The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1911-05-20
CHAPTER XIV.
HE fiat freight rate was q tire.

Olsa ] ESik IAlN.
IT HE fiat freight rate was tire.
mendous sensation. 1t was
hailed as the great utopian
a 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 Ills of the
country. And who was back of this
huge phianthropic move? 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 En-
change. he had reduced the price OF
brcnd to cost. he had disintcgrntcd 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
1 upon column was printed about him,
his past life. his phenomenal rise. his
tremendous executive ability. He be-
came a national figure overnight. as
1t were. Men talked about him at
clubs. in cafes. in street cars. in their
homes. wherever they We're congregat-
ed. About the fiat rate. however. GER
tain men merely wInked. 1t was II
u ~ cx...
public. 1t was II splendid wenpon
which would give Breed power Of life
and death over any business upon
which he chose to exert 1T, but that
1t meant Just what it stated on the
surface was past belief.
Suave gentlemen representing vari.
GUS large interests trnilcd Rollins
from his New York Offices down to
Forest Lakes to meet in succession
quite rude shocks. There was posi-
lively no satisfaction 70 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. HcppcrdOn was a trAc impatient
over the necessity OF having to make
such trip and was insistent upon
coming to Il crisp working basis at
once. For that reason he did not go TO
Mr. Rollins nj all. He very calnly
walked over that gentleman's fignra-
tive head TO Mr. Breed
"HellO, Breed" said he, walking in
upon that gentleman as he sat in his
library porting over II set of photo
graphs. one OF which happened to be
Mr. UcppcrlOn's. Lets get down to
blunt bedrock on this freight PROPOSE
ton. How much OF a rebate are we to
get, and what percentage OF 1t goes to
you individuality"
Glad to see you. IIcpperlon." snId
Breed. 1T has been n long time since
l had the pleasure of II brush with
you. Where have you been keeping
yourself so long?"
"Just got back from Europe" said
! Heppcrdon. But how about this
freight business? l have to get back
on the next train"
"Ont 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.. uepperdon 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-
bnte? You have to ship over our roads.
and you may he thankful that we are
making only fair percentage yielding
rate. AS a matter OF fact, the pre-
viously published rate has been low
cred"
"rhat is exactly what I don't like
about 1t. You haven't set your rate
high enough for good margin of
profit from the small shippers"
'.Thc margin of profit on all ship
ments is to he exactly the same" re.
piled Rollins. Just disabuse your
mind. Mr.. Hepperdon. of the idea that
there is to be concession of any sort.
There is no use in discussing the mat
ter because this ia fiat and final"
do YOU mean, that?" demanded
Hepperdon,
II mean it absolutely"
IIepperdon studied him in silence for
awhile. There was no doubt that Rol-
Inns meant precisely what he said.
Very we'll" snapped HeDDerdon.