The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-01


from the other railroad men assembled.
Mr.. Stickney went on to say that
there are doubtless flaws in the present
rates, due to the changes that competi-
ton has demanded. The freight agent
has been a sellerfof transportation, and
has sold it for what he could get. y
All Join in Making Fight.
The roads have agreed to join in
their case as a connected whole. G. E.
Severance Of st. Paul has been retained
to take charge of it, with the assistance
Of traffic officials and attorneys Of the
different: roads. ! Mr.. Severance made
the first talk today. He asked for a
continuance Of sixty days. He ex,
planned that Mr:-stiekney, who would "a
Of the case, was going away for three
or four weeks, and that he had a legal
engagement in New ,y York himself,
which would take 'asweek or two. Judge
Wilson followed hfm,urging that it was
impossible in SO short time to get
the facts togethee Ard present them
RRgeRsaf IL nRaaa hsa case Gaze
! together, so as to avoid confusion and
record Yin ts nsF Ms 4a29 Il rS stas ns
SO show, from it whether you gentle
men representing tie roads have, been
acting in good faith in this matter,
There was a minute s silence, which
Judge Mills, chairman Of the commits
sion, broke by saying: u think there
Well, said MI. Staples, ~ want
to explain what I mean. :, Apparently
no effort has been made to make any
preparation for this hearing today :;
Colonel B. A. Wilkinson Of the Great
Northern protested that work had beer
done, and that it was not fair to as
sumo that the roads had done nothing
deal Of. work. and had much material
prepared, but it was not in shape yet te
H11SsMy y proposition, persisted Mr.
Staples, is to show from the RECORD
thatsyou have, had nine months to pre-
pare this case.' -
!. Here President. Stickney came to thu
front with his talk, and urged "a con
tinuance. Judge Wilson followed, pro
| testing that the roads could prepare nj
case till they knew what reduction was
proposed. There was quite eolloquy
! in which Mr.. Staples insisted that thu
j roads knew last spring their rates were
] challenged, and should have been ready
with a defense. Mr.. Yapp read thu
record, showing that the first hearing
! was held May 3, 1905, and that it hac
started from the legislative resolution
! which directed the commission to make
al substantial reduction. H. .ss,-..@sss,: !.
Reduction Not Compulsory. Z Z.
."You are not obliged by that reso
luton to reduce rates if you find thu
present rates reasonable, are you?'' in
| uuired President Stickney.
! stNot at all,'' Mr.. Staples replied
cit is for the commission to decide I
| Judge Mills explained that the slegisla
tive resolution served as a complain
| against existing rates, under which TIT
commission started the revision. I
After consultation. the commission
| adjourned the. hearing to March 26
| About thirty officials were spresents to
day, including j. NJ. Hannaford ant
G. w. Bum Of the Northern Pacific
| w. L. Martin Of the 500, A. C..Johnso1
/, Of the North Western and Messrs
Pierpont and Conlev of the Milwaukee
1t is understood that all the.roads have
/ had men at work preparing data ant
J that the Great Northern. Milwaukee,
and Great Western already have al
enormous amount transcribed and tabu
lated. The agreement today was tina
the hearing should proceed March 2G
| without any further delay. ~ Z