The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-01-15

of possibly 10 per cent. But the
old, original rate is back in effect
now. ]. A. Schiller and F. T. Nc
Culough were called also to testify
to that fact.
Commissioner Prouty asked II
General Agent st. John was still
alive and said he wanted him
| here.
He also said he wanted a state
| ment from the railroads on all
, commodities moved to this section
II. M. Stephens, attorney for the
compliments, said he had tried to
get such statement from the rail
roads and have it segregated but
was told by the Great Northern
officials that it must be procured
in st. Paul and they could not spare
the clerks. Stephens said the city
would furnish the CLERKS, and he
believed the statement could be Sc
cured in Spokane. Commissioner
Prouty said he would probably have
one of the commissions experts get
it. This was agreed to by all
parties.
Mr.. Fitzpatrick, who is in the iron
business, said he had furnished the
iron for the new water system,
some $4,000 lineal feet, and that
the difference in the coast rate and
the rate to this city from Pittsburg
and Cleveland, where he bought it,
made a difference Of $17,SO0, which
the city had to pay.
S. r. Perine, of the Spokane Dry
goods Co., told about the effect of
exorbitant rates upon his business
and said that if reduction could be
secured he would reduce his prices.
Attorney Donnelly, for the Great
Northern and Northern Pacific
lines, then read an outline of the
scheme by which those lines divide
the rates with lines east of Chica.
go at the Minnesota transfer, show.
ing from IL to Is per cent going to
Eastern lines and cents a hundred
to the transfer company.
Attorney Stephens then had put
on record reports of mileage and
valuations filed by the railroads
with the secretary of state.
At the close of the morning SEES
sion he announced that he would
read James J. Hills testimony on
rate making and valuations, given
as evidence in the Northern Securi
ties case. Commissioner Prouty
| advised Stephens and Attorney
Adams to get together and desig
nate what portion of that case they
wanted in the record so as to dc
| away with the reading. Copies OF
those portions could be given to
railroad attorneys.
Commissioner Prouty made an
impartant ruling yesterday while
the matter Of promises made by
Mr.. Hill was up for consideration
For the o. r. & N. line, Attorney
Cotton interposed a plea that his
road could not be bound by the
same conditions as 1t had made nc
promises and had exacted no con
tributions. Prouty held that this
did not enter into the question and
that all roads entering the city
would be held to any rate fixed by
the commission.
Late yesterday afternoon the
hearing took most interesting
turn when attorneys for Spokane
began to draw the deadly parable
on J. j. Hills rosy promises made
in 1892, when he was seeking RICH,
of way and yard sites in this city
and the present rate situation. BY
interviews authorized by Mr.. Hill
before being published and by his
speeches In this city at that time
1t was conclusively shown that the
Great Northern magnate pledged
this city terminal rates at the least
and possibly a still more favorable
larrangement-if this road got what