The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-08-11

| III existence anu one winch ndu Deen
built almost entirely upon rebates and
| freight concessions Of various sorts.
| Mr.. Hepperdon was trihe impatient
over the necessity OF having to make
| such trip and was insistent upon
| coming 10 crisp working basis at
once. For that reason he did not go to
Mr.. Rollins at all. He very calmly
walked over that gentleman's figura-
tive head to Mr.. Breed.
"Hello, Breed" said he. walking In
upon that gentleman as he sat in his
library porting over set Of photo
graphs. one Of which happened to be
Mr. Hepperdon's. Lets get down to
blunt bedrock on this freight PROPOSE
ton. How much Of q rebate are we to
get. and what percentage Of It goes to
you individually
Glad to see you. Hepperdon." said
Breed. 1T has been q long time since
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? have to get back
on the next train"
"Out of my hands entirely" said
Breed. you'll have to see Mr.. Rol-
lins," 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 to ship over our roads.
and you may be thankful that we are
making only fair percentage yielding
rate. AS 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"
1.-THE margin of profit on all ship
ments is to be exactly the same" re-
piled Rollins. Just disabuse your
mind. Mr.. Hepperdon. of the idea that
there is to be a concession of any sort.
There is ho use In discussing the mat
ter because this is fat and final"
do you mean that? demanded
Heppe-lon.
81 m.an II 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 to
make any further adieus to Breed
when Kelvin stopped him in the hall.
"Mr. Breed would like to see you for
a few minutes before you CO."
"Hepperdon, about how much politi
cal influence do you actually control?"
asked Breed.
"More than any one aggregation OF
business interests in the United
States" declared Hepperdon. II own
exclusively a cabinet officer. five Unit.
ed States senators, more than q dozen
United States representatives and half
a dozen governors and minor officials,
state legislators and the like running
up into the hundreds. Besides that,
have partnership interests in connec-
ton with other large commercial
forces in 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 it to me-"
Sure" said Hepperdon. II knew
there must be 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. little
and screechy and marked with count
less black freckles. and the head of
the wooden combine. In unison and
garnished with many rugged exple-
tives. Mr.. Raymer and Mr.. Valentine
declared to Mr.. Rollins that they
would invoke special legislation which
would put his railway monopoly out
Of the business. dissolve 1t and sepa-
rate 1t into healthy competition. scat
ter it into easily handled fragments
and incidentally remove Mr.. Rollins
from any and all spheres Of activity
whatsoever forever and a day-and
then some! On their way out Kelvin
led them in TO see Mr. Breed. who.
with Kelvin's assistance. tabulated
Mr. Raymer's and Mr.. Valentines leg
islative control.
The ensuing two weeks were taken
up by succession Of such incidents
as these. and at the conclusion Of that
time Representative Oswald introduce
ed into the house bill providing that
no railroad should own stock in
u