The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1907-10-12
SOUTHERN PACIFIC REBATING
Attorney Marble Declares There
Plenty of Evidence Against
Railroad Officers

-o.antipg the United States Federal
na,srnment in the inquiry conducted
:. San Francisco by Interstate Com
.n.rce Commissioner Franklin X. Lane
into the subject Of secretrailroad re-
..,os and other abuses. said that the
-ao;als have sufficient evidence to
sa.vict officials of the Southern Pa
.,sc Railroad Company of such viola
lions in at least 30 cases. 1t is un.
a.,s,ood the matter WILDE referred
a. the Washington authorities very
.hortlv and that United States District
,,,orney Devlin will be asked to pres.
ant the facts to the Federal Grand
Jury.
Mr.. Marble called attention to the
,astimopy Of j. O. Stubbs. as.
sstaat freight agent OF the Southern
Pacific. showing discrimination and re-
hates in favor of the large shipper.
"When it comes to favoring the large
simmer and discriminating against the
small shipper conditions are worse in
California than anywhere else in the
limited States" said Mr.. Marble. 81
do not see how it is possible for the
smaller concerns to exist at all under the
circumstances.
The first favorites in the matter Of
rates with the Southern Pacific Com
nany were invariably Standard Oil con.
Germs. The greatest rebates were al
ways given to the largest interstate
shippers. II business man was not an
interstate shipper there was no rebate
granted him on State shipments. There
are 5l4 names on the special rate list
which was seized in the offices Of the
Southern Pacific Company by Attorney
John II. Marble. aud an inspection OF
the list plainly reveals the discrimina.
ton praoticed.
Lane Not Giving Immunity Baths
An unsuccessful effort was made by
Attorney Peter +. Dunno of the South.
ern Pacific Railway TO have Chief Traf.
hc Agent Luce placed on the stand at
the close Of the taking Of testimony by
Interstate Commerce Commissioner
Lane. The commissioner fpade bis rea-
sons for doing so plain.
III Mr.. Luce were placed on the
stand" he said. ''it might raise the
question OF immunity"
This is an open suggestion that in
dictments may follow as a result Of the
disclosures Of discrimination in rates
made by the Southern Pacific to inter
state shippers. These were in many
instances arranged by Luce.
ut would" added Mr.. Lane, "be
improper and inexpedient at this time
to give Mr.. Luce the benefit Of immun-
iiy."
Would Not Aduinisfer Oath
Dunno said that Luce could complete
the explanation Of the speciai or inside
rates which had been partially made by
y. " IAhbb7 auu B4CAuta nv w tbat
be should be sworn. But Commissioner
Lane declined to administer the oath to
Luce, but said he could make a state
ment and 1t would be embodied in the
record. Dunno would not agree to this,
nor would he call the other assistant
freight agents. "for." he said, 1.-The
knowledge Of these matters alone reside
in Mr.. Luce"
Commissioner Lane said there were 90
or 60 counts and possibly 100 involving
Interstate shippers, and criminal prose-
ontion might ensue. He did not want
to bar the way Of those who would
reach the violators OF the law.
Sensational Tesfimony
Another sensational incident OF the
hearing occurred when John Dillon, one
Of the chiefs Of the Miller a. Lux cor
poration, asked for permission to take
the stand so as to amend his testimony
given the day before. He then said he
got reduction on the published rate on
local shipments since the Hepburn Act.
And must say" he added. "this
Influenced me to give the interstate
business 10 the Southern Pacific"
Before the Hepburn Act they had q
concession. but he could not remember
with whom he discussed II. Most like
" he sent the bills in along with the
local bills, asking that the rate from
rortland to Stockton be added to their
local rate. and the bills went through
accordinely. They got shipments from
'ne East with the freight of which they
nave nothing to do. Sometimes they
are unloaded for delivery, but sometimes