The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-12-19

Capt Baker insisted that the Great
Lakes Co. has practically no~competi-
ton as far as harbor towing Is con
cerned.
The captain told of an instance
when he tried TO get a tug from the
Great Lakes Co. I'm Buffalo To tow a
lighter to wrecking job, and the con
Germ refused To give him one. Later
he went down To the docks and found
six or seven Great Lakes tugs lying
Idle at the docks. At various times.
he said. stories had come TO him that
the Great Lakes was going to try and
put him out OF business.
But I'm here yet" he added, def.
antly
Reyerting 10 the Martha incident
the captain said the Great Lakes Co.
had IA big piece" put in the papers to
the effect that the local wreckers
we're robbing the vesselmen and il
proposed TO give everybody a square
deal Ills experience was a sample of
the company's idea of a square deal.
he said.
Henry Weineman, of Detroit. who
owns and operates six boats. followed
capt Baker on the stand, and was cS.
amined by T.. A. Chamberlin, special
assistant TO Mr. Day. He testified
that Notwithstanding the fact that he
had contracts with the Great Lakes
lowing Co, covering all his boats. In
1902, they charged him only "A Nat
rate of s. per tow in Buffalo harbor
that year. which was considerably be-
low contract rates. After the May
thams went out of business in Buffalo
the fiat rate was discontinued and has
not been in effect since Mr.. Weine-
men could not say. from personal
knowledge, why this was so, but he
had noticed. he said, that his towing
bills had been considerably larger
since the Maythams quit the business
than they were before This testimony
tends to bear out the governments
contention that the trust drove com
petitors out of business by reducing
the rates to suit itself.
What percentage of the big
freighters now tow with the Great
Lakes Coz" was asked.
Il suppose they all do" Mr.. Weine-
man replied, but the answer was
stricken out.
Maynard Hagedon, who is in the EN-
ploy OF Congressman Henry McMor-
ran, in Port Huron, took the stand
lust before the noon recess. He iden-
iHed contract entered into between
the Great Lakes TowOing Co. and the
lines owned by Mr.. McMorran. cover
ing the year 1900, Attached to the
contract was this foot note. signed by
the Great Lakes Co:
We further agree that, in case
A. 10, 10, t..I an "a
the bills created under it shall
exceed the tariff of other tug lines,
We will rebate and repay you any
such excess.
The clause is countersigned by W.
4. Collier. general manager.
The McMorran lines had contracts
with the Great Lakes people until 1909,
when the latter refused TO renew the
contract. thus depriving the McMor-
ran lines of the discount IL was
this action on the company's part
that led to the starting OF the present
suit MIR McMorran had had trouble
with the company in connection with
the wreck OF the Newago. which ex-
plains the latter's refusal to issue a
new contract. Mr. McMorran made
complaint il Washington and William
l.. Day, United States district attorney
in the northern district of Ohio, was
detailed TO investigate. He did so. and
on the strength of what he discovered
recommended that the Great Lakes
company be prosecuted under the
Sherman law. Hence the present suit
The hearing was completed Tor
the time-being Saturday afternoon, but
will be resumed Wednesday morning
and will probably take up the balance
of the week.
f. b. Hackett the well-known Am
herstburg tugman, gave some inter-
esting testimony concerning MS eN-
periences with the towing trust, FRI
day afternoon. He declared that %
per cent OF the boats coming up from
Lake Erie had contracts with tn"
Great Lakes Co. He told how the
stiff competition of the alleged trust
had led him and his brother, DIR. q.
G.. Hackett, now a Detroit dentist, 10
enter into a contract with the Great
Lakes people in 1905, whereby the
latter were to have entire control OF
the Hackett tugs, fixing the rates for
service and giving the Jackets 10
per cent OF the proceeds, the Hac-
ketts to pay all expenses. The
Hacketts' share dwindled 10 less than
half the scheduled charges, however,
after the expenses had been-.taken
out by the trust, in addition to the
20 per cent it kept for itself, turned
back rebate of 20 and per cent
TO the vessel owners.
The contract arrangement proved
so Improbable that the Hacketts re-
fused TO renew it at the end OF the
first year. the trust standing out
against any concessions. Subsequent
~ Mr.. Hackett built the modern tug.
"Hackett," which he figured would
put him in better position TO meet
trust competition, but frequently
when he would go to the aid of
stranded vessel. the captain would
refuse to employ him. preferring to
wait for one Of the trust tugs His
testimony was supplemented by that
of DR. Hackett. which was largely to
the same effect
On the cross-examination of f. r..
Hackett, Attorney Goulder brought
out that independent wreckers are at
work on the steamers Richardson
and Moreland, now on the bottom.
but Mr.. Hackett declared that the
trust tugs had first worked on the
wrecks and had abandoned them.
Martin Swayne. formerly of the
Swayne Wrecking Co, Cheboygan.
testified that his company had been
bought out by the Great Lakes Co.
He could not give the details of the