“Mr. McCabe. I do not know.
“Commissioner Clements. Have you ever had any conference with the officers above you in the management of that company’s affairs in which you disclosed this condition of things?
“Mr. McCabe. I have said to them from time to time that rate conditions were so and so; that rates were not being maintained, and that our competitors were cutting the rates.
“Commissioner Clements. And that you must cut the rates? Did they sanction it, or approve it, or tell you to stop it?
“Mr. McCabe. I think they left it to my discretion.”
The Big Four, a Vanderbilt line, cut rates 6 cents below the 30 cent tariff from St. Louis.[[106]]
Mr. Mitchell, traffic manager of the Michigan Central, says his road carried dressed meats at 40 cents, or 5 cents below the published rate.
“Chairman of the Commission. Did you carry any considerable amount of dressed meats during 1901 that paid the tariff rate?
“Mitchell. I think not.
“Chairman. Practically all of it went at some secret rate?