in their
fight TO Keep up the rates on coal; whose
middle member is representing the pres
dent in his fight against the Standard
Oil trust, and whose senior member was
representative of the financial interests
of Gould and the Vanderbilts."
Commissioner Ira B. Mills here inter-
fered and prohibited further such Ian
guage in reference to the late Senator
c. X. Davis.
Gas to what railroad companies we
want examined" continued Mr.. Mana
han. II believe the Great Western is
operated with the smallest amount of
profit. l have especially in mind the
Great Northern.
'How long time do you want to
make your examination asked Com.
missioner Mills
''As long a time as is necessary" was
the answer. 81 state deliberately that
l believe the conclusions in evidence of
Mr.. harrington, vice president of the
Great Northern, are not justified by the
facts. He said he knew of no rebate.
am reliably informed that large num-
Der of clerks are kept busy figuring on
rebates, returned to shippers as 'over-
l1fll6O At