Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-08
ALTON DEAL MAY Be BROUGHT TO LIGHT


CHICAGO, Jan. THE entire member
ship of the Interstate Commerce c"nlnais-
sion, with the exception OF former Senator
Cockerell. was present today when the
hearing OF several complaints regarding
the rates on cattle from the westO n states
20 the Missouri river and eastern markets
will he commenced. On Tuesday the In
vest !, zion OF the Hartman system Of
~ which was begun in New York
la. y, will be resumed by the COM
misA u.
Cha. y z. 7app was asked
"Do .. 4 to look into the methods
by which ~ rriman nnd his interests
secured Coz Z = the Aton7'
II don't lih <>%>'e predictions" he re-
piled. I'VE h. E> informed that the
Hartman crow. ID control of the
Alton when It " capitalized at about
tlon to approximately three times that
amount, or sl2OoOCOOO. That might be an
interesting story, think"
Switching Charges on Live stock.
Because Of a conference with represen-
tatives OF various branches Of railroad
employees which continued through tho
greater part Of New York. the members OF
the Interstate Commerce commission
were somewhat late In beginning the reg
ular business.
The first subject taken UP was the charge
OF 81 per car which is made for switching
cars Of live stock In the Chicago stock
yards. The inquiry into the Hartman
roads matters win not be taken up before
tomorrow.
Interwoven with the evidence regarding
terminal charges at the stock yards was
testimony about damages paid to shippers
for delay of shipments of cattle, The
principal witnesses OF the day were George
II. Crosby, freight trafic manager Of the
Burlington; Harry Cover, freight traffic
manager of the Rock Island. and ]. II.
Hiiand. vice president OF the Chicago, Mil
waukee a st. Paul road All declared that
the railroads paid damages to shippers
when It was shown that their interests
had been injured by delay. All upheld the
terminal charge OF 81 In this city, saying
that It cost the railroads more to deliver
citrs at the yards than at their own ter
minals.
Traffic Manager Hale of the Missouri
Kansas q Texas. declared during the af.
ternoon inquiry that he regarded the rates
on cattle as very low.
Assistant Freight Agent T1bbits of the
Chicago Great Western, said his road nevel
had made any stockyards terminal charges
Until after June l, 1904.
Coal Famine I'm Northwest.
Commissioners Lane and Harlan were In
formed today of the serious conditions
caused by the coal famine In certain points
In the Northwest and telegraphed as fol
lows to President Hill of the Great North
ern:
"our information is that the coal situa
tion at Mohau and Calvin is still very
serious. Farmers are chopping down tele
phone poles for fuel and many farmerl
have been driven into towns. Further aiC
must be promptly given"
Commissioner Clark denied tonight tina
he had been requested by President Roose
welt to use his influence in settling tn
Southern Pacific hremen's strike.
II have not heard from the president, di
rectly or indirectly In regard TO tn
strike" said Mr.. Clark.
"of course 1 would like very much Il
see the strike settled and be willing 4
do anything TO bring about this result
but have not been asked TO take hand.
sehin and stEIIman 20 Testify.
NEW YORK, Jan. lit was learned tina
Jacob H. schiff. James stiliman and D. O
Mills have been Bubpoenaed to give testi
mony before the Interstate Commerce com
mission when 1t resumes its investigation
OF the Hartman railroads in this city
. e. II. Hartman and William Rockefelle
v had previously been summoned to testify
The commission IL expected TO resume il
sitting In this city In ten days or tw