The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-01-01

nC SQudHiully vi Tie ShdHb bCi
of commerce has been disturbed by
the resignation last night of F. H.
McCune, traffic expert, who held
the position of secretary of the pub
licity committee in order that the
chamber might have the benefit of
his expert knowledge Of railways
and rebate methods, knowledge
that proved invaluable last summer
in the prosecution of the Spokane
rate case before the interstate COM
merce commission.
McCune's resignation comes as a
surprise to the rank and file of the
chamber. He has been regarded as
fixture with that body since his
appearance against the railroads,
When he put the interstate commits
sion in possession of practically all
the evidence that was submitted in
| the rate fight. He was formerly a
traffic clerk, but sacrificed all fur
Their chance of railroad employment
by assisting the chamber in its
campaign for more equitable rates
for this city. =
Back of his resignation IS story
of alleged intrigue. partially, and
domineering by Levi G.. Monroe,
secretary Of the chamber, that Nc
Cune concluded left him resignation
as the only recourse.
In addition McCune also charges
that he. has positive proof that
some OF the most prominent mem
bers Of the chamber are guilty OF
accepting rebates themselves and
thinks that on account OF this
knowledge these members have for
some time desired his subordina-
tion in order to prevent him ac-
qdiring further information OF this
character. N
The climax came when a commit
tee appointed to examine the books
recommended that McCune be sub
oordinated to the position of Mon
roe's bookkeeper, giving Monroe
entire control OF the publicity de-
partment and funds. Then Nc
Cune quit.
Mcclure said that Menroe's ac-
counts had been in dispute since
the auditing committee was ap.
pointed several months ago. Nc
Cune expects to enter the service
Of the interstate commerce commits
sion in securing evidence against
rebaters and the evidence he
claims to have against Spokane
shippers will be given to that body
His statement of the case follows:
~The immediate cause OF my res
ignation as secretary OF the pub
licity committee is the. internal
trouble between the board of
trustees and the publicity commit
tee OF the chamber of commerce.
"Mr. Monroe, evidently melted by
jealousy and ambition, sought to
be secretary of the committee in or
der to dominate I,s works. In this
effort he was aided and ahetted by.
the president and board of trustees,
but he failed to accomplish his pur-
pose The odlum Of the methods
employed by the Monroe machine
became so obnoxious to me that
asked the chairman of the commit
tee to accept my resignation, which
he did.
Il expect. that my future work
will be with the interstate COM
merce commission at Washington,
D. c., as am eligible for appoint
ment as special agent and exam
liner, having passed the civil serv-;
ice examination some time ago.
This work will in, part consist
OF ferreting out infractions OF the
law by shippers and railways by
rebating My service with the rail-
ways has equipped me with knowl-
edge of the devices used for this
purpose, therefore 1t will not be a
difficult matter to furnish evidence
that will convict
81 entered the services of the
chamber of commerce as assistant
secretary under the original prom
Use OF permanent employment. but
was later pressed into service TO
relieve a desperate condition in pre-
pairing proper evidence of rate dis
elimination In the Spokane rate
case. The exhibits presented in
connection with my testimony at
the Spokane hearing were wholly
my ideas and labor which. while Of
value as evidence, cost
the chamber OF commerce nothing,
the work of compilation being done