Evening journal., 1910-02-05
"YELLOW DOG"
EXPRESS FUND
Lawyer Says Companies Fol-
low the Old Insurance
Methods
DECLARES THEY COMBINE
TO KEEP UP HIGH RATES

BY United Press Leased Special Wire.
NEW YORK. Feb. 5.-That the big ex-
press companies have yellow dog fund
which is used for influencing legislation
is the startling allegation of James Mani
han "A Minneapolis lawyer, who is attor-
ney for state Senator b. Z. Sundberg OF
Kennedy, Minnesota, the complainant in
the inquiry now being conducted in this
city by Frank Lyons representing the In
terstate Commerce Commission. Up to the
present time Manihan has been baffed in
compelling any of the witnesses called in
the case to testify along this line but he
declared to-day that nc was not discour-
aged and that before he was through with
the present inquiry some facts would be
adduced regarding the manner in which
the big express companies are conducted
that would show them to be close follow
ers Of the old time insurance companies
methods.
Manihan alleges that the big express
companies Of the country as at present
conducted. are in "cahoots" to boost and
keep up rates; that they do not compete
at all but have sercet agreement by
which the United States is a "melon 70 be
divided" and that when one company re-
tires from business in a certain section
1t is to give way to another company,
who by means Of its connecting lines. can
operate more cheaply while, at the same
time sticking to the rate to the rate that
their predecessor established.
Because Of the fact that the specific
complaint in the present inquiry is that
Senator Sundberg was compelled 10 pay
$S6 express charges to have a farm inn
plement valued at s. sent to his farm
near Minneapolis by Express Referee
Lyons has for the most part compelled
the witnesses to stick to the topic under
discussion and has refrained from permit
ting Manihan to conduct a successful
fishing" excursion.
This was especially so when f, r. Platt
treasurer OF the United states Express
Company was on the stand
Money For Politics.
'Mr Piatt." demanded Manihan, your
company has paid cut great deal OF
money for the purpose Of influencing leg
siation and for political purposes. has It
notg'
Il don't recomect it," was the reply in
a very feeble voice
rhe combined attorneys for all Of the
express companies were on their feet with
roars Of objections and declarations that
the question was in no way material 10
the subject under investigation.
"All want to show" began Mani
han mildly, 'fs that the United States Ex-
press Company and other companies pay
out annually large sums OF money in re-
sisting what they are pleased to term
unfavorabie legislation in the various
States. Now Mr Plat you can answer
this cannot your
81 refuse TO answer on the advice of
counsel" murmured the smiable Mr..
Platt and the referee sustained the OBJ
lection.
Manihan however. is not discouraged.
Far from it, He declares that ne will show
before the present hearing ends that there
is great deal that may be learned by a
congressional investigation of the express
companies and he hopes that some Of the
evidence he viii succeed in bringing out
will be Of character that will suggest 10
members of Congress that such an inves-
| tigation is needed