The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-06-07


walked over that gentleman's igura-
tive head TO Mr.. Breed.
"Hello, Breed" said he. walking In
upon that gentleman as he sat I'm his
library porting over set of photo
graphs. one of which happened 10 be
Mr.. HepperdOn's. Lets get down TO
blunt bedrock on this freight PROPOSE
get. and what percentage OF IL goes to
you individually"
"Glad TO see you. Hepperdon." said
Breed. "lt has been long time since
l had the pleasure of brush with
you. Where have you been keeping
yourself so long?"
Just got back from Europe" said
Hepperdon. But how about this
freight business? l have to get back
on the next train"
"Out of my hands entirely" said
Breed. you'll have to see Mr. Rol.
llns," and he rang for Kelvin. TO whom
he gravely introduced Hepperdon.
"Mr. Kelvin. take Mr.. Hepperdon up
and introduce him to Mr.. Rollins" said
he.
Kelvin smilingly did so and. having
introduced the two gentlemen. quietly
withdrew.
There is to be no rebate" declared
Rollins. "Why should there be re-
bate? You have 10 ship over our roads.
and you may be thankful that we are
making only fair percentage yielding
rate. AS n matter OF fact. the pre-
viously published rate has been low
cred"
THAT is exactly what l don't like
about It, You haven't set your rate
high enough for a good margin of
profit from the small shippers"
THE margin of profit on all ship
ments is 10 he exactly the same" re-
piled Rollins. Just dlsabuse your
mind, Mr.. Hepperdon. of the idea that
there is to be q concession of any sort.
There is no use in discussing the mat
ter because this Is fat and final"
"Do you mean that?" demanded
Hepperdon.
81 mean 1t absolutely"
Hepperdon studied him I'm silence for
awhile. There was no doubt that Rol-
, Inns meant precisely what he said.
Every WELL" snapped Hepperdon
within two weeks there will be a
special bill introduced into the United
States house of representatives dis
solving your railroad combination"
Hepperdon was waddling out of the
house Tuning without stopping 10
make any further adieus TO Breed
when Kelvin stopped him in the hall.
MIR Breed would like to see you for
few minutes before you CO."
"Hepperdon, about how much politi-
cal influence do you actually controlY
asked Breed.
"More than any one aggregation of
business interests in the United
States" declared Hepperdon. 81 own
exclusively n cabinet officer. five Unit
ed States senator's. more than n dozen
United States representatives and hall
dozen governors and minor officials,
state Legislators and the like running
up into the hundreds. BESIDES that,
have partnership interests I'm connec'
ton with other large commercial
forces I'm two or three times as many
more political leaders"
THAT tallies very well with our es
innate" said Breed. I'VE may want
to borrow this influence of yours lit
tie later on. Hepperdon. In the mean
time suppose you just go ahead and
pay this fiat rate of Rollins and say
nothing. Leave 1t TO me-"
Sure" said Hepperdon. 81 knew
there must be a niger in the WOOD
pile some place. You're looking very
well indeed. Breed"
The next day brought Raymer. raw
boned and wooden featured. but fairly
oily In his suavity. and the head OF
the beef trust. and Valentine. littl,
and screechy and marked with count
less black freckles. and the head OF
the wooden combine. In unison anC
garnished with many rugged exple
declared to Mr.. Rollins that they
would invoke special legislation which
would put his railway monopoly on
of the business. dissolve It and sepa
rate it into healthy competition. scat
ter 1t into easily handled fragments
and incidentally remove Mr.. Rollins
from any and all spheres of activity
whatsoever forever and day-and
then some! On their way out Kelvin
led them In TO see Mr. Breed. who
with Kelvin's assistance. tabuateC
Mr. Raymer's and Mr.. Valentines leg
islative control.
The ensuing two weeks were taker
up by succession Of such incidents
as these. and ut the conclusion OF thai
time Representative Oswald introduc
ed into the house bill providing tha
no railroad should own stock II
another one; that no man should vot,
control, by proxy or ownership, II
more than one of two or more com
peting roads and that no railroad Off
cial should hold either office or stocl
In another line OF rails which reached
between any two same shipping points
This was the straw, or. rather, the
bale of straw. which snapped Rollins
already highly strung nervous tension
He came TO Breed and Kelvin In much
distress. Really. 1t was not so much {
surprise TO Kelvin and Breed as n
might have been. for IL was they who
had instructed Hepperdon ms IN IN,