Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-09
ILLNESS OF
WIFE CALLS
LANE AWAY
Railroad Inquiry Is
Adjourned to
Feb. 25
Enough Evidence Taken
to Confirm Worst
Suspicious
Commissioner Says Any Further Tes.
Commissioner Says Any Further Tes-
tlmony Would Be Merely Cumu-
latve-Hearlng to Be Re-
sumed In New York

Interstate Commerce Commissioner
Franklin X. Lane yesterday afternoon.
during the second days hearing of
railroad affairs, received a telegram
from Washington announcing the seri-
Gus Illness of Mrs. Lane.
At the closing of the session Commits
sioner Lane announced that the hear
ing would be adjourned until Febru-
ary 20 in New York
Mr. Lane left last night for the bed
side of his wife, whose health has been
precarious for some time.
Before his departure the commission
er stated to The Herald that the hear
ing In Los Angeles had been highly
satisfactory from the commissions
standpoint, and that, although the
hearing had not continued as long as
had been planned, all the material
points which had been suggested by
the counsel for the commission had been
covered and other testimony which
might have been secured only would
have been cumulative. Mr.. Lane also
said that the railroads showed no dis
position to hold back desired evidence
Fruit Growers Worsted
Testimony given at the closing days
session of the hearing only tended fur
ther to increase the certainty that the
Hartman interests absolutely control
the policies of the Salt Lake and that
the fruit growers of Southern Califor-
MIA cannot hope to receive better treat
ment at the hands of the railroads
1t was shown that the Southern Pa
cific and the Santa Fe had stopped
the development of the Salt Lake line
by giving 1t share of the orange busi-
ness and 1t was reluctantly admitted
by the general manager of the Salt
Lake that the fast freight service in
augurated by the road last year was
discontinued after complaint had been
made by the Southern Pacific, although
the witness afterward declared that the
service was stopped owing to the eX-
pense and danger and to the fact that
the motive power of the road had be-
come inadequate.
Thomas e. Gibbon, former counsel
for the Salt Lake, gave details of the
manner in which the Hartman inter-
ests secured control of the Salt Lake
Two representatives Of fruit shipping
associations complained of the lack of
cars and of the excessive rates.
Mr.. Clark Again Testifies
Mr. Clark, accompanied by Judge
Kelly, r. e. Gibbon and Mr. Dunno.
came into the room smiling at the
opening of the morning session.
1--WE will resume" said Commission
er Lane. Mr.. Clark, will you please
take the stand?"
After he had resumed the seat he
had occupied four hours on the prev
ious day, Commissioner Lane asked If
there were any further questions to be
propounded.
Mr.. Severance replied in the mega
AIa, i
Dunno, evidently to the surprise of
the commissioner and his attorney, as
1t was at the request of Mr.. Clarks
representatives that Mr. Clark was to
again occupy the stand at the opening
of the second days hearing.
Mr. Clark had in his hand a COPY of
a contract with the Armours for 5000
refrigerator cars, which he handed to
Mr.. Severance.
In reply to question Mr.. Clark said
that these cars had been supplied, but
that there had been difficulty in secur-
ing their return. which had occasioned
a shortage at times.
Mr.. Clark then was excused.
Tom Gibbon on the Stand
"Call Mr. Gibbon," said Mr. Sever
ance, and the former counsel of the
Salt Lake road took the witness stand.
Mr.. Gibbon told of his part in the or
vice president until 1905, and also was
general counsel. He also had been
vice president of the old terminal COM
pany previous to it's purchase by the
Salt Lake company.
AS far as he knew no Hartman man
was interested in the terminal COM
pany or the formation of the Salt Lake
company
Mr.. Gibbon told of the companys
ownership of frontage on the east side
of the inner harbor at San Pedro.
Other owners were the Southern Pa
cific and several lumber companies
The Salt Lake has not added to Its
holdings but he believed the Southern
Pacific had. Both companies had built
docks and otherwise improved the
property.
Turning to the question of the con-
struction of the Salt Lake, Mr.. Glib
bon said that there were number OF
small contractors. He did not know
of advertisements for bids for construc-
tion of the line from Salt Lake to Los
Angeles.
Mr.. Severance dwelt at length upon
the question whether the Utah Con-
struction company did any portion OF
the construction work for the Salt
Lake, but to all questions Mr.. Gibbon
referred him to the engineering depart
ment.
Coming to the famous contract be-
tween Hartman and Clark, Mr.. Glib
Continued ON Page Three.)