The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-19
= oLLowING secret investigation

T TOLLOWfNG a secret investigation
II by special agents of the Inter-
state Commerce Commission, and
extending over a period of three
months, shippers and representatives OF
the Chesapeake and Ohio, Atlantic Coast
Line and Seaboard Air Line Railroads
were summoned yesterday to appear,
with books. records and waybills. be-
fore Commissioner Franklin X. Lane at
10 o'clock this morning, when the gov
ernment will attempt to prove that the
Hepburn law has been violated in the
matter of giving and receiving rebates.
In all, twelve witnesses We're served by
United States Marshal Treat. Commits
sioner Lane and Mr.. John H. Marble.
special counsel for the commission, ar
rived in the city last night. The ex-
animation will begin promptly at 10
o'clock in the United States District
Court ROOM with little possibility OF
delay.
Railway officials declined last night
to discuss the case. President George
w. Stevens, of the Chesapeake and
Ohio, is in Covington. KY. and in re-
ply to message from The Times
Dispatch. telegraphed that he knew
nothing about the matter requesting
this newspaper to communicate with
his home office. General Freight
Agent E. D. Hotchkiss said he knew
nothing. Others were equally reticent.
Under the Hepburn law persons con-
victed of receiving rebates can be pun
ished along with railroads which
grant them. the. fine running from
$1,000 to $4,000. with term in the
penitentiary where violation Id
flagrant.
Expressing ignorance when ordered
to appear to-day. the witnesses were
visibly excited; others were apparently
alarmed
The Connecting Link.
The investigation In Richmond and
other cities was conducted by Mr.. l..
B. Johnson and Mr.. S. Fl. Smith, special
agents of the commission. Although
they decline to discuss their work, 1t
was common talk In railroad and
wholesale business circles yesterday
that the hearing would be interesting,
II not sensational. Records In the
freight offices OF the Chesapeake and
Ohio have been inspected. the evidence
being sufficient to warrant the Issuing
OF subpoenas and the calling of court
hearing by Mr.. Lane. The question
of referring the evidence to Federal
grand jury, with a view to securing
indictments, will depend upon the ma
ture and value OF information which
will be Forthcoming to-day.
Thus far none of the high freight
officials of tho three transportation
dictment" have been ordered to ap-
pear
Tho position of the government fs
that the books. waybills and records
VIII disclose whether or not rebates
were granted, If 1t Is proved that re-
hates We're granted, men higher up
than station agents and clerks will be
implicated. Clerks employed by ship
pers may furnish the connecting link
or else prove that mono of those per-
sons involved in the investigation were
guilty of wrongdotng.
Witnesses We're Surprised.
The fact that the long and difficult
work Of the special agents had been
completed became known early yes
terday morning Immediately after
Deputy Marshal John Murphy had no.
titled the witnesses TO be on hand to-
day. There has been no secret about
the mission OF Mr. Johnson. He has
been Cooking in" here since November.
He was often seen around the Ches-
apeake and Ohio offices and business
men. aware that the Interstate Com
merce Commission, wanted the facts.
suspected that the records of thls
company would be probed.
In some of the notices sent by the
commission to the railroad clerks sum-
moned they We're Instructed to bring
forth certain bills OF ladins, many OF
which We're for shipments handled
Jointly by the three roads.
There is some doubt as to how and
for what reason the inauiry was start-
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