The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-27
RAIL WAYS RECORD
NO LONGER. EXISTS: \ !
MINNEAPOLIS & ST. LOUIS AUDI
+. TOR MAKES OFFICE ROOM.
State Railway Commission in Com
modify Rate Hearing Fails to Obtain
Wanted Figures Because Company
Had Destroyed All Detailed Reports
Up to Last January. #E

L. J. Scott, auditor Of the Mime
apolis & St., Louis road, on the witness
stand today in" the general conmo dity
rate hearing before the state railroad
and warehouse commission, made the
statement that all the detailed records
of the road up to Jan. l, this year have
been destroyed. The reason, he said.
was to make more office room, as GER
tain Offices had become crowded. \
Thus in large part, has frustrated the
investigation which James Manahan.
attorney for the Minnesota Shippers
association, started today to bring
proof that the figures are false as given
in the annual reports on file with the
struction cost of the entire line The
admission by Mr.. Scott followed an
order Mr.. Mammalian secured from the
commission that Mr.. Scott prepare a
detailed statement of the construction
account of the road since its organiza-
ton. .|.'~
Impossible to Make Report.
To this order strenuous objection was
made by attorneys for. the various rail.
roads, and Mr.. Scott stated that it
pare the data. The order stood, never
theless.
cit is a physical impossibility,' as
serted Mr.. Scott, IT don't think the
records could be located.'
els it the habit of the company tc
destroy records9'
"Certain records, yes" ~-,~~,--~s.-~s..s
"What records9 Any pertaining te
rebates or refundments Of overcharges
to shippersq'
II have no authority to pay claims
of a rebate nature and have not done
500
Then came the question as to wheth
er any records Of repayments Of over
charges had lately been destroyed, ani
the response was that there had beer
number Of records destroyed pertain
ing to business up to Jan. l, 1906, be
cause Of the need Of the room Which
was taken up by the records. He ex
planned in detail what rearrangemen
of the offices Of the company had take1
place.
Goes into Figures.
Mr.. Manahan, in his examination o:
Mr.. Scott. occu pied considerable tim,
statistics. He showed that the pres
ent company had acquired the railroad
property for $945, 5O7.S4, subject to ;
mortgage of $471S,00O; that later, cap
ital stock of $12,500,000' had been is
sued, Of which Mr.. Manahan though
$2,500,000 had since been taken up b,
a bond issue.
"Mr Manahan,'' said G.. w. Siever
attorney Of the Minneapolis & st
Louis, criticizing Manahan for himself
giving testimony, "you'd better b.
Fcalled to testify yourself for a while. ,
"No,' was the response, "but
intend to call you later and let yo1
"In the Minneapolis & st. .3Loui
company's. report it states that the t.
1905, was $29,s19,647. Ism It It tru
that, in claiming this figure, there wa
charged into it every bond ever issue
| by the company?'
The witness was unable to asser
positively, but didn't think so.
During the discussion, opposing al
torneys happened to mention the nam
of J. j. Hill and stated that he ha
! "Then I demand that Mr. Hill
served with another subpoena to appea
| here instanter,' was the reply Of MI
| Manahan