The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-05-15
INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION.
Congregational Attempt TO Control
Freight and Travel Failure
transportation OF OIl-CIarksOn
Potter Sets Quietly Down on the
Young Statesman OF the Kama " ma.

transportation OF OIl-CIarksOn
Potter Sets Quietly Down on the
Young Statesman OF She Kama " ma.
Correspondence OF the Register.
WASHINGTON, May IA.
At the beginning Of the session there
was a few propositions which it was the
determination of considerable number
of members to force upon the attention OF
Congress. One of these was bill by
which Congress should assume to control
the great trunk line railroads Of the coun-
try, in two important features OF their
freight business, viz: First, their treat
meut of persons; second, their treatment
OF places. The long standing complaints
that there were discrimin stions against
certain persons, and against GER
tain places was to find redress in Con-
gressional action. The demand for some
measure of relief came from every part Of
the country, but mainly from the gran
gers OF the West and the oil producers Of
Pennsylvanis. Northern Pennsylvania
took specially active interest. Many
bills on the subject were in
troduced in the House and refer
red to the Commerce Committee,
which took hold of the matter in earnest,
The bill which finally became the report
of the committee was introduced by Mr..
Watson, Of Pennsylvania, representing
an oil district, and the bill wss vigorous
| ly urged as an offset to the Standard Oil
| Combination. Pennsylvania oil men
claimed that the Pennsylvania Railroad
gave to the Standard ComDina-
ton rates of transportation which it
would not give to individual shippers,
which were below its published rates, and
which enabled the Standard to virtually
monopohze the market. A delegation
from the oil regions went to Philadelphia
to get some one to draw their bill. 1t
seems that for once, at least, a Philadel-
phis lawyer was not equal to the emer-
gency, and the oil men went
to Buffalo to find law
framer. George P. Hibbsrj,
Of that city, noted corporation lawyer,
was paid $1,000 to draw bill "that
would hold water" and such one as the
railroad companies could not break
through. He put in week, and pro-
duced the bill of fifteen printed pages
which was discussed in the House yes
terdsy as the report Of the Commerce
Committee. Stripped Of its endless and
almost unfathomsble verblage, the bill
provide,
First-That no railroad line running
in more than one State shall disCrim-
mate against any shipper in favor OF
any other shippers.
Which is to say that individual ship
pers sre TO hold the same terms as cor
porations or large combinatiUns-that
John Smith shall be charged no more on
3 car of oil than the Standard Company
pays; provided, always, that the said
John Smith or Richard Roe ship at least
one car load.
The second great point of the bill is
that there shall be charged no greater
rate for shorter than for longer dis
tsnce. The debate on the bill showed
that there were few mem bGrs who could
catch the idea involved IN this. Most OF
them construed 1t to have reference TO
rate per mile, which is not 3 correct con.
struction. The bill means exactly what
il SAWS, for instance: To-day it costs one
dollar barrel more to bring flour from
Milwaukee to Pittsburgh than from Mil
wsukee to Philsdelphis. This system of
discrimination is what has been most
loudly complaiLed of by the west, and
this the bill aims to stop. 1t does not
saw what rates shall In any case be
charged, but it declares that there shall
he no discrimination. The vel bisge Of
the bill has doLe good deal to hurt IT,
Members troubled with States rights
scruples oppose it, although many of them
are in favor of curbing the powers OF the
great railroads by State legislation. The
discussion Of the bill and the adjourn
ment of the House is generally regarded
as the death Of the bill. 1t is even con-
sidered doubtful whether 1t Will be called
up again this session.
Col. Z. G. Patterson, of TitusvIlle.
heavy oil producer, and the man who
has been most active in the matter, says
that if Congress refuses to pass the inter
State commerce bill, there will be tour
tickets in the field in Pennsylvania next
fail; besides the Republican, Democratic
and National tickets, the "antl.rallrosd
monopolists" will put a ticket IN the he!d
which will receive the solid support OF
Western Pennsylvania he says that
the Pennsylvania Legislature having
killed the free oil pipe bill and the anti
discrimination bill, is about to levy tax
on petroleum, aud that the Tax VIII De
the last straw"
Mr.. KeDns, of West Virginia, mem
ber of the Commerce Committee, took
special pride in trying to put this bill
through. He tackled Clarkson Potter,
of New York, who was opposing the
bill; Potter lowered for moment and
then dropped on the young member
from Virginia with question IS to the
drift of 8 certain provision Of the bill.
Mr.. Kenns replied that when be had an
onnortuuity to make speech on the bill
be would give bis understanding of
il, The curtness OF the reply
settled Potter, who is one OF the most
courteous men in the House, and he said
something IN low tone which tinged as
with bloom the classic features OF the
member from West Virginia. Of course
Mr.. Kenna meant no otfense, but when
he has been longer in the House, he Will
learn that no member Of committee
which reports bill must take the floor
unless he is prepared to be catechised,
and perhaps bsdgered.