The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-04-28
MCCARTHY AND BABC0CK
TESTIFY DURING DAY
Judge LOyett, for the Hartman
Interests, Tries to Shake
Testimony.

presentation of the testimony by the
government was begun.
The first witness to be called was w
S, Mccarthy, the present secretary OF
the Salt Lake Commercial club trailc
bureau, who told Of his work in the in
terest of the various railroads with
which he was connected before he went
TO work for the Salt Lake Hardware
company. According 10 his testimony,
he first began his railroad experience
during the year Of 1881. and WAS IN
the business from that time on until
1891.
During the testimony of Mr.. McCar-
thy. it was developed that prior to the
merger of 1891 the Union Pacific and
Southern Pacific railroads were keen
competitors for general merchandise
and the wool business, but that after
the alleged combination had been ef,
fccted both roads seemed TO lose all
interest regarding the routing of traf-
fc over the lines. In other words. as
far as the witness knew, neither road
seemed TO care about soliciting bust
moss. rather taking the position that
solicitation WAS not needed. Which
ever line was most convenient to the
shipper would get The business.
Change of Schedules.
In answering questions regarding the
schedules maintained al that time and
the present time by the Union Pacific
from Omaha TO Ogden and Salt Lake,
the witness said that schedule or
tiftv-two hours was maintained at that
time. while the present schedule OF
more than 100 hours at the present tune
is not always maintained.
Considerable interest was shown by
ibe SPECTATORS when the fact was
brought out by the witness, that prior
10 the alleged merger, freight destined
for the Atlantic seaboard went over the
Union Pacific by one route. and over
the Southern Pacific by another. Since
1901. the witness said, it did not make
any difference which way the freight
was shipped. east or west. Union "a
cliic or Southern Pacific. the routing
was lust the same, On cross-eXamlna-
lion, Judge Lovett chief counsel for
the Hartman interests, brought out the
fact that the time between Omaha and
Utah points was heightened for the
purpose, in the opinion of the witness,
of reducing running expenses.
The next witness called by the gov
ernment was II. II. Babcock. traffic com"
missioner of the Commercial club trathc
bureau, for many wears traffic o1nclal
OF the Rio Grande Western and the Den
Yer & Rio Grande railroad. In answer
10 questions regarding the condition at
Portland and south and east OF there,
Mt Babcock stated that the Hartman
system dominated the situation. mas
much as all other roads, were com
PEELED TO adjust their rates III accord
ance with those of the Hartman lines
in and out of Portland.
Plan of Transportation.
Mr.. Babcock then discussed III detail
tle plan of TRANSPORTATION oil freight
throughout the entire country, ana paif
particular attention 10 the, WOOL buSl-
ness When he began TO describe the
competition that existed between the
Union Pacific. the Southern Pacific. and
the Oregon Short Line for this husl..
ness, even tho usually placid face OF
Special Examiner Williams broke into
a smile.
VOne company said Mr.. Babcock,
"cveu went so far as to pay a govern
ment tax on sheep between the states
of Idaho and Montana IN order TO get
the shipping of the wool.
During the afternoon session, Judge
Lovett. for the Hartman interests,
spent most of the time in trying to
shake the testimony of Mr.. Babcock.
but in this he did not seem TO make
much headway. The witness stated that
the Southern Pacific had more at stake
than any other line IN maintaining
rates. and when asked regarding the
policy of the Denver & Rio Grande on
the rate question, he stated that no
other railroad beside the Hartman
lines was in i position TO dictate rates,
In fact. The question of rates was ar
rived at by meeting Of all Of the
roads. and although any road might of
fer new schedule, II 1t did not meet
with the approval of the others. il was
SET aside and not acted npon:
c. n. Severance, special assistant AT,
torney general of the United States
asked Mr. Babcock what the effects
given by the different roads. and the
witness answered that competition al
ways helped the service.
Speaks of Complaints.
AZ this point Mr.. Babcock spoke re.
garding complaints being received by
the officials of the Rio Grande system
regarding rate cutting, These com
plants came from a traffic official of
the Hartman system. j. &. Stubbs,
who was located in California and who
was mo saint on the question of
rates. according to Mr.. Babcoek. Mr..
Babcock was then asked if he had ever
complained about the Union Pacific
cutting rates, and he answered that it
would not have done any good 10 COM
PLAIN. Mr.. Severance then designated
the witness as "a real sport regard
ing the complaint question, which re-
mark created considerable merriment in
tho court.
The next witness was David EccIcs
OF the Eceles Lumber company. To-.
Gated at Ogden. His testimony in a
great measure was the same as that Of
Mr.. babcock regarding the various lines
concerned with the traffic that moved
out OF the Hood river country, located
slSty.siy miles from Portland. This
lraffic was moved over the Shasta route
and there was no rate by the wav of
Ogden. -
The witness next testified regarding
Inc construction of the Utah Pacific,
which was built for distance of Sly
fy-sIx miles, near Milford. under = con.
tract with the Dragon Short Line Rail.
road company, which held An option
nnrihesdJ nn tne road for five years time. and
to be from Senator Clark. entered info into
neg9tlatIons for its purchase with Mr..
Eccles, AT the conclusion Of Mr Ec.
f.gt