The Washington herald., 1914-03-04

once and Offering documents alleged to
contain proof that the steel corporation
has received f5.0o0.0o0 In Illegal rebates
during the last six years
William II. Green. the Nebraska editor.
said two mysterious persons gave him In
formation respecting the rebates paid by
| railroads to the steel corporation. He
begged Commissioner Harlan to excuse
him from divplging these names. as he
| enjoyed 'their confidence and did not
want to be pressed to break q trust" He
admitted when called to the stand by
Commissioner Harlan. who conducted the
inquiry, himself, that he (Green) knew
little Of the inside workings of the steel
corporation. He based his knowledge
| upon the reading of govetnment reports.
the Stanley steel trust Hearings. and
charges that Louis d. Brandeis had
| made.
ConsulteA by wickersham.
Green said Attorney General Wicker
sham had called him to Washington in
1911 to confer concerning the steel cor
poration. Green also said he gave Wick
ersham Information about the harvester
trust
In answer to questions he said he met
Lamar last October. Commissioner Har-
Ian pressed the witness to give his
sources Of information concerning steel
trust rebates. Green asked advice OF
counsel, saying he wished his interests
to be protected. although he did. not think
that he would be involved in any way
himself.
"What is the general character Of your
Information? asked Mr.. Harlan,
These rebates, they are not q question
Of accident. but of design" said the
witness.
what rebates do you reler tor asked
Mr. Harlan.
Excessive rates on the steel trust rail-
roads" said Green
Green could not recall what rates these
subsidiary lines were charging.
But. Mr.. Green" said Mr.. Harlan,
''the Senate resolution asking for this in
quiry was based upon your representa-
tons" -a zoe.
II was convinced" explained Green.
that these roads were paying rebates
and on advice Of counsel, H. Z. Davis.
OF Washington. / was told that there
was no doubt Of it." 80.
what were the facts of your own
knowledge to have the Senate Committee
take this matter up?" asked Mr.. Harlan.
Il did not go into very great detail with
Senator Lane"
I'm not asking anything about that.
want to know your knowledge. Was
the Senate inquiry based on the fact that
the rebates In question were the result OF
extortionate rates?' asked Mr.. Harlan.
mo. sir. i can prove that the rebates
were cash payments"
The witness declared that he could pro-
duce his authority for this statement
and show by the books Of the United
States Steel Corporation that they were
entered as rebates. His attorney, how
ever, injected the remark that they may
appear as Offsets"
Green said the two men from whom
he got the confidential information were
David Lamar and Henry E. Davis. He
then was excused, with the injunction TO
produce documentary evidence of the
alleged rebates he said he had.
Lamar was called to the stand and
questioned concerning charges Of con-
spiracy made by him between the d.
rectory Of the steel corporation and d.
rcctors Of subsidiary concerns. He gave
history Of the steel trusts formation,
saying that the late J. Pierpont Morgan
had sought his advice and that he had
urged that Morgan take into the deal
the brokerage firm OF James R. Keane,
OF New York. The Keane firm sold $3.50.
100000 Of steel trust stock, Lamar said.
The application for the subpoenas was
made at the morning session The Com
nissioners said the subpoenas would be
issued as the attorneys for the steel cor
poration had not arrived. The Com
nsissioners adjourned the hearing until .
O'Clock to permit them to cross-examine
Messrs. Lamar and Green. At the aft
ernoon session. while Mr.. Lamar was
testifying. the Commissioner stated that
In fairness to the commission, Mr.. Lamar
having already testified that he was in
Of documentary evidence
proving the existence OF the rebate prac-
tices, Mr. Lamar ought to produce at
least some of his documentary evidence
before Mr.. Corey and the other men for
whom subpoenas had been asked were
brought to Washington to testify.
Mr.. Lamar acquiesced In that view Of
the commission and promised to produce
this morning documentary evidence prov
Ing the practice Of rebating for the
benefit Of the steel corporatioL The
hearing was adjourned by the commits
sion until 10 o'clock this morning for
that purpose.
Mr.. Lamar stated last night to a RED
Of The Washington Herald
that the documentary evidence he will
produce on the resumption Of the hear
ing will be Of the most sensational ma
ture.