The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-17
Railroads Show That THEY'LL Defend
the Ton Mile Plan Of OPERATING
Questions Put to Witnesses by Railroad Attorneys in Interstate
Commerce Commission Hearing Indicate that They Will
Try to Prove They Couldn't Have Done Better

Try to Prove
What will inevitably lead into one Of
the biggest railroad reform movements
yet developed, began to day in Mime
apolis, when Messrs. Lane and Harlan
of the interstate commerce commission,
sitting in the federal building, began
their inquiry into the freight blockade
in the northwest. Il. :
It was a notable gathering Of rail
road men that attended the opening
session of the hearing for they were vi
tally. interested in the development Of
facts bearing on the ton-mile plan of
operation. Questions asked by G. w.
Bum, for the Northern Pacific, indi-
Gated plainly that the railroads would
attempt to convince the commissioners
Of the physical inability to move this
has been done.
With the president and congress
both ready to take hand in the game,
the present situation offers the govern
ment an opportunity for a short cut to
federal control in some branches Of
railroad operation. This explains why
there was such an array of railroad
notables in attendance. 5-... e
Railroad operation in the actual
working with strong side light upon
conditions resulting, and an intimacy
of detail never before presented APP
peared at the first session Of the hear
ing: ...-. t.. III :.
division train dispatcher Of the North
ern Pacific, went on the stand. G.. w.
Bum, for the railroads, sat in close at
tention and hung upon the testim ony,
while upon Mr.. Rowland were show
cred the pointed interrogatory shafts
Of Mr.. Marble, attorney for the com
mission, supplemented by pertinent
questions from Mf. Lane and Mr.. Har-
Ian, representing the commission. Mr..
Rowland was the star witness. His
testimony in it's important bearing
upon conditions overshadowed in i'm
portance all that went before.
Commissioners in Earnest.
81 Several things were evident within a
short time after the inquiry opened.
sion, as indicated by the opening adj
dress of Mr.. Lane, that transportation
conditions northwest, as reported to
the commission, amounted almost to
calamity. MIR. Lane used the word SON
servatively, but, evidently, from the
tenor of the whole address advisedly.
Next was the brushing aside of all idea
that crop production, or the possibility
Of deficient yield, entered into the
rotary Of the Minneapolis Chamber Of
Commerce, and of H. B. Moore, .secre-
tary of the Duluth Board of Trade,
brushed this aside and precluded the
possibility of any later question as to
enormous tonnage offered and the fail
ure of the roads to move it. Another
was the evidence direct that the roads
were acquainted with conditions ex-
asking relief. Finally came the admis-
sion of Mr.. Rowland that there are
forty-three empty cars now in the yards
at Jamestown. that they have been
there less than week, and the fair
assumption following that this effort
to furnish larger number of empties
us directly due to the publicity given
the matter and the demand of the coun-
try for better service.
Fuel Famine Brought Up. =
That the commission would be unable
cause Of the inquiry, the economic CON
sideration Of the failure of the roads
to move the crops, and the later and
more humanitarian consideration Of the
fuel famine, was clear after G. G.. Ma
jor of Hope, N. D., took the stand, fir
IN his testimony conditions affecting
the movement of grain, live stock, wood
and. coal, came out in varying order,
thus mixing all issues into the general
inquiry as to service rendered the coun-
try and the causes thereof. q
The testimony Of George Spencer,
president Of the Duluth board of trade,
orI fho 7o+4 ~, AT
Kindley & Nichols Of Duluth, the Min,
nesota Grain company, William Dairy.
mule company, Randall Gee g. Mitchell
III. Poehler company, Atwood, Larson &
Co., the Miller firm, of which John
Miller, former governor of North Da.
kota is the head, Arhegast & Ball and
other grain firms, giving long lists Of
cars IN transis from points 800 miles
away, from periods ranging from thirty
pose of the matter of general results at
terminals. Losses of $4,000 to one firm
that had grain sold for November de
livery at Duluth and could not get il
hauled in, made illustration of the eff
feet in the big markets, while the testi
mony of 0. G. Major that conditions at
congested country points made a differ:
ence of 2 to 3 cents. a bushel in the
price paid to the farmers for wheat
wa san Illustration of the country end
| of it.
Where Competition Helped.
Next appeared some evidence, inter
esting tho not conclusive, showing that
competitive points had the better of
| it, and the little, one-road stations suf
fered, the case of the Robinson elevator
at Minot, where there has been no
trouble in shipping out, and where the
500 line and Great Northern meet, be.
ing cited. Thus with some preliminary
matters disposed of that might have
taken much time to bring out had not
1 the commission prepared itself before.
hand, it was possible, even SO early in
the inquiry, to pass over, except as
something new appeared, the effect Of
| thsfwhole, and proceed at once to dig
in for the cause.
Rowland was remarkably circum
spect lin his testimony. He has beer
with the Northern Pacific for thirtee1
years and has been one year in charge
Of the Jamestown office. He gave hi
testimony freely, but was guarded il
statements anr qualified his answers re
Iipeatedly. Mr.. Bum came to his as
distance. Mr.. Harlan urged him as .
railroad expertsto give the commission
assistance in a fair search for fact. M.
| Marble dwelt repeatedly upon. particu
lar questions and even returned to them
eeSs gs