“Mitchell. Yes, sir.”
This man thought his road paid the four Beef Trust houses $200,000 or $240,000 a year in rebates.[[107]]
Mr. Mitchell said rebates were paid indirectly by means of bank drafts. The railroad makes a deposit in bank. The traffic manager checks against it, and the bank supplies drafts on New York or cashier’s checks which are sent to the persons who are to receive rebates.[[108]]
The railroads try to be good sometimes, make New Year’s resolutions, and stop the rebates; but some naughty boy breaks his vows in two or three weeks, and then the rest follow suit. Here is the testimony of a Western traffic manager on this point.[[109]]
“Commissioner. What proportion of the traffic (in provisions) have you carried at the tariff rate?
“Traffic Manager. It was a very small proportion of the total, and it was probably along about the first of last year.
“Commissioner. You are accustomed to indulge in New Year’s resolutions?
“Manager. Yes, sir; we all swear off on New Year’s, and begin again.
“Commissioner. Is it a fact that from Jan. 1, 1901, there was a period when the tariff rate (on provisions) was actually applied by all the roads?
“Manager. Yes, sir; I think it was.