The Minneapolis journal., 1906-08-09
HANNAFORD BAIKs I
AT REBATE /: ]. l Il QUERY | /
VICE PRESIDENT OF N. p. OBJ
JECTs TO QUESTION.
Hastings Rate Hearing Develops Strong
Language, and State Railroad Com
mission Compels an Answer to Re-
quest by Manahan, Attorney for
Shippers' Association. sasraa i i

road commission today on the complaint /
Of business men Of Hastings over coal
rates into that city from the head Of
the lakes brought forth q big, big d
from J. M. Hannaford, vice. president
Of the Northern Pacific railway:
bates Since. 'iao2s0' was one Of these
troublesome inquiries Of James Mana
han, attorney for the Hastings people,
put to Mr.. Hannaford. i
eff the question can be found to
have any bearing on this case,' an
swered the railroad official in a net.
Sssn tisa t. to9S III a be "a aniFfr Il viii III put
A. w. Root, attorney for the Mil
waukee road, objected to permitting
the witness to answer the question.
"This commission has endeavored to
ascertain and prosecute all cases of re-
bates, especially since the passage Of
the Elkins bill said RAILROAD Com
missioner Ira B Mills; 1.-The &C cues ths
past three years. .:.
ssWhat inducements,'' asked Mr:
Manahan, eff any, have been offered
shippers on your 1ineq'
"Good SERVICE" was the answer.
"Any, other substantial induce
ments9''
Respects the Law.
| "That's contrary to law. I am
growing too old to get outside the pale
of the law if can help it, Mr.. Han
naford replied. IT know..of no induce
ments, unless freight solicitors have
paid shippers out of their own salaries.
be paid except with my signature. and
I have signed no such vouchers
as to Vrefunds" of overcharges. =
Mr.. Hannaford admitted that "over-
charges" are regularly paid to ship
pers. -. IT. j..
carving freight9,, asked Ma1ahan. a =, :
answer. "You can't possibly figure
out, for instance, how much it costs to
carry coal from the head Of the lakes
'sIf a rate ofs7o cents ton is made
on coal from the head Of the lakes to
st. Paul, the comparative figures. Of
costs Of hauling freight which you have
at your office wouldn't be worth g cuss s
be hauled at profit or loss9'' asked
II am inclined to think it couldn It
be done,' replied Mr.. Hannaford.
"What part of the $l.75 rate on. coal
from Duluth to Hastings is received by
your road and what part by the Mil
waukee9', asked Manahan.
MI. Hannaford-I don't believe
care to answer that question.
Commissioner Mills-The commission
rules that you must answer the ques-
tion, Mr.. Hannaford.
Ordered to Answer.
Mr.. Hannaford--In that event, L ask
} leave then first to secure the advice OF
~ n,o% nq hn hoT
Pacific: The Milwaukee road has the
: same rights on our line to Duluth that
we have Our purchase Of the Duluth
: line did not turn out to be good In
vestment. So we thought we .woulc
contract with the Milwau kee to handle
: to st. Paul to save them building K
Duluth and to help out our income from
the line. We have no voice whateve!
in what rates they make on freigh
:, brought over our line by them. Th'
Milwaukee road has the right, if i
.. wants, to run its own trains over ou
= Duluth line, should it's business eve
/ warrant its so doing. I ask that b.
3 allowed time to consult with our lega
:, department, Mr.. Bum, before I an
swer the question. II s.. =,
"a The ~time for this. consultation wa
allowed and the. subject temporaril.
passed. - .-+.
AS to Goal Rates.
!, Mr.. Manahan then returned to the di
G rect questioning on coal rates. He Sc
}, cured admissions from Mr.. Hannafor
!. that the rates charged were just a
), high as a road could get; that raj
/ rates from Michigan ports to st. Pau
g have compelled a Slight reduction j
). the hauling rates from the ,head! Of tn
o lakes to st. Paul; that otherwise, tn
n Mr.. Hannaford said the principe
g feature of rate making was to answe
IS the question "What can you get9' II
g. had turned down orders as large as 50
,; 900 tons because the price offered, b
&c The road only hauled, generally speal
n ing, where it saw q profit, :.
ableq'
"As a general proposition, yes," WI
Is the cautious reply.
'r Moses G. Kimberly, assistant gener
d manager Of the Northern Pacific, W.
le also on the witness stand, but gave Ii
IT tie testimony Of interest. In reply
,ee query as to whether any rebates we
= = granted by his line, he replied, if the
" were the traffic manager would n
know about it, Nor had he ever SCI
a voucher passed for payment of mons
ye for political purposes. 81.
at
S. 49,. Manahan Annoyed.
e; Mr.. Manahan announced his ammo
~ '3 ance over the failure. Of J. 7. Conle
" assistant general freight agent OF i
~ a.. Milwaukee road, to be present.
l. ."Mr. Conley was here the other d,
when I said would want him today,
said Mr.. Manahan, Hand he should
OF here now. want to examine him fl
at or, wait till he comes.'' ...~,
81 "He's not here, he's not in the cit
III III and you: can't have him. replied
Dd p torney Root Of the Milwaukee line.
sioner Mills, tbut, we are desirous
~ hurrying this matter, and as an acco
th mediation to the commission, Mr.. Ma
' ahan, I ask that you proceed with 9th
, Witnesses Mr.. Manahan consented.
al This afternoon the subject of whe
m. rates to Hastings, was considered.
At their recent joint meeting the foreign N
sion boards of the United States and Cana
raj appointed committee to investigate the
in ligious conditions Of the 18O, ,OO0, 900 people
ng- Russia. with a view to beginning Protest,