The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1911-07-06
CHAPTER XIV.

49, CHAPTER NV.
THE fat freight rate was ire
mendous sensation. IL was
hailed as the great utopian
realization. the one supreme
act which was to level all dis
tinctions. which was to place all
business upon an equal footing which
was to cure all the economic fills of the
country. And who was back of this
huge philanthropic movep Rollins
Sumner Rollins, the Napoleon of the
railroad world. And who was back
Of Sumner Rollins? Henry Breed. Yet
another step, who was back of Breed?
Phillip Kelvin. There was the man!
Until Kelvin had come Breed had done
none of these radical things. Since
Kelvin had appeared upon the scene
Breed had broken up the Stock Ex
change, he had reduced the price Of
bread to cost. he had disintegmted the
Unified Steel corporation. he had re-
moved the unjust discrimination of the
railroads; ergo. Kelvin was really the
big force of all this reformation.
Kelvin, Great was Kelvin. Column
upon column was printed about him.
his past life. his phenomenal rise. his
tremendous executive ability. He be
came a national figure overnight, as
it were. Men talked about him at
clubs. in cafes. in street cars. in their
homes, wherever they were congregat-
ed. About the fat rate. however. GER
tain men merely winked. II was a
splendid piece of buncombe for the
public. II was splendid weapon
which would give Breed power OF life
and death over any business upon
which he chose to exert It, but that
II meant just what 1t stated on the
surface was past belief.
Suave gentlemen representing vari-
Gus large interests trailed Rollins
from his New York offices down TO
Forest Lakes to meet in succession
quite rude shocks. There was posi-
lively no satisfaction to be had from
Rollins.
The first of these was John G. Hep
perdon, the head Of the petroleum
trust, one Of the most perfect combines
in existence and one which had been
built almost entirely upon rebates and
freight concessions of various sorts,
Mr.. Hepperdon was trifie impatient
over the necessity of having to make
such a trip and was insistent upon
coming TO n crisp working basis al
once. For that reason he did not go to
Mr.. Rollins at all He very calmly
walked over that gentleman's fgura
i've head TO Mr.. Breed.
Hello, Breed" said he, walking in
upon that gentleman as he sat in his
library poring over a set OF photo
graphs, one Of which happened to be
Mr.. Hepperdon's. Let's get down u
blunt bedrock on this freight PROPOSE
ton. How much Of rebate are we tC
get, and what percentage of It goes Il
you individually"
Glad to see you, Hepperdon," SAID
Breed 1T has been long time since
had the pleasure Of brush will
you. Where have you been keeping
yourself so longT
Just got back from Europe" sait
Hepperdon But how about thii
freight business? / have TO get bacl
on the next train"
"Out Of my hands entirely" salt
Breed. you'll have 10 see Mr.. Rol
Inns" and he rang for Kelvin, TO whom
he gravely introduced Hepperdor
Mr.. Kelvin. take Mr.. Hepperdon u
and introduce him TO Mr.. Rollins" sal
he
Kelvin smilingly did so and. havin
introduced the two gentlemen, quietl
withdrew.
There Is 10 be no rebate" declare
Rollins. why should there be a r,
bate? You haYe to ship over our road
and you may be thankful that we ar
making only fair percentage yieldin
rate. AS a matter Of fact the pr,
viously published rate has been Low
cred"
THAT is exactly what | don't lii
about It, You haven't set your raj
high enough for good margin ,
profit from the small shippers"
"The margin Of profit on all shil
ments is 10 be exactly the same" r.
piled Rollins. Just disabuse yoI
mind. Mr.. Hepperdon, of the idea thu
there IL e be concession OF any sor
There is no use In discussing the ma
ter because this is fat and final"